Kim Meckler
Merry Christmas Lacombe!
I hope Christmas Eve was peaceful and merry in your homes and you have had time to reflect on a very busy and extremely wonderful 2014.
There should be an abundance of thankfulness in every home as we live in one of the most wonderful places in the world and Lacombe has an extra dose of charm and community. Sometimes I really miss living there.
I hope you are indulging just a little bit and are enjoying the bounties of the season with only a smidgen of guilt.
I hope you have some down time and are relaxing with friends. I hope there have been carolers at your door and I hope you were home to hear them as they wander the streets of your charming City.
I hope you have experienced the warm joy of volunteering or donating to a worthy charity and my greatest wish for you is that you have felt safe and loved throughout this past year.
There is no greater joy than the feeling of safety and our homes are the perfect place for us to retreat or to welcome others.
We live in a country with no threat of war and few incidents of violence that impact us directly which is a wonderful claim. When we close our doors at night we can rest our heads knowing that our families are safe and the roof over our head will still be standing when we wake.
There may be some discontent with the colour of our cabinets or the condition of our hardwood floors but this does not need to hinder our bliss.
Gratitude is all about perspective. Having just purchased a ‘new’ home I have had to readjust my perspectives on what I once acceptable. Does my kitchen have blue countertops and dated backsplash tile?
Yes and it will be a bit of a wait until I am able to change those features. Does this make my experience in this new place any less wonderful?
No! I have been thoroughly enjoying the little niches and charm of this house as I fit my cherished items into cabinets and closets.
This place is the culmination of a very rocky year and it brings me no end of contentment to set up house in my own place – regardless of the colour of the countertop.
The bottom line is this; stuff does not make us happier.
A perfectly designed home will not give us a better marriage and it will not convince our children to eat their vegetables.
We have the responsibility to look within ourselves and find out what our truth is – what circumstances motivate us and what we truly need to live a full and contented life.
We hear stories about people who give it all up to reclaim their lives and live a simpler existence and while I don’t believe that always needs to happen it is not a bad idea to evaluate the things we have a death grip on and see if it is worth the stress of ownership.
Life can throw you curveballs and it is the happy man (or woman) who learns how to lean in and swing for it anyways.
Character is built on our ability to react to adversity and our level of contentment is directly related to our gratefulness in every situation. Merry Christmas everyone, have a contented holiday!
Kim Meckler is an interior designer in Red Deer with Carpet Colour Centre.