Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be inside a very nice house -- notice, I didn't say home. It was decorated impeccably and there was neither a speck of dust nor an imperfection to be found. It was beautiful...but very, very cold.
I don't yet own a house (am happy renting for now), but I do take pride in my home. I love to decorate and think I actually have a knack for it...albeit in a different manner than a professional iterior designer. My home is decorated with items that are uniquely me -- vintage items from the 50s and 60s, a red pleather chair, "ugly" lamps, tons of photos, and other random items that I happen to love. It's by no means a showplace, but I love it.
When I think about my house and it's quirkiness, I sometimes wonder if I should grow up and decorate in a more staid manner...focus less on my unique items and more on what looks good to society. Then, I realize that it's me...my house is very definitively me. It's fun and interesting and unlike anything (or anyone) else. I love that my friends can walk into my home and be comfortable. I love that people don't need to worry if they get dust on the floor when they walk in. I love that I have a home, rather than just a house.
Sure, I could change my style and have a more beautiful (but safe and boring) house...but then, to me, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be a home. It just wouldn't be me.
So, for now, I'm keeping things as they are and enjoying my home. While I may not have the absolute nicest things of anyone, they're mine and I love them and they make my house my home. When you walk into my house, there's a good chance that you'll find an extra pair or two of shoes by the door and some dog hair on the couch -- but that's my normal...it's my home.
After all, one of the best compliments I ever received was from a friend who hadn't been to my house in several years. When he walked in, he told me, "Meg, your house always feels the same -- it's just so comfortable and truly feels like a home." Indeed!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
I Want My Rose-Colored Glasses Back!
Las month, snow, ice, and Arctic temperatures have pretty much had the state of Oklahoma at a complete standstill. The majority of Oklahoma is not prepared in any way, shape, or form to deal with snow and/or ice. In addition, probably 98% of Oklahomans panic when forced to drive in any type of inclement weather (including rain), so the roads have been, at best, dangerous.
Last week, I heard a news bulletin on the radio that eight individuals had been involved in a horrific car accident in far northeast Oklahoma – near Miami. (They all were in one vehicle, which wasn’t a good idea to begin with, since it wasn’t a large van or SUV, but I digress.) They were driving down the Turnpike and somehow flipped their car over the edge of a bridge and into an icy river, some 60 feet below. Three of the eight died – two from the impact and one from hypothermia – and the remaining five survived, all in serious condition, with broken bones and hypothermia.
The media soon began showing photos from the scene, including photos of the Chevy Avalanche they’d been driving, which said “Enrique” across the top of the windshield. Within seconds, the comment sections on the news websites were filled with hateful comments about the ethnicity and citizenship of the individuals in the SUV. The things said were unbelievable and horrible – things like that the injured and dead were probably illegal immigrants, so they deserved to die. They literally took my breath away and made me sick to my stomach.
What in the world has happened to humanity? Common human decency? Compassion? Have we, as a society, become so jaded that we don’t care about anyone besides ourselves? It makes me sick to hear people say things like were said in these comment sections. It makes me sick to see people rush to judge others based on their skin color, name, ethnicity, or anything else that truly doesn’t matter. It just makes me sick.
Several years ago, I was accused of wearing rose-colored glasses. That’s obviously no longer the case. I’d like to think that decency and compassion could prevail in this world, but apparently that’s not the case. There’s so much hate in the world today and I just don’t understand it. I don’t know how to change it. Sometimes I wish that I still was wearing those rose-colored glasses. Life would be a lot more pleasant.
Last week, I heard a news bulletin on the radio that eight individuals had been involved in a horrific car accident in far northeast Oklahoma – near Miami. (They all were in one vehicle, which wasn’t a good idea to begin with, since it wasn’t a large van or SUV, but I digress.) They were driving down the Turnpike and somehow flipped their car over the edge of a bridge and into an icy river, some 60 feet below. Three of the eight died – two from the impact and one from hypothermia – and the remaining five survived, all in serious condition, with broken bones and hypothermia.
The media soon began showing photos from the scene, including photos of the Chevy Avalanche they’d been driving, which said “Enrique” across the top of the windshield. Within seconds, the comment sections on the news websites were filled with hateful comments about the ethnicity and citizenship of the individuals in the SUV. The things said were unbelievable and horrible – things like that the injured and dead were probably illegal immigrants, so they deserved to die. They literally took my breath away and made me sick to my stomach.
What in the world has happened to humanity? Common human decency? Compassion? Have we, as a society, become so jaded that we don’t care about anyone besides ourselves? It makes me sick to hear people say things like were said in these comment sections. It makes me sick to see people rush to judge others based on their skin color, name, ethnicity, or anything else that truly doesn’t matter. It just makes me sick.
Several years ago, I was accused of wearing rose-colored glasses. That’s obviously no longer the case. I’d like to think that decency and compassion could prevail in this world, but apparently that’s not the case. There’s so much hate in the world today and I just don’t understand it. I don’t know how to change it. Sometimes I wish that I still was wearing those rose-colored glasses. Life would be a lot more pleasant.
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