The Newsy Neighbour
October Issue 108
DIY Project:
Renovate Your Life
“Just like a coat of paint can
completely change the look & feel of a room, a new perspective can
completely change the look & feel of your life.” ~ Darlis Collinge
I am pretty sure that a love for home improvement and Do-it-Yourself
projects is genetic. My dad was a contractor and my mom, well she is an unstoppable
Jill-of-All-Trades with the power tools (and over 100 screwdrivers!!) to prove
it. She turns 70 this year and spent the summer renovating a shed behind our cabin
to turn it into a guest house. I have the DIY bug and so does my daughter. While
I have three grown sons, it always seems to be her and me working on projects
like painting, laying flooring, putting in new vanities and installing shelving.
We are always willing to try something new and are open to advice from those
who have experience in areas that we do not.
Yup, it seems that some people just are naturally drawn to take
action and improve their home. It’s the same with life. Some people are just
naturally drawn to take action and improve themselves. I happen to be one of
those people and I absolutely love courses, classes and stimulating conversation
that help me grow as a person. Every time I have a new “A HA”, it’s like a
renovation in my life… out with the old and in with a new updated thought,
attitude, perspective or piece of knowledge.
Home renovation and life renovation are similar in other
ways too. Let me use one of my first DIY projects from several years ago to
explain. The plan was to simply take a day to remove the carpet in the bathroom
and replace it with tile. And so I began and along the way, I discovered:
1.
Surprises are everywhere – you never know
what you will uncover once you commit to looking beneath the surface. I found not
one or two but THREE layers of carpet!!! In renovating my life, I have
discovered old and unnecessary patterns of thinking hidden beneath my point of
view.
2.
One thing leads to another – once you
start, unexpected new actions show up (like having to fix a VERY seriously rotten
floor around the toilet that gave a clear view into the basement… yikes!). When
we start making changes in our life, we often discover that our view changes
and there are more things we need to do than we originally thought.
3.
Gaining knowledge is ongoing – at some
point in your DIY experience, you will need to learn how to do something new to
accomplish your renovation goal (google the task, watch a video and then do it
until you get it right) and a life reno project is the same. We read books and
attend classes, we seek out mentors and guides, we have meaningful
conversations, and we practice until our current reno project is complete.
4.
The process is worth it – when you step
back and see where you started and what has changed, there is a feeling of
accomplishment and joy at the progress made. This is the same whether you just
painted and redecorated your living room or realized that you have become a
more compassionate and patient person. The end result is new, fresh and an
improvement.
While my mom has been my biggest inspiration for becoming a
DIYer, my biggest inspiration for life renovations are the people who share
their wisdom, knowledge and experiences with openness, honesty and vulnerability.
At WomenTalk, I am inspired to consider if there are
renovations needed in my life. Do any attitudes need to be removed and
replaced? Any behaviours needing repair? Any beliefs needing a new coat of
paint? The stories of heroism, despair, joy, sadness, compassion, betrayal and
celebration shared by the women every month are tools we can use to spark our
own life renovations. What’s your next reno project?
“No matter who you are, no matter
what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a
better version of yourself." ~ Madonna
For more
information about the monthly WOMEN TALK meeting in Strathmore, including how
you may participate by attending or being a Talker, please visit www.WomenTalk.ca/Strathmore.
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