1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:08,740 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adams, 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,590 Speaker 2: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, Others, 4 00:00:11,710 --> 00:00:15,590 Speaker 2: and Even Yourself. Each week we dive into meaningful conversations 5 00:00:15,650 --> 00:00:19,049 Speaker 2: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 6 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:21,130 Speaker 2: with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 7 00:00:21,190 --> 00:00:25,700 Speaker 2: loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether through inspiring stories, practical wisdom, 8 00:00:25,770 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 2: or biblical truth, my hope is to encourage you to 9 00:00:28,460 --> 00:00:31,750 Speaker 2: love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God's love in your 10 00:00:31,810 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 2: everyday life. Today, I'm honored to welcome Mike Willen-Smith to 11 00:00:35,659 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: the show. Mike Willen is an author and trusted voice 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 2: in the world of home and design who has helped 13 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 2: countless women create spaces they love without the pressure of perfection. 14 00:00:45,620 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 2: In her book, House Hushing, she offers a refreshingly simple 15 00:00:49,340 --> 00:00:53,390 Speaker 2: approach to creating a peaceful, storied home full of personality 16 00:00:53,450 --> 00:00:57,210 Speaker 2: without filling it with more stuff. Through practical ideas like 17 00:00:57,330 --> 00:01:03,580 Speaker 2: decluttering backward, decorating quietly, styling soulfully, and living seasonally, Michaelin 18 00:01:03,620 --> 00:01:06,300 Speaker 2: reminds us that peace isn't found in an empty home, 19 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:10,850 Speaker 2: but in an intentional one. Her message gives us permission 20 00:01:10,910 --> 00:01:13,860 Speaker 2: to do less. Embrace what matters and create a home 21 00:01:13,940 --> 00:01:18,250 Speaker 2: where people can rest, gather, and belong. Well, welcome back, Michael, 22 00:01:18,290 --> 00:01:19,229 Speaker 2: and I'm so happy. 23 00:01:18,990 --> 00:01:19,490 Speaker 1: To have you. 24 00:01:19,770 --> 00:01:22,070 Speaker 3: So thrilled to be here. Thank you for having me. 25 00:01:22,270 --> 00:01:23,790 Speaker 2: So I'm going to begin with a little bit of 26 00:01:23,830 --> 00:01:26,350 Speaker 2: a confession. You were on a couple years ago with 27 00:01:26,370 --> 00:01:30,470 Speaker 2: your book, House Rules, and we talked about the importance 28 00:01:30,730 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 2: of maybe putting a few holes in my walls with 29 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: some pictures. 30 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: And do you know, I still haven't done it two 31 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:37,620 Speaker 1: years later. 32 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 3: Do you have anything on your walls? 33 00:01:39,380 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: I do. 34 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:40,580 Speaker 1: I do. 35 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,100 Speaker 2: But there is a picture in front of me for 36 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,020 Speaker 2: those that are watching on video, but not much. I 37 00:01:46,020 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: still don't have curtains. I still don't have a rug 38 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,500 Speaker 2: in my floor. So what does this say about me? 39 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,500 Speaker 3: Let me ask you, what is the reason why? 40 00:01:54,540 --> 00:01:56,170 Speaker 1: It's fear. It's fear that I'm going to make the 41 00:01:56,190 --> 00:01:56,690 Speaker 1: wrong choice. 42 00:01:57,110 --> 00:01:59,010 Speaker 3: Okay. Because if you were going to say, I just 43 00:01:59,050 --> 00:02:01,790 Speaker 3: don't really care, I would say, well, then don't do it. 44 00:02:02,110 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 3: But it's If you have stuff, you're like, I really 45 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,660 Speaker 3: would love to hang this or I really would love 46 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 3: to feel this doesn't feel finished and I want it to. 47 00:02:10,380 --> 00:02:12,580 Speaker 3: I really want you to get over that fear. Okay, Rachel, 48 00:02:12,620 --> 00:02:13,820 Speaker 3: here's what I want you to do. I want you 49 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 3: to go to like a coat closet. I want you 50 00:02:16,030 --> 00:02:18,050 Speaker 3: to get a big old fat nail and a hammer 51 00:02:18,070 --> 00:02:20,270 Speaker 3: and I want you to make a hole in the 52 00:02:20,370 --> 00:02:22,930 Speaker 3: back of the coat closet behind the coats. Like, I 53 00:02:22,950 --> 00:02:26,190 Speaker 3: think that's just an easy baby step to see, okay, 54 00:02:26,450 --> 00:02:29,010 Speaker 3: I made a hole. A hole is not a mistake. 55 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 3: You know, if you crash a car, you have to 56 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,070 Speaker 3: repair it. But I think because sometimes we'll have to 57 00:02:35,130 --> 00:02:37,290 Speaker 3: fill holes. We think like if we make a hole now, 58 00:02:37,350 --> 00:02:40,869 Speaker 3: that's like a mistake in the wall. But it's like 59 00:02:40,970 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 3: having a shirt and saying, well, I don't want to 60 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:44,940 Speaker 3: wear it because I might get it dirty. I even 61 00:02:44,980 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 3: have the shirt then. So I want you to make 62 00:02:47,380 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 3: holes in your wall. I want you to make one 63 00:02:49,410 --> 00:02:52,829 Speaker 3: hole in your wall. Start with the easiest thing. Maybe 64 00:02:52,889 --> 00:02:55,370 Speaker 3: buy some special anchors, whatever it is. If you have 65 00:02:55,410 --> 00:02:57,669 Speaker 3: something heavy, don't