What do you see?

This is my living room. It's my quiet place. It doesn't have a television and I don't store toys in here even though I do bring some in for them to play with, they always go back to playroom. This is my sanctuary. It's a whole room now but across my life it has usually been my bedroom or a corner with a chair. This photo could evoke something different to every person who sees it. Some might look at it and think how amazing it would be to have a pretty, minimalist space like this in their home. Some might think the fireplace makeover is great and they might love my midcentury, neutral, palette vibe. Others may think brown is so 2010 and if I was going to makeover the fireplace at least I should have finished the cover! When my husband looks at this room he sees the flooring he hates that we have to clean almost monthly to keep the stains at bay. He wants wood, of course. He sees the vent that needs replacing because the hole is stripped and it isn't snug against the wall. He sees the screen on the sliding glass door that needs replacing and how much we would love to change those to French Doors and lose those stupid, half broken blinds. My kids see a narrow room that mom tries to have gatherings in and they feel like it's too small for family gatherings now. I can't help what anyone else sees. I see all those things too - good and bad. But the only thing I focus on is how much I love this space. Like I really love it. I wanted to get away from the open floor plan we had before. I wanted cozy. I didn't want a large space for my grandkids to rip and run. Nope. That's for outside or the basement, maybe if the weather is yucky. I wanted a comfy space for them to sit and play in the floor with their toys. I wanted snuggly spaces for reading books and long talks with my beloved. I wanted a warm fireplace to watch it snow and have coffee while the birds empty the feeders in record time or to watch all the flowers come up in the spring. Even above those thoughts I see a home I never ever thought I would have. Growing up people in my family and in my circle of influence didn't really have those nice things. I don't even know if I knew anyone with a fireplace and pretty hearth. Life was more about survival and time to be reflective or enjoy a cup of tea and book was just not reality. I think of how 2/3 of the people on the planet would trade places with me in a heartbeat. This photo would have looked very different last week when the Christmas decorations were still up and had been collected from around this house to be stored in this room until I had time to put them away properly. They were all over the tables and chairs! If I did a close up you'd see a tiny tear on that bench and stain on the carpet by the door. Or if I used a professional camera and waited for good light and shot perfect angles this could look like a magazine photo. See it's all perspective. Where are you standing when you look? Not physically standing so much as mentally standing. Are you standing in a place of gratitude? Then you will see this one way. A place of envy or frustration? You will see it differently. Really all I want you to see is that while this room may evoke some thoughts all on it's own most of the words about my space and my life, just the way you think about your space and your life resonate from the perspective you and you alone CHOOSE. All those perspectives are open to you. Which one will you take in and allow to take up space in your soul? Gratitude is a choice. Joy is a choice. Peace is a choice. I can show you a hundred photos from people with more and less than you and I, with challenges and circumstances that make ours seem small. In the end we all choose what we will see. Choose Wisely