One of the things I have become most aware of recently is how very willing I have been to exist in uncomfortable spaces, merely in order to maintain the status quo. To not upset the apple cart, nor to seem more erratic, or eccentric than those who know me already understand me to be.
This is I think about a denial of intuition. And more, too much pride in my ability to be resilient. Resilience you see, is a much admired quality. It says we are strong. It says we can cope with anything. It says push her and she will fall down, but give her a moment and she will rise again, stronger and more determined than before. And all of that is true, but occasionally resilience becomes a badge of honour we allow to define us, without considering what it might feel like to try vulnerability on for size.
For we are, none of us, merely one characteristic: always the sum of our parts, even when we refuse to ever let the majority of those parts see the light of day. When we start to believe that we are that which others pre-dominantly see in us, we tend to lean towards demonstrating that quality as much and as often as we can. We are the funny one, the organised one, the strong one. We are the determined, the dedicated, or the charitable and thus over the years we channel a version of that very quality even when we would like to tell the rest of the world to go boil its head, let the house go to pot or sob half way through the hilarious story we are telling at our own expense, for the umpteenth time.
This then is how we hurt ourselves. Authenticity is not you see the demonstration of the caricature of ourselves we project most on to the world, it is the ability to to do and feel what we genuinely want to do and honestly feel in any given moment. It is a constant and ongoing demonstration of our truth. Because whether we determine to hide it or otherwise deny it, our truth will always out regardless. Our authentic selves will fight to reveal themselves, whether we honour them or we don’t.
It is why things fall apart. It is why we cannot be one dimensional versions of who we wholly are, nor try to be the square peg squeezing herself into a round hole. It just won’t work. Try it for too long, and we break. Our worn out souls rupture. We behave from a place of bewildered lunacy because we have been suppressing authenticity too long, and she will always have her way regardless.
I have painted myself as the strong one. From the moment I was seven when I had to choose for my sobbing little sister a new best friend (I chose the most sensible girl in the school and Helen swiftly and fiercely rejected her!) to the day I went alone, to register my Mum’s death, I was the strong one. I allocated myself that role and everybody else believed it too, because to argue with me would have been to have force me out of the very armour I wore around my vulnerability.
But of course I am no stronger than the next woman. We all have inner reserves of deep strength, bravado, and the kind of female, fierce can do that allows us to bleed monthly, give birth and hold space for all those that want to take refuge in our hearts. Resilience is both our birthright and the burden we carry until our brittle bones start to crumble in the days after menopause, when the essence of our womanliness says no more now, it is time to live for yourself. To be gentle, true and real.
It is time to paint a portrait of yourself, not a cartoon. To understand that the art we revere most is not admired only for its beauty, but for its complexity, its story and its truth.
I have been too busy being strong. Coping and surviving. I got frightened of telling stores here. Of describing in detail the uncomfortable spaces I was existing in, because I was scared that too much truth is so terribly alienating to those who cannot acknowledge their own truth, let alone, even begin to fathom mine. I forgot that those people do not matter: that my job is to speak to those who feel like I do. Those who have been afraid, but determined. Those who have been tunnelling through, always searching for the light. Those who understand that home has never been about using the right cloth to scrub the jamb of the door, but always about creating a space safe enough to strip away our own layers.
A place to reveal ourselves. To be ourselves, and to come to know ourselves in all our ugly, beautiful glory.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
At the risk of sounding a little bit giddy and probably borderline hysterical, I just wanted to whisper that a certain tall youngish man has treated me to something I have been coveted since the day they were invented. Gotta love that…
Now then Sweeties, do you know the Vintage Mama? Lydia Poblano is the gorgeous bloggess over at TheVintageMama.Com, and I am thrilled that she has taken the time out of her hectic (read whirlwind) schedule to put together these scrumptious little guidelines…
100 Day Countdown to Christmas Christmas is either heaven or hell. Heaven if you are organised, hell if you are not. and this year Housekeepers we are going to be oh so very, very organised -arent we? Bring on then my…
“Who built this house?” “‘Twas I,” said Man. “My brain conceived the perfect plan. My muscles worked with wood and stone”. Then, asked The Spirit, “You alone?” “Yes I,” said Man, and smiled with pride. “Its joists are strong: its beams are…
" A home to me is something that rises way above consumerism. It’s value is more in emotional capital rather than financial capital. Our homes are places where we can be ourselves and not have to be on parade. The utopian side…
Leaves on the track. That was the notorious excuse British Rail once gave for the reason why expected trains had failed to run. An excuse generally considered to be a lot of balderdash, and thus the reason why I am loathe to…
14 Comments
A word I have needed to be reminded of so much lately. Thank you for your wise words Friend. ♥️
It doesn’t matter one bit what I think, really, but in these last couple of posts I’m noticing a resurgence of your writing voice that drew me to you in the first place, many years ago. I just wanted to let you know that it’s lovely to see that again.
Hi Alison. A definition I read recently of resilience: ‘Being resilient does not restore the status quo in your life – springing back to the way it was – but, rather, what you have learned from tackling the adversity changes you for the better and helps you become more keenly aware of what is important in your life.’
Hi Alison. A definition I read recently of resilience: ‘Being resilient does not restore the status quo in your life – springing back to the way it was – but, rather, what you have learned from tackling the adversity changes you for the better and helps you become more keenly aware of what is important in your life.’
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":300,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"http:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tipjar-2.png","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"BrocanteHome","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"BrocanteHome","form_subtitle":"Help Me to Keep BrocanteHome Online","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much: helping me keep Brocantehome online really means the world to me.","payment_confirmation_title":"BrocanteHome","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
A word I have needed to be reminded of so much lately. Thank you for your wise words Friend. ♥️
Oh Alison! This is the very reason I started reading your books and blog to begin with.
Oh Alison! This is the very reason I started reading your books and blog to begin with.
I am so glad you are writing. This is what I love!
All of the yeses. All of them. xo
All of the yeses. All of them. xo
You are speaking to my soul. And I am listening to yours. I hope you’ll keep sharing it.
It doesn’t matter one bit what I think, really, but in these last couple of posts I’m noticing a resurgence of your writing voice that drew me to you in the first place, many years ago. I just wanted to let you know that it’s lovely to see that again.
Hi Alison.
A definition I read recently of resilience:
‘Being resilient does not restore the status quo in your life – springing back to the way it was – but, rather, what you have learned from tackling the adversity changes you for the better and helps you become more keenly aware of what is important in your life.’
Hi Alison.
A definition I read recently of resilience:
‘Being resilient does not restore the status quo in your life – springing back to the way it was – but, rather, what you have learned from tackling the adversity changes you for the better and helps you become more keenly aware of what is important in your life.’
This makes me cry. Being understood . Yes, yes, and yes.
Always coming back to listen to your heart.
what is the name of the artwork?
what is the name of the artwork?