start with a big curtain. Start with 66 00:02:57,690 --> 00:03:00,209 Speaker 3: like a smaller piece of artwork. I know you have 67 00:03:00,270 --> 00:03:03,150 Speaker 3: some things up, but I would baby step because the 68 00:03:03,190 --> 00:03:09,090 Speaker 3: motivation and the confidence to make progress comes when we 69 00:03:09,150 --> 00:03:12,669 Speaker 3: see a tiny step taken. So you never have to 70 00:03:12,710 --> 00:03:14,550 Speaker 3: start with the biggest thing. Go look at the little 71 00:03:14,590 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 3: wall where you have something hung. Take steps. Take that 72 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:22,380 Speaker 3: art off. Look at that hole. And like appreciate that. 73 00:03:23,139 --> 00:03:25,530 Speaker 3: That makes it possible for me to enjoy whatever it 74 00:03:25,590 --> 00:03:27,610 Speaker 3: is that's hanging up. I know you've got this. And 75 00:03:27,650 --> 00:03:30,130 Speaker 3: I also know you're busy. You have a life that, 76 00:03:30,330 --> 00:03:31,930 Speaker 3: you know, I don't want you to ever feel guilty 77 00:03:31,970 --> 00:03:34,090 Speaker 3: about that. But I don't want us to not make 78 00:03:34,150 --> 00:03:36,510 Speaker 3: holes because we're afraid. I want us to not make 79 00:03:36,550 --> 00:03:37,910 Speaker 3: holes because we're living a great life. 80 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: Well, I know, I know. 81 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: So I need this conversation with you again. We want 82 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: our home to be peaceful. We want people to feel 83 00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:48,450 Speaker 2: like they are welcome here. But I think that starts 84 00:03:48,530 --> 00:03:51,490 Speaker 2: almost internally just in our own heart posture. 85 00:03:51,510 --> 00:03:52,270 Speaker 1: Do you think? 86 00:03:52,270 --> 00:03:55,030 Speaker 3: 100%. You know, I have been online. This is my 87 00:03:55,050 --> 00:03:59,070 Speaker 3: 19th year. online helping women in their home. And no 88 00:03:59,130 --> 00:04:01,110 Speaker 3: one ever comes to me and says, will you help 89 00:04:01,190 --> 00:04:03,330 Speaker 3: me get my home looking really pretty so I can 90 00:04:03,370 --> 00:04:05,970 Speaker 3: impress my mother-in-law or my next door neighbor? That's not 91 00:04:06,010 --> 00:04:07,890 Speaker 3: why we want a pretty home. I don't care what 92 00:04:07,930 --> 00:04:10,190 Speaker 3: your home looks like, but the truth is you care 93 00:04:10,230 --> 00:04:12,350 Speaker 3: what your home looks like. I care what my home 94 00:04:12,370 --> 00:04:15,130 Speaker 3: looks like. And when we're not comfortable in our own home, 95 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:18,190 Speaker 3: we don't feel like it reflects us or, you know, 96 00:04:18,210 --> 00:04:20,349 Speaker 3: it just doesn't feel ready for people yet. We're not 97 00:04:20,370 --> 00:04:22,190 Speaker 3: going to use it the way that we want to 98 00:04:22,310 --> 00:04:25,150 Speaker 3: use it. So that's my goal. is to help women 99 00:04:25,410 --> 00:04:28,300 Speaker 3: create the home they've always wanted so they can use it, 100 00:04:28,370 --> 00:04:30,210 Speaker 3: so they can forget about it, so they don't have 101 00:04:30,250 --> 00:04:33,390 Speaker 3: to worry about like, I've been putting off this decision. 102 00:04:33,450 --> 00:04:36,150 Speaker 3: It feels like a big burden or, oh my goodness, 103 00:04:36,210 --> 00:04:39,550 Speaker 3: my house feels overwhelming when I come home and therefore, 104 00:04:39,770 --> 00:04:43,310 Speaker 3: you know, I'm more tired or I feel guilty or 105 00:04:43,330 --> 00:04:46,450 Speaker 3: I feel shame or I just don't volunteer to host 106 00:04:46,550 --> 00:04:48,710 Speaker 3: or just to have my next door neighbor over. So 107 00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:52,500 Speaker 3: that is the goal. Use our home. And I found 108 00:04:52,670 --> 00:04:54,610 Speaker 3: for the ladies that I help, a lot of times 109 00:04:54,670 --> 00:04:59,170 Speaker 3: it's either decorating or sometimes undecorating that gets us to 110 00:04:59,210 --> 00:05:01,430 Speaker 3: the place where we really can open it up and 111 00:05:01,690 --> 00:05:02,970 Speaker 3: use it and kind of forget about it. 112 00:05:03,250 --> 00:05:05,770 Speaker 2: Okay. So the last time you were on was House Rules. 113 00:05:05,850 --> 00:05:08,610 Speaker 2: Everybody needs to go and listen to that episode and 114 00:05:08,650 --> 00:05:11,670 Speaker 2: grab that book. Your books are beautiful. They simply are 115 00:05:11,810 --> 00:05:15,790 Speaker 2: gorgeous table books to flip through and conversation starters and 116 00:05:15,830 --> 00:05:18,430 Speaker 2: just to have out. They really are so stunning. So 117 00:05:18,630 --> 00:05:20,849 Speaker 2: talk to us though. You moved from House Rules and 118 00:05:20,870 --> 00:05:23,190 Speaker 2: then you come into this house hushing. So what was 119 00:05:23,230 --> 00:05:25,410 Speaker 2: going on in your own home? 120 00:05:25,490 --> 00:05:28,730 Speaker 1: I mean, can you be honest? Did your house need 121 00:05:28,750 --> 00:05:29,570 Speaker 1: some house hushing? 122 00:05:29,850 --> 00:05:30,529 Speaker 3: It did. 123 00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:30,930 Speaker 1: Okay. 124 00:05:30,970 --> 00:05:33,890 Speaker 3: So I, Chad and I raised our, we have three boys. 125 00:05:34,070 --> 00:05:36,489 Speaker 3: We pretty much raised them through their like middle school 126 00:05:36,510 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 3: and high school years in an 1800 square foot house 127 00:05:39,860 --> 00:05:43,260 Speaker 3: on 13 acres. It was like this simple, tiny, farmhouse. 