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Life is too short to worry about perfection

It is with sad hearts that our company mourns the loss of one of our co-workers after a year-long battle with cancer.

KIM MECKLER

It is with sad hearts that our company mourns the loss of one of our co-workers after a year-long battle with cancer. Our store is quiet today and I don’t think much work is getting done but it has inspired me to write as I always feel better when I put ‘pen to paper’. A time of reflection is always positive whatever the circumstances and I feel like we have all been hit with a giant wake up call.

We work, spend and consume and then wake up and do it all over again. We spend hours and thousands of dollars perfecting our homes and yards, keeping our spaces cleaned to flawlessness only to judge the imperfection. We find a myriad of excuses for not having friends or neighbours into our home when the reality is they are longing and waiting for an invitation.

Last Friday some of our staff got together for an evening around a fire pit, it was a birthday celebration for me and I had offered to have the girls at my place first – then I panicked! My house was not clean and my bathroom floors needed to be scrubbed; I couldn’t possibly have company, especially a houseful of interior designers!

My co-worker Cindy said to me, “People who come to judge your house shouldn’t be invited.” So true! Thankfully another gal here in the office cleaned her bathroom and the party was on. The happy truth is that we didn’t care what her house looked like and all commented that it had been too long since we had been together.

Life is short everyone! Sit on your front porch and say hi to your neighbours and be friendly to everyone you see. If you have the gift of hospitality, go for it and invite people into your beautiful home. Don’t wait for the perfect set of circumstances to open your home to others. Spending time in others homes is a true gift, even if it’s just for tea and conversation. Days turn to weeks and suddenly you are wondering where all the time and opportunity has gone. People will not care if your grass is trimmed and will be thrilled to be in your backyard for an impromptu barbecue.

Wherever you are in life, take a chance today. Find a groovy new restaurant or paint your house orange. Ruts are tricky to break free from but the reward is often worth it. My dear co-worker lived her short life to the fullest and was not hesitant about travel, food or new experiences and we always said that she lived more in 31 short years than most people do in a lifetime.

I’ve decided to take off and finally see San Francisco and drool over the fabulous architecture that is so abundant in that lovely city. After years of wishing and dreaming it is time to do and to see and to be inspired by structures that have stood the test of time, another stroke off of my bucket list. The time for bravery and adventure is now and I encourage you to jump into your life with a bright pink inner tube around your waist as you reach out and challenge yourself with a big adventure or a simple coffee with a new friend.

Kim Meckler is an interior designer in Red Deer with Carpet Colour Centre.