Last week was chaotic for me. My new sleeping pills stopped working, so I had very little sleep for three days. Thankfully, I could communicate with my doctor, which seems to be helping.
That’s just one issue I had last week.
The important thing is I’m still here, and, more importantly, so are you.
On Saturday, I spent a few hours at IKEA.
I spent a lot of money, but it’s all going toward freshening my home.
The way I see it, it’s an investment in myself. If you do not invest in yourself, you’ll end up withdrawing from yourself, and we can’t afford to do that.
Especially in times like these.
The theme/vibe of my home will be a more significant focus on my vinyl collection, art, and books, nurturing the artist within me and becoming zen.
Let’s break it down a little bit.
I’ve always loved music. I have fond memories of listening to Michael Jackson, Anne Murray, and Raffi, and I also had a record of bagpipe music. At the time, I had a Mickey Mouse record player, and I’d crank it up, seemingly to 11.
What else was I supposed to do when I was in ICU for six years?
The weird thing about my vinyl collection is that I don’t have a record player, and there’s an important reason. As I’ve said before, I have 24-hour care and multiple people handling my belongings. Records can easily get damaged. So, whenever I shop for vinyl, I buy it, put it on a shelf, and then add it to my Spotify playlists. It’s not the same, but it’s the safest way in my situation.
I’m always looking for cool album covers and bands I like. I’ve also discovered new artists while shopping. My living room will resemble a mini record store. I have a ton of albums.
Regarding art, I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know a few local artists. I enjoy supporting local artists when I can. I hope to incorporate their art into my home to accompany my vinyl collection. It’ll be better laid out than my previous attempts.
I also plan on selling some of my geek collection, freeing up a lot of space.
Books will be mainly used as decor as I’m physically unable to hold a book. Much like my record collection, when I come across a book that sounds interesting or familiar, I either buy it or put it on a shelf and look for it on Kindle or Audible.
Regarding the artist within me, I want to feel inspired to write and be more creative in general. I’m an artist by nature, but my physical disability limits me from being able to paint or draw as detailed as I want to. Fortunately, due to technology, it’s becoming more accessible and easier to do art digitally.
I disagree with AI being used in some ways, but if it allows people with disabilities to be more creative than they otherwise could be, then I think it is a good thing.
Becoming zen is something I am currently trying to do. I meditate daily, often throughout the day. While some days are better than others, it helps overall. My world may be chaotic at times, but through meditation, I’ve found calmness.
So, there you have it.
The process has been time-consuming, but it will be well worth it. We’re all worth investing time and effort into ourselves.
To those who follow me on social media, I won’t post any pics of the changes until it’s done or almost done.
I think it’s important to focus on ourselves. If we can’t be ourselves, who are we? Halloween only happens once a year, but many choose to wear masks year-round — I’m not referring to healthcare workers or the immuno-compromised.
It always worries me when people say, “To be honest.” Does that mean they typically lie, and we should be glad they are being honest at that exact moment? Why isn’t it safe to think that they are being honest in general? What lies or half-truths have they told?
It’s no wonder why I have a hard time trusting people.
Lies hurt people. Lies have hurt me.
It’s much easier to lose trust than build or rebuild it.
Being honest shouldn’t be a special occasion.
Until next week, stay safe, and keep rolling.
Photo: iStock