128 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 3: It worked great, too. Shared a bedroom, but we had 129 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,420 Speaker 3: so much room outside, it kind of made up for 130 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,970 Speaker 3: having three six-foot-tall boys and a six-foot-tall husband and a 131 00:05:51,990 --> 00:05:55,710 Speaker 3: dog and two cats inside. And once they were graduating 132 00:05:56,010 --> 00:05:58,450 Speaker 3: from high school, we ended up moving back to my 133 00:05:58,490 --> 00:06:02,370 Speaker 3: husband's hometown, and we found an old Victorian house on 134 00:06:02,410 --> 00:06:04,330 Speaker 3: the main street. And I had always said, I'll live 135 00:06:04,390 --> 00:06:06,970 Speaker 3: anything but a Victorian, because they always seem a bit 136 00:06:07,070 --> 00:06:11,909 Speaker 3: overwhelming and creepy, but this one felt right. And I 137 00:06:11,950 --> 00:06:13,990 Speaker 3: love moving. I love moving into a new house. I 138 00:06:14,029 --> 00:06:16,390 Speaker 3: think it's so fun and exciting. But for the first 139 00:06:16,430 --> 00:06:18,750 Speaker 3: time ever, when we brought our stuff into this house, 140 00:06:18,950 --> 00:06:22,710 Speaker 3: it had like open shelves in every room that you 141 00:06:22,740 --> 00:06:26,130 Speaker 3: could style. It had bay windows and lots of trim. And, 142 00:06:26,210 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: you know, think about Victorians are always the haunted houses, 143 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,460 Speaker 3: like double doors and corner fireplaces. It had all of 144 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:39,580 Speaker 3: this beautiful history, character, wood floors, interesting millwork, weird, like 145 00:06:39,620 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 3: just weird little corners and things. When I added my 146 00:06:42,820 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 3: stuff into my room and not even that much, it 147 00:06:46,060 --> 00:06:49,140 Speaker 3: felt really, at first I couldn't even put words to it. 148 00:06:49,230 --> 00:06:50,830 Speaker 3: I now know what it felt, but I'll tell you, 149 00:06:50,930 --> 00:06:53,690 Speaker 3: at first it just felt confusing. Like I thought, what 150 00:06:53,730 --> 00:06:56,510 Speaker 3: have I done? I knew I didn't like Victorian houses. 151 00:06:56,650 --> 00:06:58,909 Speaker 3: And so I took a picture. I think that helps 152 00:06:59,070 --> 00:07:01,350 Speaker 3: if you're stuck in a room And you're not sure 153 00:07:01,370 --> 00:07:03,050 Speaker 3: you can't put words to it or you felt like 154 00:07:03,110 --> 00:07:04,610 Speaker 3: I did. And listen, I had been doing this for 155 00:07:04,610 --> 00:07:08,490 Speaker 3: 17 years. I'd written three books on decorating and this 156 00:07:08,529 --> 00:07:10,410 Speaker 3: house stumped me. And so I took a picture and 157 00:07:10,450 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 3: I'm like, what is the problem? I tried to be 158 00:07:12,710 --> 00:07:14,580 Speaker 3: careful with it. But once I took the photo, I 159 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 3: realized that I did not account for the fact that 160 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,060 Speaker 3: this Victorian house already had a lot to say, even 161 00:07:21,100 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 3: if it were empty, like before we even move stuff in, 162 00:07:23,380 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 3: there were just a lot of details happening. And so 163 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,780 Speaker 3: when I came in with my vase collection and my 164 00:07:29,860 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 3: pattern pillows and a rug on top of a rug 165 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,230 Speaker 3: on top of a hardwood floor, it became, even though 166 00:07:35,250 --> 00:07:37,550 Speaker 3: I had all that stuff in a smaller home, my 167 00:07:37,610 --> 00:07:41,170 Speaker 3: last home was so simple. It had just the simplest millwork. 168 00:07:41,230 --> 00:07:44,150 Speaker 3: It just, it didn't have anything ornate, but all those 169 00:07:44,270 --> 00:07:47,910 Speaker 3: ornate voices compounded and layered on top of the stuff 170 00:07:47,950 --> 00:07:52,170 Speaker 3: I brought. It was loud. It was visually overstimulating. It 171 00:07:52,210 --> 00:07:55,350 Speaker 3: was like making my cortisol, making me feel stressed out. 172 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 3: And that is what this Victorian home did. And I 173 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 3: had to learn how to, you know, what happens anytime 174 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:04,620 Speaker 3: you move into a house, no matter what the style is, 175 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 3: it's whatever the style of the house is. And then 176 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 3: your own style, you have to get them together and 177 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 3: you have to figure out how to make them work. 178 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 3: So you form a relationship with your house. And my 179 00:08:15,490 --> 00:08:18,410 Speaker 3: relationship with this house, we had to have some disagreements 180 00:08:18,490 --> 00:08:21,350 Speaker 3: at first because she is a big old extrovert and 181 00:08:21,370 --> 00:08:24,260 Speaker 3: I had never had an extrovert house. I had always 182 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,940 Speaker 3: had a really quiet, simple house in all the different 183 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,740 Speaker 3: homes we've lived in. So I had to turn down 184 00:08:30,180 --> 00:08:32,110 Speaker 3: what I call like the visual volume. And I had 185 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,449 Speaker 3: to learn like what, how could I still have a 186 00:08:34,530 --> 00:08:37,089 Speaker 3: cozy home? I don't want to be a minimalist. I 187 00:08:37,130 --> 00:08:39,990 Speaker 3: want it to feel simple, really valued that. But I 188 00:08:40,030 --> 00:08:43,130 Speaker 3: want it to feel welcoming and warm and inviting and 189 00:08:43,190 --> 00:08:46,250 Speaker 3: still feel like my style, but not feel overwhelming. And 190 00:08:46,530 --> 00:08:49,179 Speaker 3: I had to relearn that all again. And it was 191 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,530 Speaker 3: so good for me. And out of that, came the 192 00:08:51,630 --> 00:08:53,570 Speaker 3: idea for writing House Hushing. 193 00:08:53,990 --> 00:08:55,970 Speaker 2: I have so many thoughts on this, but we're going 194 00:08:55,990 --> 00:08:58,190 Speaker 2: to take a brief break to hear a word from 195 00:08:58,250 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 2: our sponsor. And when we come back, we'll talk about 196 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 2: breaking free from the endless cycle of decorating and decluttering. 