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Authenticity: A Very Good Thing.

by | Jul 23, 2007 | Authentic Living, Domesticity

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Authenticity: A Very Good Thing.

July 2007

So, being totally new to blogging and not really knowing the first thing about it, I decided to take a little tour today around other people’s blogs. Just to see what this is all about. I found quite by accident an old friend Alicia’s blog (hello Alicia!) and from there I was thrust into a world of fantastic blogs that were so wonderful and beautiful, and created by such immensely talented people I contemplated just hanging it all up, saying “Good-bye World!” and ending it all right now. “All” meaning the blog, of course.

I moped around for the rest of the afternoon, thinking to myself: How in the world would I ever be able to put together something so colorful, so insightful, so helpful & impressive to measure up to these talented people? I don’t sew my own aprons or design cute little baby clothes. I don’t make my own pasta. I hardly ever make tartlets (Ok, I never do). I don’t have time to take fabulous photos of my backyard parties and include step by step instructions (with photos) for my famous smoked pork shoulder. I’ve never even made smoked pork shoulder. We have Costco top sirloin burgers. With ketchup.

Authenticity: A Very Good Thing.

 

As I wandered through my house, with two 7-year-old boys running wildly and loudly through a sea of over-turned couch cushions, every blanket in the house now piled in my kitchen, and peanut butter sandwich crusts still on plates from lunchtime, it hit me. HELLO!? What are those little words right after my blog and business name? Refining Your Home for Authentic Living™. AUTHENTIC LIVING? Oh my gosh. I did it again. I profess authentic living and designing one’s home to be beautifully inspired by who you really are, yet I got distracted by beautiful & amazing things I just can’t do right now (or will never do) and felt a momentary twinge of “blog-and-life-envy.”

.Authenticity: A Very Good Thing.

I had to counsel myself back to my life. We all have different circumstances, different abilities, different likes and dislikes and different objectives. We are at different places in our life and in our blogs! But of course, that is what makes us unique. If we can just harness our uniqueness and create our life and home (and blogs!) to reflect who we REALLY are and what we want to accomplish, we would be so much happier!

We can be inspired by all these lovely things that we see, stretch ourselves to see new beauty, apply what is appropriate for us and just enjoy that other people have Martha Stewart all covered in the creative department. We don’t have to be Martha (or Alicia, or any of the other amazing women out there) to be happy, to have beautiful homes or to have something to offer the world. Beauty and wisdom can come from our reality.

My reality is children ranging from ages 7 to 19 and all their friends running happily through my hallways and eating our food non-stop, parents who are living with us while they are remodeling their home, a husband who is a great help in the home but would really rather watch a movie than make hand-made paper, running my own decorating consulting business, a 4700 square foot 1930s fixer-upper on a limited budget (yes, I know, what was I thinking!) and a love for a beautiful home. Somehow I have to put all that reality in a blender, mix it up with some inspiration from other talented people, and create something beautiful for my own happiness and for my family and friends’ well-being. That is creating an authentically beautiful life & home (or blog!). And that’s a good thing. :-)

 

5 Comments

  1. Brandie Kajino

    Hi Melissa!
    What a wonderful blog, and I am LOVING this post. It is all about what you bring to the table. If you are true to yourself, there can be none like you. You obviously have so much to share! I’m definately adding you to my blogroll. :)
    Keep it up girl!

    Reply
  2. melissamichaels

    Thank you so much, Brandie! What a tremendous compliment from an accomplished blogger. I am honored! Your blog has a wealth of information and insight, and I encourage everyone to check it out! Your writing style is delightful and your ideas are so practical and helpful. You are an inspiration!

    Melissa

    Reply
  3. Bettsi

    Hi Melissa! You know I love your blog, but I thought it would be fun to take a trip back in the archives and here you are, 5 years ago, telling us the same thing that you tell us now- to be authentic it has to be OURS! Thanks for five years of awesome inspiration and the encouragement to be ourselves!

    Reply
  4. Heather Beato

    Melissa~

    I am reading your book now, and decided to check out the blog. I read your current posts, and peeked a bit at your Design 101, but came on to the beginning to read the whole way through. I love to do that–hate picking up in the middle of the story! Looking forward to reading over your journey of the past 8 years, and how God has brought you to where you are.

    Definitely got a chuckle out of the start of this post…
    “I was thrust into a world of fantastic blogs that were so wonderful and beautiful, and created by such immensely talented people I contemplated just hanging it all up, saying “Good-bye World!” and ending it all right now. “All” meaning the blog, of course.

    I moped around for the rest of the afternoon, thinking to myself: How in the world would I ever be able to put together something so colorful, so insightful, so helpful & impressive to measure up to these talented people?”

    And here you are…Amazing!!

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      HA! That’s funny you found that little quote from the beginning of the blog (I still feel that way, I just can’t even believe I’m still here!). But what gift to know you wanted to read from the start, thank you. Thanks for commenting and following along! :)

      Reply

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