This week is my daughter’s 25 birthday, for all of you parents out there you know that the older your children get, the older you feel! It is surreal that she is the age I was when I became her mom and it is wonderful to see the woman emerge even though I still witness the child from time to time.
You don’t need me to tell you how fast time goes, I’m sure you all have experienced this phenomenon in your life with family, events and special occasions. There is nothing like getting together with people to see how children have grown and how everyone has changed over the years.
This year I had some dear friends help me decorate my tree as I was recovering from surgery and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my decorations through their eyes as they uncovered boxes of sparkle and cheer. It took me back to when and where the items were bought and made me realize how old some of my decorations are! I have some ceramic booties from babies first Christmas 1994, which always go on the top near the star and the impact of the years those booties have seen hit me with a tearful force this year.
Now I’m looking around my home and realizing how many decades some pieces have seen, that I was in my twenties when I procured certain art pieces and remembering how certain trips led me to other cherished pieces. When you can look at something and realize that it has been in your life almost 30 years and that it is still loved, it means something special.
On the other hand, if you have décor in your life that you hate or out of date items or colours that you are dying to change then chalk it up to those items not owing you anything, If you haven’t painted in over 10 years, it’s probably time and that coat of paint has more than earned its keep. A good rule of thumb for décor being too old; if you have given up on dusting it, then it’s time to put it to rest.
Time can sneak up on us so easily and we can grow accustomed to looking at items in our home and not actually seeing them after awhile. I met with a client who was shocked when I pointed out that she still had a picture of her ex husband sitting in a frame. I was asking her how long she had been married and she quite enthusiastically told me how glad she was to be divorced and when I asked who was in the picture, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing! That’s why I was there, to re-design and clear up her clutter.
You may have cherished treasures or outdated junk hanging around your home and every so often it’s a good idea to take stock, move some things around or put things away. Check the layer of dust on things and see when the last time was that you touched or even looked at the object. I think you will be amazed at what you find that you didn’t even know you had!
Kim Wyse is a Central Alberta freelance designer. Find her on facebook at ‘Kim Wyse Associate Royal Lepage Tamarack Trail Realty’.