197 00:09:07,059 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 198 00:09:07,820 --> 00:09:11,470 Speaker 2: I'm talking with Michael Lynn Smith about her book, House Hushing. 199 00:09:11,950 --> 00:09:14,030 Speaker 2: So Michael and we, my husband and I have been 200 00:09:14,050 --> 00:09:17,929 Speaker 2: married for 20 years and we have lived in five homes. 201 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:20,260 Speaker 2: So about every four years, we kind of get an 202 00:09:20,420 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 2: itch to do something different. 203 00:09:22,380 --> 00:09:24,699 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is. Well, we're on year four. 204 00:09:24,740 --> 00:09:26,260 Speaker 2: So we're, I don't know what we're going to do, 205 00:09:26,340 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 2: but I actually like moving because it helps me declutter 206 00:09:31,260 --> 00:09:33,140 Speaker 2: and it helps me kind of focus. What have we 207 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 2: used in these last four years and what have we 208 00:09:35,580 --> 00:09:38,359 Speaker 2: not touched that could have stayed in the boxes? And 209 00:09:38,380 --> 00:09:41,380 Speaker 2: we actually even lived in an RV for a little 210 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,780 Speaker 2: while while we were building this house. And we had 211 00:09:45,110 --> 00:09:48,570 Speaker 2: all of our things in storage and didn't miss the 212 00:09:48,610 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: majority of it. 213 00:09:49,490 --> 00:09:51,110 Speaker 1: And that is really telling. 214 00:09:51,170 --> 00:09:51,810 Speaker 3: Now, here we are. 215 00:09:52,170 --> 00:09:55,010 Speaker 2: We probably could give a lot away and sell a 216 00:09:55,030 --> 00:09:58,150 Speaker 2: lot again just after four years. Why do you think 217 00:09:58,210 --> 00:10:01,300 Speaker 2: that we are such hoarders? as people and just these 218 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,260 Speaker 2: collectors of things that we don't need? 219 00:10:03,460 --> 00:10:06,179 Speaker 3: I just think it's just because we're living life. It 220 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,860 Speaker 3: is a normal part of life. People come over. I mean, 221 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,059 Speaker 3: we had people over the other night. Someone brought a 222 00:10:11,090 --> 00:10:13,130 Speaker 3: bottle of wine. Someone brought a pie. And they're like, 223 00:10:13,170 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 3: just keep the dish. Someone brought flowers in a vase. 224 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,540 Speaker 3: Now I have an extra vase. People are always bringing 225 00:10:20,620 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 3: stuff in. It's a birthday. The kids come home from 226 00:10:23,460 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 3: school and bring stuff. That is a non-negotiable. We're bringing 227 00:10:26,970 --> 00:10:29,130 Speaker 3: in groceries. Some of them come in glass, but they'll 228 00:10:29,170 --> 00:10:32,069 Speaker 3: keep this little glass, whatever it is. We are constantly 229 00:10:32,230 --> 00:10:34,990 Speaker 3: bringing things in because we are living a good life. 230 00:10:35,130 --> 00:10:37,510 Speaker 3: That does not mean we're bad. That does not mean 231 00:10:37,550 --> 00:10:43,339 Speaker 3: we're doing a bad job about being minimalism or minimalist, whatever. However, 232 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,300 Speaker 3: I think if we come to the realization that, you know, 233 00:10:46,340 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 3: unless we're going to become people that kind of count 234 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,479 Speaker 3: our trash and are really, really careful what comes in, 235 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,340 Speaker 3: the flip side of that is, well, from time to time, 236 00:10:54,380 --> 00:10:56,900 Speaker 3: we should probably pay attention to what goes out and 237 00:10:56,970 --> 00:11:01,010 Speaker 3: make sure that we're taking stuff out. So that's what 238 00:11:01,050 --> 00:11:03,310 Speaker 3: I like to do once or twice a year in 239 00:11:03,330 --> 00:11:05,390 Speaker 3: like every room of my house. I like to, I 240 00:11:05,510 --> 00:11:08,610 Speaker 3: call it backwards decluttering, but I like to just take 241 00:11:08,650 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 3: that first level of stuff out, the visual clutter that 242 00:11:12,059 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 3: you see it could be the cat bed the magazines 243 00:11:15,420 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 3: all the picture frames the candles the plants the books 244 00:11:18,980 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 3: the games a lot of times it's the little things 245 00:11:21,420 --> 00:11:23,940 Speaker 3: you've become house blind to because they've been sitting out 246 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 3: for a year or two and you just don't really 247 00:11:26,980 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 3: see them anymore and so by having a way to 248 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 3: identify let me remind myself what this room felt like 249 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 3: when we first moved in or what this room feels 250 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:37,740 Speaker 3: like with less what you do is you pick one 251 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,620 Speaker 3: room so let's say you're going to hush your family 252 00:11:40,650 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 3: room or backwards declutter it. You pick another room where 253 00:11:43,660 --> 00:11:46,420 Speaker 3: you're going to temporarily put that stuff. So I usually, 254 00:11:46,580 --> 00:11:48,699 Speaker 3: here I use my dining room in my old house. 255 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,460 Speaker 3: I had a covered porch. I just set everything out 256 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,820 Speaker 3: in baskets out there. And for like 24 hours, you're 257 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 3: going to have an experiment and you're going to get 258 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,099 Speaker 3: that first visual layer. Anything that's on display that's small. 