BRING YOUR EMOTIONS BACK HOME

The conversation went on like that with only… my friend who just continuously talked for several minutes. She kept talking on the phone with me while holding her iPad, constantly looking for hot tourist destinations for that summer, just to host a trip that is believed to “relieve her stress” with her close friends in Vietnam. She kept on immersed in travel review articles, while I, as usual, acted as a listener.

After a while, when not see me responding or suggesting any tourist destination, she finally seemed to remember that she was talking to me, and she said: “Eh, why did you not say anything? Am I talking too much?”

I just laughed because I was so used to her non-stop talking, and said “Maybe you should bring the trips back home. It is so stressful for you to just choose a travelling destination.”

“Bringing the trip home? What is that? I do not understand.”

“That means you do not have to waste time looking for places to travel to anymore. Instead, you sit down, take out a pen and paper, and then look at your house. The kitchen, living room, bedroom, garden, gate, potted plants, etc. Would you like to make any changes? What do you like to shop for or get rid of? Making a list of things you need, buying them, then returning to refurbish your house, will help you relieve that stress. You should try that!”

She was silent for a few seconds, then she said: “That would cost a lot of money to buy furniture, but it is also pretty cool, I have never thought I would do that ever since I finished building this house. I have only been buying groceries, never even thinking about redecorating my house.”

“Travelling will also cost you a fortune. Thus, you have been travelling every time being stressed. Why not try not to go this time, stay at home, organise, and rearrange the position of objects in the house? You can still decide the prices of things you are buying. How much it costs is up to you.”

“Oh yeah. That is a brilliant idea, let me try that.” After that, my friend hung up the phone, and I continued to rearrange some new things in the office.

My friend is a typical embodiment of a beautiful, intelligent woman who has a successful career. Although she is married, she still has quite an independent mindset and behaviours. She can take good care of her husband and children, yet never lets herself be disadvantaged. For example, every time she is stressed, she will just find a place to travel. Sometimes her husband and children will accompany her, sometimes it is her close friends who join the trip. This is probably the dream life of many people. However, for people who love to innovate and prioritise emotions like her, sometimes, living “socially directed” will not be as good as living “self-directed” – focusing on the place she is living in. That is why I suggested that she bring the trip back to her house.

Have you ever tried anything like that?

I have just come across a very inspiring quote: “All you need is a new home and a new window to get a new perspective on life”.

As a person who is quite aesthetic, loves beauty and is obsessed with creativity, I felt quite excited when I accidentally found this saying in an online magazine about architecture and beautiful house designs. Thus, I have a similar lifestyle to that quote as I always love to change the “concept” of decoration in my house depending on my moods, emotions, or special events (such as Holidays, Lunar New Year, etc); sometimes, it is not because of any special occasion, I just did it naturally because I enjoy doing it.

Ever since being unmarried, I have always kept in mind that my home and loved ones must truly be the “place to return to”, the place that makes me the most comfortable, the happiest, and the most peaceful when being there. When you are in a place that makes you feel good, the people around you will feel the same way.

One of my luck is that no matter what changes in the house, my husband will always support me and my daughter will help me. Almost every time, when I change the concept of the house, these lovely two always take part in helping, from shopping to decorating. However, perhaps, the warm, enjoyable, cozy concepts and atmosphere in our home while decorating are what they also like. That is why they support me with all their hearts. hehe 🙂

Have you ever enjoyed a feeling like this?

Waking up in the morning, with the house full of sunshine, and fresh light, while the birds are chirping, making the whole sky throb. You play a melodious song, slowly drift to each of those gentle sounds, then have breakfast in a nice, cleaned kitchen, full of dishes that you and your family love with everyone having a share. That feeling is wonderful, is it not?

In another situation, when the evening comes, after a tiring day of work, you come home to a clean bathroom, and a bedroom with pleasant scents, wrap your arms around your loved one then get a sweet, long sleep until the next morning. There is nothing more pleasant and lovely than that, do you feel it? As I write these words, my heart is also filled with comfort and satisfaction.

If it is you, would you like the feeling of being in such a wonderful space? Or would you rather return to the messy bedroom, clothes that are randomly thrown in the drawers or on the floor, or the refrigerator that is always missing a few of your favourite foods because there is no time to go shopping? Or the fact that you find your everyday life very bland, dull, and gloomy like the atmosphere of autumn. My friend, it is because the furniture and surrounding space are boring, contributing to your daily mood!

Dear friend, it would be a mistake if we only live within a certain space and ignore the furniture being located in the same position around our room, our house year after year.

For me, regularly taking care of my living space is not an expensive activity but is one of the therapies to heal the soul, and to cherish my emotions every day.

It is not necessary to use lavish, expensive furniture. You only need to keep every expense within your income and spending capacity. The most important factor is to regularly arrange and renew every corner of the house. For example, the dining table, bed, desk, potted plant, etc can all be repositioned to create a new, more astonishing look for your living space.

For instance, with a few family members, you can choose to visit a flower market or an area where bonsai are sold on a weekend. Then each person can choose a plant/flower of their choice, and bring them home. After that, they can consequently decorate these flowers on places such as bookshelves, dining tables, TV tables, or windows in the living room, or bedroom. Even that small change can enlighten your mood and your day. The first few days after placing a plant in a new location, I am sure that every time you walk past that area, you will glance at it, or when getting up early in the morning, you will be motivated to water and fertilise that pot of plant.

Whereby if you have a garden, that is all the better. All members can work together to plough, plant, water, or repaint the pots with different colours. I believe that you would have moments of relaxation and comfort with your loved ones. The small garden or the house’s appearance also seems like they are wearing new clothes, pure and fresh!

Every time I try to change the concept of the house, whenever returning home after going out, I always feel like I am visiting such a new place, causing a strange and familiar feeling rushing through, making me excited and happy all day long. Once my mood is boosted, my working motivation will reach its peak and I can produce better results and better performances. Not only that, but I also tend to be more comfortable with some graceless people and unexpected events going on around me. It is truly worth a try!

To end this article, I would like to share a quote with you “Whenever you’re in a firing mood, try to renovate your house, okay?” Rearranging, renovating, and reorganising your house will help you have a whole new living space, improve your mood, burn calories, and, at the same time, be useful for your body. Moreover, sometimes, while cleaning, you might come up with a solution to difficult problems!

Finally, as a result, there would be a place to return to – it is called ‘home’, and having loved ones who would always be there for you, is called ‘family’ If you have both of the above, you are truly the happiest person in the world. So, let’s start renovating your home and your emotions today!

Much love,
Truly Inspired