Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Quote by William Morris
sanc·tu·ar·y
ˈsaNGk(t)SHəˌwerē/
noun
1.
a place of refuge or safety.
“people automatically sought a sanctuary in time of trouble”
synonyms:
refuge, haven, harbor, port in a storm, oasis, shelter, retreat, hideaway, hideout
“the island is our sanctuary”
safety, protection, shelter, immunity, asylum
“he was given sanctuary in the embassy”
We lived all over the state of California. We lived on the East Coast. And we have visited the majority (passing thru or went on vacation) of the state in the U.S. We have literally moved more times than years my daughter has be alive. There were good and bad times believe me, it was how we got thru them together and the attitude while going thru tough times. It brought our family closer together. Needless to say we have had to make a conscious deliberate effort to make our home our sanctuary.
Now when it came down to the issue of moving all those things, well you start to question, what is important and what was whim or maybe a collection phase (brass, apples, unicorns) that you may have been going thru. When moving they charge you by the weight. And sometimes things can end up being just that, just extra weight or dust collectors. And we’ve also come to appreciate that things just things. You bought them and hope that they were of the quality and value (money) that was paid for them. We give them sentimental value. You declutter or get rid of things sometimes to get more things. It comes down to your comfort and your family’s’ comfort.
With so much negativity that can bring stress from work and outside influences, it’s makes it that much more important to de- stress when you come home. Home should always be a place you can feel safe, loved and cared for. Treat yourself and your home with the utmost care. Make it your sanctuary.
Here are our top ten ways to make your home your sanctuary.
Your home should reflect who you are. Are you bright and sunny? Are you neutral with pops of colors? You know what best reflects you or makes you calm (if you need to be calm) or stimulates you (if you need to be stimulated). Make it personal. Make it yours.
Choose items that are beautiful to your eyes and functional if possible, I will be the first to admit I have items that just please me. They make me happy or remind me of a happy time.
There is a place for you. It is your home or more specifically your room. Okay so you may have more than one room that’s personally your domain. The entire home is your domain. The point is to make it yours by having all your special things in it. A space that you can go to that relaxes you and or makes you happy. I used to have a favorite loveseat right next to my bookshelf of favorite books. It was my spot. Have your items accessible and in a comfortable area.
Ensure that all family members have their personal space and favorite things so that they too have sanctuary. They know this is their home too. They are comfortable and look forward to returning home after school or work.
Make sure you have family time. It may be old-fashioned but I love having a meal albeit breakfast or dinner where everyone is at the table, breaking bread together and sharing whats going on with them. Communication is paramount in making sure everyone is okay and happy.
Speaking of family, don’t be afraid to delegate chores and designate areas off-limits or that must be treated in a certain way so that everyone is on the same page.
Always make an effort to leave outside troubles, outside. Discuss them, figure out a solution and then concentrate on home/family life. Home should be a place of refuge.
Our home satisfies the basic need of shelter. But it is more than that. Make sure it is a safe place. Have security devices and measures. Keep your doors and windows locked at night and have a safety plan for fire, disasters or emergencies.
Make sure that all who enter know that your home is your domain and there is to be no nonsense or negativity.
Take whatever steps necessary to make your home your sanctuary. It is yours. Your home is your castle. Take charge of it and be the queen of the castle, so to speak. Rule it with grace, charm and strength.