259 00:11:58,260 --> 00:12:00,580 Speaker 3: I'm not talking about your television. You can leave your 260 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 3: functional lamps. You could leave your sofa. It's just that 261 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:08,770 Speaker 3: layer of tchotchkes, of books, of games, of book bags 262 00:12:08,870 --> 00:12:11,429 Speaker 3: of crafts, all that stuff that has kind of slowly 263 00:12:11,510 --> 00:12:14,230 Speaker 3: piled up over time, put that in another room. I 264 00:12:14,270 --> 00:12:16,510 Speaker 3: don't want you to start with making any decisions. This 265 00:12:16,590 --> 00:12:21,189 Speaker 3: is a risk-free, no decision fatigue practice. And it's going 266 00:12:21,210 --> 00:12:23,810 Speaker 3: to feel really weird at first, but over an hour 267 00:12:23,870 --> 00:12:25,430 Speaker 3: or two, I want you to be in the room. 268 00:12:25,809 --> 00:12:28,130 Speaker 3: It's going to start feeling really good. Kind of how 269 00:12:28,210 --> 00:12:30,070 Speaker 3: when I see the behind your room or how you 270 00:12:30,090 --> 00:12:32,450 Speaker 3: were talking about, like you just have kept stuff in 271 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 3: storage and you realize you don't really need it. What 272 00:12:34,750 --> 00:12:38,430 Speaker 3: happens when you use this room that you have decluttered backwards. 273 00:12:38,730 --> 00:12:41,220 Speaker 3: It starts to feel really good. It starts to feel bigger. 274 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 3: It starts to feel peaceful. You don't feel like you 275 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,420 Speaker 3: have a thousand little things saying, look at me, water me, 276 00:12:47,620 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 3: fix me, put me away, return me to the library. 277 00:12:50,420 --> 00:12:53,780 Speaker 3: It really quieted the room down and it makes you 278 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,700 Speaker 3: able to relax, rest, use it. And I think, especially 279 00:12:57,740 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 3: if you live with other people, have them come in 280 00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:01,780 Speaker 3: the room, see what they have to say. A hundred 281 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: percent of the time, people love it. Now, sometimes people 282 00:13:04,179 --> 00:13:06,140 Speaker 3: will say, we need to fix that crack in the wall. 283 00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:09,459 Speaker 3: I haven't... Now that all this stuff is gone, you know, 284 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 3: I realized maybe what needs to be worked on in 285 00:13:12,420 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 3: the room and that happens. But I think that can 286 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 3: be a good thing. But most of what happens is 287 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 3: people say, I can't really remember what's missing, but it 288 00:13:19,850 --> 00:13:23,410 Speaker 3: feels good in here. And when you become kind of protective, 289 00:13:23,450 --> 00:13:25,949 Speaker 3: that quiet, that's a great time to say, okay, what 290 00:13:26,010 --> 00:13:27,969 Speaker 3: actually is anything missing from the room? What do I 291 00:13:28,010 --> 00:13:30,429 Speaker 3: need to bring back in? Maybe our favorite plant that's 292 00:13:30,450 --> 00:13:32,290 Speaker 3: going to die if it's in the other room or 293 00:13:32,330 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 3: my pillow, you know, the cat needs her bed, whatever 294 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 3: it is for people like me. who have worked so 295 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 3: hard to create this cozy, welcoming home decorated with beautiful things, 296 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 3: it can be scary to declutter because it feels like 297 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,459 Speaker 3: we're risking all of that that we've worked so hard for. 298 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,140 Speaker 3: So I really love this idea of kind of turning 299 00:13:50,179 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 3: it around and backwards decluttering because you prove to yourself 300 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 3: that you still have a beautiful room, still have a 301 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:58,309 Speaker 3: room that's functional, that's cozy, that's welcoming, and that's your 302 00:13:58,390 --> 00:14:01,150 Speaker 3: style with less stuff. And what that does is it 303 00:14:01,250 --> 00:14:03,710 Speaker 3: gives you confidence to go to that pile of stuff 304 00:14:03,730 --> 00:14:05,550 Speaker 3: that you moved to the other room and say, okay, 305 00:14:05,980 --> 00:14:08,470 Speaker 3: I have already convinced myself that this room feels good 306 00:14:08,570 --> 00:14:11,929 Speaker 3: without this. I am now more willing to pass this 307 00:14:11,970 --> 00:14:15,530 Speaker 3: stuff along because ultimately all of our beautiful things, all 308 00:14:15,550 --> 00:14:18,590 Speaker 3: of our, whatever it is, we want people, we want 309 00:14:18,630 --> 00:14:21,140 Speaker 3: it to be used and enjoyed. And sometimes, you know, 310 00:14:21,180 --> 00:14:23,300 Speaker 3: maybe it's the crafts or the kid's trumpet and you 311 00:14:23,340 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 3: just say, I don't want to visually have to look 312 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 3: at all of these things. So we're going to get, 313 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,190 Speaker 3: you know, a special little box to put the trumpet in, 314 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:32,750 Speaker 3: or we're going to get a basket with a lid 315 00:14:32,790 --> 00:14:35,750 Speaker 3: to put the crafts in. Sometimes it's just being more 316 00:14:35,850 --> 00:14:38,550 Speaker 3: specific and intentional with the things that are out. I 317 00:14:38,590 --> 00:14:40,750 Speaker 3: know I had a friend who used to have a 318 00:14:40,790 --> 00:14:42,790 Speaker 3: bookshelf next to her TV and she was like, every 319 00:14:42,810 --> 00:14:44,250 Speaker 3: night I feel like I have to read the titles 320 00:14:44,330 --> 00:14:46,910 Speaker 3: of all the books. Our eyes sometimes just want to 321 00:14:46,950 --> 00:14:49,830 Speaker 3: like register everything within our sight. And so it's just 322 00:14:49,890 --> 00:14:51,830 Speaker 3: a way to kind of turn that volume down. 323 00:14:52,010 --> 00:14:54,950 Speaker 2: I do think there is sometimes a level of guilt. 