I have to admit that I watch a lot of HGTV. I’m particularly drawn to “House Hunters International” and as of recent, been watching reruns of “My Favorite Place”. I like to see how these famous personalities create spaces that not only function for their lives, but also actually serve a purpose…the spaces are designed mindfully.
Since arriving back home from my five-month assignment in west Texas, I’ve been thinking a lot about one space in the house. I’ve been focusing on the space that serves as my art studio and my office. Upon arriving home from my previous assignment in Nashville, I decided I needed a real desk so I could anchor my consciousness in a place devoted to writing. My current return has me focused on the functionality of the space for multiple purposes. I had two big farm tables for my textile art but it took up too much space functionally and visually. I removed one of the tables giving me room to walk around the studio without bumping into things.
I still had one problem and that was I didn’t have a space to read. I can’t read with technical material with the television on or music playing. I need to concentrate when I’m absorbing new material. I also needed a place where I could knit (part of my spiritual practice) without worrying about animal hair flying around. I decided to buy a chair for the studio/office.
Yesterday I went to a huge furniture store and began my hunt for a chair. I had specific requirements for the chair. Obviously it had to be comfortable, but it also had to be functional. Functional for knitting required the chair to be armless so I don’t keep banging my elbows while creating the shawls I’ve been knitting for the past three years. It had to have enough support since I plan on spending a fair amount of time in the chair, and it of course had to be beautiful.
Armed with my phone (with a camera) so I could take pictures I set off on my quest for a chair. I sat in almost forty chairs looking for the chair. I felt a lot like Goldilocks while searching for this chair, and sure enough I found it. The chair is armless, comfortable and the fabric is neutral. The chair is covered with types of tea; it’s from the Teahouse collection ( I drink a lot of tea so I felt it was appropriate).
Why is all of this talk about a chair important? It’s important because part of health and healing requires you to have spaces that are calming and soothing. Your space needs to be a reflection of you because it’s another form of self-expression. I find that I can enter this space and my body, mind, and spirit take a break from the chaos outside of this room. Yes, I usually have one or more animals with me, but they stare out the window or sleep; they understand the peaceful nature of the room.
I have a beautiful photograph on the wall of painted silk drying on 30-foot high poles drying in the wind, a photo taken in China. My desk has small pieces of art and a photograph of the crew I most recently worked with in Texas. It was a parting gift when the contract ended. The caption on the photo is, “We make things happen”.
What type of space would you create for your health and healing sanctuary? How can you claim a space that’s yours for spending peaceful time? It doesn’t have to be a room, it can be the corner of a room, but it has to be yours. It needs to be a reflection of both your soul, and the intention you set for your healing practice.
I’d love to hear about your spaces! Share your ideas down below in the comment section or email me at greg@survivingstrong.com
