So... Matt & I were talking the other day about how to live well. The ideas behind this are fascinating and surprising. Living well can be defined in so many ways. In American culture, it can be defined by the things you own, your level of income, the amount of travel you've done (or can do), or possibly your level of education.
How ever it's defined we have noticed through life that there are those in challenging situations who seem happy, and those living in ease and abundance who seem miserable. This is such an important life lesson to learn from! We all live in different circumstances and have different homes, incomes, skill levels, education, and opportunities. But we can all choose to do the best we can with what we've got. Thinking big and living big is doing the best you can with what you've got. We can all think big and live big!
You Have Options: Living big requires you to think big. A good mindset is imperative. Question your mindsets. Are you as limited as you think? Are there ways you can improve your life and the lives of others around you? There are more options than are readily obvious. What opportunities do you have right now? What opportunities can you create in time? Some opportunities come along naturally, others you can get rolling now!
Creating Your Opportunites:
In our little 1963 brick home, we've been applying this "think big, live big" concept for the last several years. Our patio was a prime opportunity. It was tired-looking and not very inviting. We decided to spruce it up with a lot of paint, elbow grease, and simple DIY projects. If you want to read about the entire process click here. This project took us several late evenings and a couple of weekends, but oh, the pay-off!
Here is the after photograph. The patio is now an inviting, relaxing place to be. Sure, we spent some money, but mostly it was time and work. This was an opportunity right in front of us at the time. What opportunities are before you? The point is to do what you can. Being a good steward of what you've been given is so rewarding!
Accepting Your Opportunities:
Sometimes we create our opportunities, other times they just appear. If we're attentive and savvy we can make the most of them and amazing things happen!
In late winter 2023, Matt & I were remodeling our living room and I was hoping to replace our 1980s teal and pink seashell loveseat. It was a generous gift in the first year of our marriage. It was comfy and the right size, but that's where the good points stopped...
I also had a French settee that was the first piece of furniture I bought after graduating college. It was delicate, had a good frame, nice enough upholstery, and I had paid $140. Over the years my style changed & I found myself not using it, or enjoying it. It was a nice piece so, I posted it on Marketplace for $180 and it sold after a few weeks! With this cash in hand, I began looking for a loveseat more our style on Marketplace.
This gorgeous highback loveseat popped up for $125. The style was much more English country, the size perfect, plus (as I learned later) it was a high-quality piece with custom upholstery and a foam/feather-filled seat cushion! It was even more beautiful in person. It not only perfectly fits our space, but it's incredibly comfortable.
The difference is amazing, and a great encouragement to keep your eyes open and make the most of the opportunities that come up for all of us along the way! I hope this post has given you some ideas on where to start thinking and living big in your home!
Warmly,
Rachel
