A space of my own

I have a little corner in our home that is all mine. Not that Michael doesn’t use the room from time to time, but it’s really my space. It’s where I read the morning paper, coffee in hand, a cat on my lap. With windows that look out to the street below, I have a birdseye view of the neighborhood awakening and beginning another day.

I come to this place almost every morning, and sometimes throughout the day. I can think here, read here, and write this blog here. I need this space. It’s not fancy, and can be a little messy (see photo left), with all my newspaper and magazine clippings, reference books, notes, momentos. But I love this little corner.

Actually, I love my whole house, but my little space gives me somewhere to reconnect with myself every day. No distractions, no exceptions.

Michael has his man-cave, too. It’s a small area in the upstairs loft. He works on his photography there. His noise-cancelling headphones ensure his space is distraction free. Funny thing, my voice seems to always come through those headphones, regardless of what he’s listening to. (Hmm . . . big smile.)

And my friend, Dona, has her backyard outdoor swing encased in a beautiful tent-like structure, adorned with candles and pillows. Each morning, it’s where she begins her day in peace and comfort, with puppy by her side.

Don’t you think we all need a little space to ourselves where we can make our own plans, dreams, contemplations? It needn’t be more than a cozy corner, a favorite chair, your comfy bed, under the backyard tree, at the kitchen stove, or maybe it’s the perfect table at your favorite coffee house. The point is . . . it’s yours. It’s where you can get your creative juices flowing and do some “going nowhere” thinking.

Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple, described his favorite space as nothing more than   “ . . . a cup of tea, a light, and my stereo.” And Agatha Christie told her architect, “I want a big bath, and I need a ledge because I like to eat apples.” Christie constructed her plots in a large Victorian tub, one bite at a time.

As a kid, my room was my sanctuary. I spent hours there listening to music, covering my wall with posters, looking through magazines – and dreaming. Dreaming of what my life would be one day. Oh yeah – and doing homework . . . eventually.

As I’ve gotten older, and with more time to navel gaze now, I’ve rediscovered the joy of having my own little corner. Maybe it’s all that wisdom (wink!) needing a quiet, safe place to emerge and blossom. Whatever the reason, I love the moments I find in my space.

In my humble opinion, in addition to a healthy diet, regular exercise and a good night’s sleep, we need a little space of our very own to reconnect with ourselves and our spirit. Whether for a few minutes or a few hours, that time in that place is just for us. Only.

How about you? Do you have a cozy corner or a room with a view that has become your special place?

Till next time,

Judy