324 00:14:55,050 --> 00:14:58,740 Speaker 2: Like I spent time and money on this item or 325 00:14:58,770 --> 00:14:59,970 Speaker 2: there was a memory or maybe it. 326 00:14:59,980 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: Was gifted to us. 327 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,740 Speaker 2: How do we kind of get rid of that guilt 328 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,660 Speaker 2: that we may feel of letting some of the things go. 329 00:15:07,860 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 3: Well, I'm not a professional counselor or anything like that. 330 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 3: This is again, I think this backwards decluttering kind of 331 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 3: works because if we just like try to reason in 332 00:15:17,990 --> 00:15:20,450 Speaker 3: our head and say, well, you know, I don't really 333 00:15:20,490 --> 00:15:22,870 Speaker 3: like that clock and it kind of makes me feel sad, 334 00:15:22,910 --> 00:15:25,130 Speaker 3: but I guess I can't do anything with it because 335 00:15:25,510 --> 00:15:27,930 Speaker 3: someone will get their feelings hurt. But if you move 336 00:15:27,970 --> 00:15:30,970 Speaker 3: it out first, then you've created the space that you 337 00:15:31,350 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 3: are confident you like. And suddenly, instead of coming at 338 00:15:34,740 --> 00:15:36,700 Speaker 3: it from one direction, you come at it from like, well, 339 00:15:36,820 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 3: I really like the way my room feels. It feels 340 00:15:39,140 --> 00:15:41,900 Speaker 3: good without X, Y, and Z. So now I'm a 341 00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:45,869 Speaker 3: little bit more confident to fight for my reasoning of 342 00:15:45,930 --> 00:15:48,010 Speaker 3: not bringing it back in. Maybe we just put it 343 00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:50,410 Speaker 3: in another room. Maybe whoever gave it to me, maybe 344 00:15:50,470 --> 00:15:52,810 Speaker 3: I asked them, tell them we're done with it. Would 345 00:15:52,830 --> 00:15:54,770 Speaker 3: you like it back? Maybe we take a picture of it. 346 00:15:54,820 --> 00:15:56,820 Speaker 3: Maybe someone else in my family could use it. So 347 00:15:56,860 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 3: whatever it is, Flipping it and just creating the space first, 348 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,390 Speaker 3: a lot of times will give you the confidence to do. 349 00:16:03,730 --> 00:16:06,950 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's the husband sees the piano that's been passed out. 350 00:16:06,990 --> 00:16:09,550 Speaker 3: He's like, gosh, that's in the way. I didn't notice 351 00:16:09,610 --> 00:16:11,310 Speaker 3: it until the room was quiet. You've been hiding it 352 00:16:11,390 --> 00:16:14,090 Speaker 3: so well with all this decor. But when you quiet 353 00:16:14,130 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 3: the room, I know the first time I ever did this, 354 00:16:16,510 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 3: my husband and I came back from our honeymoon. I 355 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 3: was new in his house. condo and I quieted it 356 00:16:21,660 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 3: I didn't know really what I was doing I just 357 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 3: knew like I need to like put all his dude 358 00:16:25,860 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 3: stuff in another room for a few days so I 359 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 3: can see this space so I put all in there 360 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,060 Speaker 3: and I told him it was you know nothing has 361 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 3: been given away it's all right there he came home 362 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 3: from work and the first thing he said is man 363 00:16:35,980 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 3: that's an ugly couch that is so ugly like he 364 00:16:38,710 --> 00:16:42,229 Speaker 3: had never seen it before because there was just stuff 365 00:16:42,370 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 3: everywhere and so it opens your eyes to what is there. 366 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,860 Speaker 3: And I think it can help you maybe have some 367 00:16:47,900 --> 00:16:50,300 Speaker 3: hard conversations with others or even with yourself. 368 00:16:50,490 --> 00:16:53,710 Speaker 2: I do think sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Like, oh, 369 00:16:53,750 --> 00:16:55,510 Speaker 2: I have so much stuff in this room. This feels 370 00:16:55,550 --> 00:16:57,590 Speaker 2: like such a big project. I don't even want to 371 00:16:57,650 --> 00:17:00,250 Speaker 2: start it. It's just I'm too overwhelmed by it. But 372 00:17:00,350 --> 00:17:02,810 Speaker 2: I have found in my own life, if you do 373 00:17:02,870 --> 00:17:05,369 Speaker 2: just start with, I'm going to do this drawer. I've 374 00:17:05,390 --> 00:17:08,570 Speaker 2: been wanting to organize this drawer or this cabinet for months, 375 00:17:09,030 --> 00:17:11,710 Speaker 2: and I finally do it. And it, I mean, actually 376 00:17:11,730 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 2: I'm telling a true story. I did this to my 377 00:17:15,150 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 2: medicine cabinet not long ago. I mean, just a disaster. 378 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,980 Speaker 2: Every time I opened it, it frustrated me. So finally 379 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 2: I took a Saturday and I was like, I'm going 380 00:17:22,220 --> 00:17:25,909 Speaker 2: to conquer this medicine cabinet. And it took me maybe 381 00:17:25,950 --> 00:17:29,370 Speaker 2: five minutes. And I literally thought, why have I been 382 00:17:29,410 --> 00:17:32,270 Speaker 2: putting this off for so long? I've just been so 383 00:17:32,410 --> 00:17:34,369 Speaker 2: aggravated every time I open it. And I could have 384 00:17:34,410 --> 00:17:38,410 Speaker 2: solved this problem myself so long ago and so easily. 