What home really means.

For this blog post I wanted to share a little bit of my heart. This post won't contain any cool DIY's or hacks, but it may contain a few little tips for the soul. It's no secret that recently our lives have been consumed by news reports, hate, media exposure, and basically just a whole lot of scary things and negativity. I think it's safe to say that America is in a state of confusion, chaos, discovery, awakening, and whatever other word you may have for it. In light of all these things, I feel that as humans we naturally look for something safe and comfortable to help us get through these types of times. I know for me, whenever I am scared, distraught, sick, and caught up in whatever overwhelming emotions this life has to offer there is only one place I want to be. H O M E. By definition, a home is our dwelling place. Where we live and where we seek shelter. It's where we are the most comfortable. This is why you don't find too many people desiring to live in the jungle or out in unforgiving natural conditions. We seek shelter from the outside and from storms. But a home is much more than just a physical place of residence. 

This has been something that's been on my mind for a while now. One of my biggest goals that I have when I talk about home decor and things like that is to never come off as materialistic or overly showy. I never want to be the "look at all my stuff!" Type of person. For whatever reason, decorating and creating things has been a strong passion of mine. There's something about creating a beautiful and nurturing environment that just feeds my soul. Thankfully, I've also been passionate about creating things for a much more achievable cost! But I never do all these things to simply collect more and more materialistic objects. Honestly, all these things are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but that is not what makes a home a home. If it were all taken away, would I still have a fulfilled life? Would I still have love and relationships? 

I don't say all of this to say that heading over to Kirklands is bad, because I'd be the biggest hypocrite! Decorating is fun! It's fun to make your home feel pretty and to give it life! But the moment that becomes the thing that you want to remember about your home, you may have a problem. Of course you want to be proud of the things you've worked for, and you want people to think you have a nice home. That's normal and natural. But more than that, make it your goal for your home to be a place of comfort, safety, memories, and most of all love. My home is my family, my home is my safe place to be who I truly am without judgment. My home is memories being made. Those are the things I think about when I think about home.

The last thing I want to say is that I have been really trying to make it a goal to never live outside of my means. Before I buy a single knick knack, my bills are paid. If it's a want and not a need, I wait until I have the extra. Even still, I don't want to buy things just to have them. I want them to have a purpose or some sort of inspirational or feel good value in our lives. I'm learning more and more that living a frugal life is so fulfilling and freeing. I'm not always the best at being frugal, I'll be honest, but it's something that I want to keep trying to achieve!

So If you want, I have a little challenge (that I want to do as well)! Like I said, wanting pretty things is not wrong! But I want to challenge myself by doing this: first, take care of priorities. Secondly, use your extra finances to bless someone (friend, local church, charity, etc.), and THEN if you have extra, head on over to Kirklands! 

But always remember that home is not a place, it's a feeling. 

Until next time y'all!