Change breeds change, creating space for what is new. When my husband suggested we replace the double bed in my office/guest room with a sofa bed, it made sense, so I shopped for one. We wanted both seating and sleeping options and I wanted a beautiful view from my desk. When I saw a well-designed pink couch, I knew it was the one.
The couch would change the space over it as well. The neutral cover on the bed went well with a neutral painting over it, but the pink couch was asking for something different. A piece of art on the wall of the store where I bought the couch, had a splash of pink and calming shades of blue and green.
We went for it and now I am looking at colors that not only calm my soul but stimulate thinking. The space looks balanced, beautiful and welcoming. With a new lamp by the couch, we can read, sew, or any other activity that requires good lighting. It is both esthetically pleasing and practical; addressing form and function.
The bed is easy to pull out and comfortable to lie on which bodes well for a good night’s sleep. I added a blue green ottoman with storage (for the comforter), a green art deco lamp (that was my parents’), and rearranged the end tables. The room feels larger and at the same time, held. Forces of expansion and contraction are in balance.
The desk I work at was my mother’s for her entire adult life. When I was growing up, it lived in my parents’ bedroom and then in the dining room. It is small but has a lot of drawers including one for files.
The only thing I didn’t like about it were the ornate pulls which were tarnished brass, so I put on round silver ones that match the art deco shape of the desk and the silver trim on the windows in the room.
It’s where we do yoga, so more space is good. It works well for all the activities that we use the room for. But more than the activities, there is a quality to the space that is awakening something within me. A new environment creates space for new thoughts and processes.
Of late, I am feeling empowered to ask hard questions, to consider new options, to let go of the status quo and make changes. It takes courage to initiate change; knowing one change leads to many changes. It’s a process that is not done until it’s done and even then, only temporarily so.
Adding new colors and forms to my office, opened the door to consider more changes. Instead of settling for what was, we created what we wanted. The changes are now impacting my work in the space. Perhaps it was the process of creating the space that changed me. Probably, it is both – inner and outer worlds interacting with each other.
Now I am redesigning my website too, adding new colors and forms. The logo will change and the site will be designed for the visitors coming there. Now that I know who you are, I want my site to appeal to you.
My website was first built about four years ago when I published the spiritual memoir, Unpacking Guilt, A Mother’s Journey to Freedom. It created a space for my work to be seen; it served my purpose and taught me a lot.
The office/guest room that I set up when we moved into this home almost three years ago, worked well for a transitional period of time. It accommodated guests and provided space for my work and things that support it.
Change comes in stages. There are big changes, like moving into a new home or setting up a website which have to be completed within a timeframe and they work for a period. Then once you know what you need to live your best life in a space or to share your best work, adjustments can be made.
If I have learned anything during the pandemic, it is that change is inevitable. The outer and inner environments are always influencing each other and are always changing.
Flexibility is key. Getting stuck blocks progress.
Staying in the flow keeps me from getting stuck.
And grants me the courage to change.