385 00:17:38,430 --> 00:17:40,909 Speaker 1: So do you find that? I mean, am I the 386 00:17:40,970 --> 00:17:41,780 Speaker 1: only one with this? 387 00:17:42,060 --> 00:17:44,020 Speaker 3: We all do that. I think it's such a good 388 00:17:44,060 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 3: idea to time ourselves doing that chore that we've been 389 00:17:47,540 --> 00:17:50,060 Speaker 3: putting off. And I would say, even to take it 390 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,390 Speaker 3: one step forward, if you're like, oh my gosh, It's beyond, 391 00:17:54,710 --> 00:17:56,310 Speaker 3: I wish it would all burn down. And we've all 392 00:17:56,369 --> 00:17:59,130 Speaker 3: felt that way, secretly wishing our house would burn down 393 00:17:59,390 --> 00:18:01,890 Speaker 3: so we could start fresh and then feeling horrible about 394 00:18:01,930 --> 00:18:03,989 Speaker 3: that because we don't want our house to burn down. 395 00:18:04,350 --> 00:18:08,180 Speaker 3: Start with one visible space. I would say every room 396 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,660 Speaker 3: of your house probably has a surface that's like the 397 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,100 Speaker 3: most popular surface, the coffee table, kitchen island, maybe a 398 00:18:14,140 --> 00:18:17,820 Speaker 3: surface by the back door. Clear it completely off. No decor, 399 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,270 Speaker 3: no tchotchkes, and just try to live with it that 400 00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:22,010 Speaker 3: way for a couple of days. Put the stuff in 401 00:18:22,030 --> 00:18:25,260 Speaker 3: the basket. It's that especially yours is smart because it 402 00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:27,899 Speaker 3: was probably something you opened and used a lot and 403 00:18:27,980 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 3: functionally it wasn't working. But for that visible noise, if 404 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 3: it's something our eyes that we see and then also 405 00:18:33,859 --> 00:18:36,540 Speaker 3: something we use a lot, I think we've all experienced 406 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 3: how more leads to more. You put one thing on 407 00:18:38,420 --> 00:18:42,050 Speaker 3: the island and you turn around, there's like mail, trash, piles. 408 00:18:42,430 --> 00:18:44,850 Speaker 3: But it's the opposite is true as well. Less can 409 00:18:44,910 --> 00:18:47,630 Speaker 3: lead to less. And so find one surface in your house. 410 00:18:47,970 --> 00:18:51,590 Speaker 3: Keep it completely clear. And I'm talking even decor. I 411 00:18:51,670 --> 00:18:54,620 Speaker 3: love decorating. I love beautiful tchotchkes and things, but I 412 00:18:54,650 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 3: keep my coffee table empty so that it's willing to serve. 413 00:18:58,859 --> 00:19:01,500 Speaker 3: It's ready for the puzzle, for the cat, for the 414 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 3: pizza box. Same with our kitchen island so that I 415 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 3: can mess it up, but nothing lives there. Nothing has 416 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,340 Speaker 3: to be moved out of the way before I can 417 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,020 Speaker 3: use it. So if you don't know where to start, 418 00:19:11,060 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 3: I would say just pick one little surface, clear it off, 419 00:19:14,190 --> 00:19:15,550 Speaker 3: Live with it for a couple of days and see 420 00:19:15,590 --> 00:19:17,629 Speaker 3: how it feels. Just tell yourself you're doing a test. 421 00:19:17,950 --> 00:19:22,950 Speaker 2: So is this something that you think is a regular routine? 422 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,660 Speaker 2: And I think where I'm going with this is, is this, 423 00:19:25,780 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 2: can you almost house hush every evening? Like I'm going 424 00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:31,139 Speaker 2: to prepare for the next day and I'm going to 425 00:19:31,220 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 2: kind of do my little checklist of things and hush 426 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,850 Speaker 2: the house. You know, there's this one time big hushing seasonally. Okay, 427 00:19:36,869 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to tackle this room. But there's also maybe 428 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,530 Speaker 2: an element of like, this is a regular routine and lifestyle, right? 429 00:19:43,550 --> 00:19:45,850 Speaker 3: That's a great question. I don't know. Did you ever 430 00:19:45,890 --> 00:19:49,050 Speaker 3: read Fly Lady and follow Marla Silley and all of 431 00:19:49,090 --> 00:19:49,430 Speaker 3: her stuff? 432 00:19:49,470 --> 00:19:49,530 Speaker 2: No. 433 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 3: Night she would have you shine your sink. It was 434 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,260 Speaker 3: like this practice where you couldn't clean your sink unless 435 00:19:56,300 --> 00:19:58,100 Speaker 3: it was empty. And she wanted you to like clean 436 00:19:58,140 --> 00:20:00,570 Speaker 3: it and dry it out. So you're completely done. And 437 00:20:00,619 --> 00:20:04,030 Speaker 3: I do think there is something about building up to 438 00:20:04,730 --> 00:20:08,510 Speaker 3: whatever level works best for your home so that life 439 00:20:08,550 --> 00:20:10,209 Speaker 3: doesn't feel like it's getting in the way. If you 440 00:20:10,230 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 3: feel like you can't come in and put the groceries down, 441 00:20:12,660 --> 00:20:15,859 Speaker 3: that probably means you have too much stuff on display 442 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 3: or out in your kitchen. And so getting your kitchen 443 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,980 Speaker 3: to a place where life isn't getting in the way, 444 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 3: I think having those clear counters, having the sink empty, 445 00:20:24,660 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 3: and I do, I agree. Like I know I am 446 00:20:27,070 --> 00:20:30,430 Speaker 3: my best. If the things that I know I want quieted, 447 00:20:30,730 --> 00:20:34,629 Speaker 3: which is my kitchen island, my sink, And my coffee table, 448 00:20:34,990 --> 00:20:36,950 Speaker 3: if those are empty every night when I go to 449 00:20:37,010 --> 00:20:39,370 Speaker 3: bed so that the next morning they're ready to get used, 450 00:20:39,730 --> 00:20:40,950 Speaker 3: that's when I feel really great. 