Celebrate Yourself With Your Own Personal Retreat
Nearly 75 percent of all adult women in this country are active in the U.S. labor force. Most get up every day, get dressed, and go to a traditional job away from home. Some get up every day and work from home, putting in the same hours for pay. The other 25 percent of adult women may not draw a paycheck, but they are working hard too, tirelessly taking care of their families and their homes. And after taking care of their jobs and homes, many still find time to volunteer in their communities.
Women are always doing what needs to be done and taking care of business. So, celebrating Women in Business this month means celebrating all women—the mother, the CEO, the teacher, the doctor, and the woman who cooks the meal for someone less fortunate. All of us. And more importantly, isn’t it time we celebrated ourselves? We need to give ourselves the kudos we deserve.
If you love to travel, do it. If you enjoy a nice meal, take yourself out to eat. Spend more time indulging in the company of good friends who fill your tank. And surround yourself with beauty and create spaces with room to breathe and refresh. If space in your home allows for a craft room, a workout room, or a quiet room for meditating or praying, start planning today. Make that extra room in the house yours. If you do not have the luxury of a lot of extra space—and most folks do not—carve out a corner, a nook, or just make one room that is shared with another family member feel more personal. A privacy curtain or room divider may be helpful. A sanctuary does not have to be spacious, just relaxing.
Your retreat can simply start with a chair you love that is soft and comfortable. Pull it near a window with a view, or into a corner where you add a small table or a bookshelf within arm’s reach for your favorite books or collected objects that bring back delicious memories. A corner in your bedroom might be ideal. It is a spot you may find easier to keep others out of. A “do not disturb” sign for the doorknob is not out of the question. Maybe there is room in your bath for framed photos of your children, grandchildren, or some of the wondrous places you have visited that will make you smile every time you look at them. You spend time in the bath every morning and every evening—make it a serene place for inspiration and good vibes. Put a dimmer on the light switch, add a candle, maybe a plant, and figure out how to get some music going in there. If a bath leaves you relaxed, make that your spot to charge your battery each morning or unwind at the end of the day.
A she-shed, diva den, or movie-inspired greenhouse where you can enjoy tea every afternoon is not necessary. Just a spot to call your own will do. Add the feminine touches that make you happy. Incorporate all the little things you have thought about in the past but have not done because they did not seem to fit with the lifestyle of the rest of the family. It is not unusual to see women make design decisions with everyone else in mind. In your spot, you pick the colors, the light fixture, the furniture, and the accessories that make you feel special. You get to decide what you do alone in your space—even if that is just catching up with a friend on the telephone or scrolling through a social media feed that allows you to check out for a little while. Fill a little vase with flowers, smell some fresh air or a favorite scent, listen to some music, and take pleasure in the peace that comes from engaging in “me” time.
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Sassy Bird Interiors
211 Main St. Bay St. Louis
228.344.3181
www.sassybirdinteriors.com
