Demolition day
The spring 2013 we decided to gut our kitchen and rebuild it custom. The kitchen is really the heart of my home, so I call this project the heart transplant of our home improvements. In all honesty we are still in the middle of this surgery for a few reasons.
1-You can’t force creativity
Since we are custom building everything it is taking much more time than just installing. Also y husband and I never want to do this again, so we are taking time to make sure each step, we take in unison, and we both believe it will work for long term. When we force creativity it can take the love out of what we are creating and dampen the joy in the journey. Anticipation is often lost in the rush to have instant gratification.
2-Life happens
We are parents of 3 lively boys who need our time, attention, and energy. I home school them and that takes priority over luxuries. My husband does have full time job and often works more than 40 hour weeks (plus commuting time). And most importantly I really enjoy spending time with my husband. If we don’t take time to play and have fun, the work we do will not add to our quality of life.
3-I am happy with or without a kitchen
Our kitchen if functional, and in all honesty our partially finished kitchen is better than our old one. We have some inconveniences, it is true; but it has been an priceless education. I have been without a dishwasher, sink, stove, and even a fridge in the past year. Sometimes I have been with out multiple appliances. Having minimalism and going back to the basics has changed how I see things and value them.
Final thoughts
I can honestly say that having my kitchen done will be wonderful, but I can also say that my happiness does not come from things or my house. I think sometimes (especially when our home improvements disrupt our daily living) we get caught up in the discomfort and disorder of the changes in our lives, and those changes become our focus and stress us out. The opposite has happened to me during this heart transplant. I feel like when things finally settle…. if they ever do…. I will still be able to draw on the things that matter most to me and find happiness. That I will value the journey as much as the finished product. That I will have enjoyed and lived my life to the fullest despite not having a kitchen.
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