Do you ever see other people’s homes, and feel like you are different and/or somehow wrong because in your house not everything matches perfectly? Or maybe you are a college student living paycheck to paycheck and you can’t afford to keep up on the latest trends (nor do you have the time.)
Whatever the case is, I’m here to tell you, everything doesn’t HAVE to match.
Or be curated. Pinterest-worthy. Instagram-ready. On trend.
It’s okay if things are mismatched. A few seasons old. Hand-me-downs. Antiques that have seen better days. Homemade. What matters is that you do the best you can with what you have, and demonstrate the kind of person you are.
What matters is that you do the best you can with what you have, and demonstrate the kind of person you are.
Learning to Invite People
I spent too long in my life closing myself off from inviting people in because my home wasn’t perfectly curated. Or just not being social because of budget restraints.
(And mind you, if your home has all of the latest, praise God! I am so happy for you. This message isn’t necessarily for you.)
This message is for those of us who worry out homes aren’t good enough. Or our wardrobe isn’t good enough , or our budget isn’t good enough. I’m here to tell you, that whatever the Lord has blessed you with at this current moment in time, is good enough. And don’t let comparison steal your peace and keep you from inviting people into your home, and from going out in public, etc. Maybe you don’t have a lot of money right now, but the things that show the character of a person are always free :
- Creativity. Sometimes constraints are the key to our most creative endeavors.
- Cleanliness. Clean is beautiful.
- Tidiness. Tidy is peaceful.
- Generosity. You don’t have to just give things, you can give your gifts of time and talent.
- Kindness. One of my favorite quotes is , “Be the kind of somebody who makes others feel like somebody.”
- Taste. You can cultivate your own style and taste by reading books, looking at magazines and notice what speaks to you.
- Manners. They show respect and the type of person you are.
No One Cares
Certainly, design and cohesion are important. But you have to do it with the resources you have. Don’t stress yourself out or get into debt because of fear about what others think. Just do your best.
Besides all of these things, NO ONE CARES. Everyone else is too worried about themselves.
Seriously though guys. How much of us are in debt because of trying to keep up with the Jones’ and have what is popular? As Dave Ramsey says, “We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” And then we waste our precious lives working way too hard to pay the things off. Meanwhile we could be using that time to enjoy our lives, our homes, our friends, and our family. Haley Stewart has some great insight on this in her book:
And good ol’ Dr. Suess said it best:
It’s None of My Business Anyway
Whenever I feel insecure, I just remind myself that my responsibility is to be the best version of myself and to be a blessing to others – what they think of me is none of my business! I find this very empowering. It frees me from worry because it reminds me of the only thing I have control over – my own actions.
Be Social Anyway
So go ahead. Your are now empowered to be social anyway. Be social despite your shortcomings and despite your imperfections. Just do what you can and God will do the rest.