Isn’t it Romantic?

In a previous post I mentioned that I was searching for a word to focus on for the new year. That word will be romance. The idea of romance and our great life romance has been appearing in many ways.

I think we are constantly being romanced, or seduced if you will, by reality or life itself. A book that explains this well is The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge and Brent Curtis. For me, reading this book was another opportunity to fall more deeply in love. Once we experience this joy we want to share it with others. It’s no accident that we speak about people as being “in love” – because literally they are. We are steeped in it or stuffed in it. Unfortunately we are not often aware of this.

Falling in love with life is a transformative experience. Although this experience creates more joy it also provides clarity. Our connectedness with others and with creation can be felt more intensely. Systems of injustice, discrimination or economic bias can be seen more easily as well. Just as those in love focus on the other, central to this romance is the idea that our well being  depends on the well being of others.

The artist in me seeks ways to create environments that attract and invite others. The pictures in this post show two examples of romantic rooms. While busier than my taste, they do evoke that feeling of romance – of the richness we feel on the inside.

Using items we already have I may try and replicate key elements of this look. Just like romance, these rooms have many layers and textures – rugs, pictures, books (my favorite!) woods, leathers, glass, fabric. However, colors are minimal or neutral emphasizing the layers and textures. The bedding is white, for example. The sofa is a neutral sage or gray. There is a sense of organized clutter along with a sense of calm. They are rooms I would want to spend time in, alone or with others.

Working in retailing taught me that the entire world is a stage or theatre, if you will. Creating a more romantic environment is one step to inviting romance into my life. Continuing to work for the well being of others will be another.

As the year unfolds I will continue to focus, watch and incorporate the idea of romance. Come along  with me . . .