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Why Crumbs are Okay on Floors
From Creating a Beautiful Home by Alexandra Stoddard
"Interesting people create interesting houses. By being ourselves, we can break through the limitations imposed by place and circumstance. It is the expression of well-lived lives that creates beautiful spirit and charm in a house, not the beautiful furnishings. I've seen the homeliest houses transformed into havens of affection and joy by fascinating, high-spirited people. . . Perfectionism, in the final analysis, halts the creative process. It is the enemy of spontaneity and serendipity, surely two of the most glorious gifts of life. In my experience working all over the United States, I've found there is too much emphasis on nit-picking neatness, on creating rooms that are nothing more than still lifes. But where is the living taking place? Living well is an earthy business. We may celebrate the daily moments of life when we throw an extra log on a roaring fire, light a scented candle, open a window, move a chair over to the light . . . prepare a snack, read the paper, or write a letter with a fountain pen; but the soot, the scratches, the crumbs, the ring on the table, the mess on the floor, the ink on the chintz, the wrinkles, the work - these are all part of the romance of everyday living. Perfection, on the other hand, chills the mystery and leaves us frozen in space. Perfectionists miss it all. . . bed can be a beautiful still life - when not in use - but pillow cases do get wrinkled and, yes, ripped. My old pine writing desk has several ink stains on the surface, some from my own pens. without these, my desk wouldn't have a soul. It is, in fact, in the untidiness and the clutter or our cozy messes that we make our presence felt - and that, after all, is what homes are all about."
Posted by lilypress at January 11, 2006 7:08 PM
Comments
Thank you for the reminder that perfection and excellence are different.
Posted by: Lauren at January 13, 2006 2:54 PM
