Whether people are fully conscious of this or not, they actually derive countenance and sustenance from the 'atmosphere' of the things they live in and with. Frank Lloyd Wright
To me, this is similar to the concepts of feng shui.
Well, as I've said before, I'm not a minimalist. Most days the things I live with give me comfort and joy. They make me happy to have them surround me. I remember the love in the gift or the one who gave it to me and that adds more to the general mix of my surroundings.
Occasionally I have moments of wishing I were a minimalist, but what to move out? Nearly everything has a favorite spot. I like the way they look in one place, but they don't look at home in another. I don't feel at home with them there either, so I move them back or change their location. Occasionally I move them around, see them differently and enjoy the new spot, or give a few away, then the feeling passes. And I am once again at least fairly content not to be a minimalist.
I used to do cross stitch and needlepoint, including some petit point, and likely never will again, so those pieces represent a time in my life. They are definitely one of a kind, at least one of a kind made by me. I tend to rotate those by season. I have enough that my kids can have some when they set up house, and I'll still have some for me.
Space is at a premium until College Girl takes some of her art with her (and I will fight her for some pieces.) (She knows it.) But somehow I feel living with art and things of beauty has encouraged the creative and artistic endeavors of all my children. Their artwork hangs in my hallways matted against black matting paper (not framed.) But their collection looks quite dramatic, and I love seeing it. So do they.
So, yes, I agree with FLW. But really, I would like to at least have some tendencies towards minimalism.
A Chinese friend tells me that Chinese believe that if you live with things of beauty, you become beautiful, like what you look at. That works for me!
How about you? are you a minimalist? do you collect? if so, what?
Karin
Related Posts -
Living a passionate life What is the purpose of this life? Do you keep living until you have had all the best experiences? When is life complete? How many... - Review: The Time Traveler's Wife Spoiler at the very far bottom. The Time Traveler's Wife is not a movie I would recommend. It's quite sad in many respects. It is...
- India In her book Leap!: What Will We Do with the Rest of Our Lives? Sara Davidson also heads to India. She knows some Boomers are...
Related Websites -
Fishing Report: April 9, 2010 Sturgeon, Salmon and Halibut At both Berkeley/Emeryville and Pillar Point, the salmon season is off to a poor start. Berkeley/Emeryville will start halibut trips this... -
Eco-living Tips - Recycle and Simplify by Having a Yard Sale Springtime is for yard sales! The first warmth of the season is the perfect time to deep clean and get rid of winter staleness. Dust... -
How to Avoid Long Term Care Nightmares Ronni Bennet has an eye opening review of the powerful book by gerontologist Robert L. Kane and his sister Joan C. West. The book is Shouldn't...
- Robes, Textiles Chinese Asian Antiques
- Pots Chinese Asian Antiques
- Live Seeds Bonsai Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
- Live Plants Bonsai Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
- Chinese Edging, Gates & Fencing Garden Structures & Fencing Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
