Yes, success is different for everyone, and as you say, I think we change what we think as we grow older. As a younger person, I might have thought success was being famous and making lots of money. But now, as an older person. I think quite differently Success is when you have built yourself a happy life, rather than the perfect minimalist home that is blasted at us in the media. Perhaps I should say house rather than home. If you truly have built a HOME, then that is success, because a home is filled with love not possessions. I live very simply in a cluttered little cottage where we keep things in case we want to make or fix things and people always know we can find a way to solve a problem. That perfect minimalist house (which is one of my pet hates) is for me the opposite of creativity. It is sterile. there is no crochet on the coffee table or anything home made or the result of creativity, yet for so many, that house is what they see as achieving success. I think being kind and having a loving home are the real signs of success
Thank you for sharing such a personal and insightful perspective – it's precisely these kinds of exchanges that make our community so enriching.
I wholeheartedly agree with your beautiful distinction between a house and a home. You've articulated something I've felt but struggled to express so eloquently. A home, as you say, is indeed filled with love, not just possessions. It's a living, breathing space that reflects the lives, creativity, and values of those who dwell within it.
I also appreciate how you've highlighted the evolution of our understanding of success as we grow older. It's a journey I've experienced as well, moving from more external markers of success to finding joy and fulfillment in creating a loving, welcoming home environment. Your words remind me that true success lies in the connections we foster and the love we share, not in achieving some idealized, sterile version of perfection.
The contrast you drew between your home and the "perfect minimalist house" really struck a chord with me. While I believe everyone should create a space that brings them peace and joy, I share your sentiment that a home should reflect the fullness of life – including its creative messes and meaningful clutter.
Thank you, again, for sharing your wisdom. I'm grateful for readers like you who bring such depth and insight to our ongoing conversation about what truly matters in life.
Wishing you continued joy and creativity in your wonderful home ❤️
Your response really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing this.
I appreciate your making the time to read, Renee.
Yes, success is different for everyone, and as you say, I think we change what we think as we grow older. As a younger person, I might have thought success was being famous and making lots of money. But now, as an older person. I think quite differently Success is when you have built yourself a happy life, rather than the perfect minimalist home that is blasted at us in the media. Perhaps I should say house rather than home. If you truly have built a HOME, then that is success, because a home is filled with love not possessions. I live very simply in a cluttered little cottage where we keep things in case we want to make or fix things and people always know we can find a way to solve a problem. That perfect minimalist house (which is one of my pet hates) is for me the opposite of creativity. It is sterile. there is no crochet on the coffee table or anything home made or the result of creativity, yet for so many, that house is what they see as achieving success. I think being kind and having a loving home are the real signs of success
Dear Vicki,
Thank you for sharing such a personal and insightful perspective – it's precisely these kinds of exchanges that make our community so enriching.
I wholeheartedly agree with your beautiful distinction between a house and a home. You've articulated something I've felt but struggled to express so eloquently. A home, as you say, is indeed filled with love, not just possessions. It's a living, breathing space that reflects the lives, creativity, and values of those who dwell within it.
I also appreciate how you've highlighted the evolution of our understanding of success as we grow older. It's a journey I've experienced as well, moving from more external markers of success to finding joy and fulfillment in creating a loving, welcoming home environment. Your words remind me that true success lies in the connections we foster and the love we share, not in achieving some idealized, sterile version of perfection.
The contrast you drew between your home and the "perfect minimalist house" really struck a chord with me. While I believe everyone should create a space that brings them peace and joy, I share your sentiment that a home should reflect the fullness of life – including its creative messes and meaningful clutter.
Thank you, again, for sharing your wisdom. I'm grateful for readers like you who bring such depth and insight to our ongoing conversation about what truly matters in life.
Wishing you continued joy and creativity in your wonderful home ❤️