451 00:20:41,230 --> 00:20:45,950 Speaker 2: Yeah. I love that this is not at all about money. 452 00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:49,020 Speaker 2: You don't need a budget for this. You probably can 453 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:52,500 Speaker 2: make money. Yeah, it's actually the opposite. Sell some of 454 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 2: the things that you're getting rid of. And gosh, in 455 00:20:55,680 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 2: this economy, that's actually really encouraging. You're actually encouraging us 456 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: to do less. less, get rid of more, and then 457 00:21:05,460 --> 00:21:06,739 Speaker 2: maybe make some money along the way. 458 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I hope so. 459 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: Yes. 460 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 2: You know, here on the love offering, I feel like 461 00:21:10,230 --> 00:21:13,390 Speaker 2: our homes can be a love offering to people to 462 00:21:13,430 --> 00:21:16,609 Speaker 2: welcome people in. And so what would you say to 463 00:21:16,750 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 2: women just to encourage them, even if their house isn't perfect, 464 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 2: that they should still open their doors and love people well? 465 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 3: About the best times that I've had in people's homes, 466 00:21:25,940 --> 00:21:29,470 Speaker 3: it did not have to do with the quality of cleanliness, 467 00:21:30,109 --> 00:21:33,210 Speaker 3: the finishes and the decoration. It had to do with 468 00:21:33,230 --> 00:21:36,389 Speaker 3: the person themselves not being preoccupied with the state of 469 00:21:36,430 --> 00:21:41,990 Speaker 3: their home and listening free to have fun and laugh, available, 470 00:21:42,109 --> 00:21:44,490 Speaker 3: not stuck in the kitchen, making sure everything is perfect. 471 00:21:44,850 --> 00:21:46,869 Speaker 3: And so if you really feel stuck on that, think 472 00:21:46,950 --> 00:21:49,090 Speaker 3: back to times that you have spent in other people's 473 00:21:49,130 --> 00:21:51,990 Speaker 3: homes and let that encourage you. But I think also 474 00:21:52,190 --> 00:21:54,380 Speaker 3: we can't, you know, if you have spinach in your teeth, 475 00:21:54,430 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 3: it's really hard to be like, smile and say hi 476 00:21:56,940 --> 00:22:00,459 Speaker 3: to everyone. I get that sometimes we have to get 477 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:02,260 Speaker 3: to a certain place. If you don't have enough chairs 478 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:03,979 Speaker 3: for your neighbors to sit on and have dinner, it's 479 00:22:04,020 --> 00:22:06,590 Speaker 3: hard to have them over for dinner. So do a 480 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:08,390 Speaker 3: few things that are going to make you feel good. 481 00:22:08,750 --> 00:22:11,229 Speaker 3: And people do notice a couple details when they come 482 00:22:11,250 --> 00:22:13,450 Speaker 3: to your house, but they don't notice every detail. So 483 00:22:13,890 --> 00:22:17,130 Speaker 3: create the details, have a playlist, have a delicious drink. 484 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,570 Speaker 3: That's enough details right there. If your sink is messy, 485 00:22:20,750 --> 00:22:23,270 Speaker 3: they are probably going to relate to that and love 486 00:22:23,310 --> 00:22:27,340 Speaker 3: you more because of that. Those imperfections, that is what 487 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 3: connects us. When you are trying to get to know 488 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 3: someone and they are only sharing the perfect things of 489 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 3: their life, it's hard to be friends with them. It's 490 00:22:35,580 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 3: the people that are like telling us how they pitted 491 00:22:37,859 --> 00:22:40,060 Speaker 3: out a shirt or how they had a horrible day 492 00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:42,420 Speaker 3: and embarrassed themselves. Those are the people we want to 493 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 3: hang around with. And it is the same with our house. 494 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,580 Speaker 3: I think there is some kind of happy medium besides 495 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:51,939 Speaker 3: Between having this home that's like welcoming and you have 496 00:22:51,980 --> 00:22:54,460 Speaker 3: places for people to sit or a yard for people 497 00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 3: to sit in or shade. And, you know, you don't 498 00:22:56,300 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 3: want them to be too hot or too cold. You 499 00:22:57,980 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 3: want them to be fed. But also, no one wants 500 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,619 Speaker 3: to go into a perfect house. If they did, they 501 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,330 Speaker 3: would want to visit like the Buckingham Palace or something 502 00:23:05,350 --> 00:23:06,330 Speaker 3: like that. And then they would have to be on 503 00:23:06,350 --> 00:23:10,490 Speaker 3: their best behavior. We don't want that. We want connection, 504 00:23:10,869 --> 00:23:11,609 Speaker 3: not perfection. 505 00:23:12,290 --> 00:23:13,270 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely. 506 00:23:13,740 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 2: Well, we are going to take another brief break to 507 00:23:15,500 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 2: hear a word from our sponsor. And when we come back, 508 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 2: we'll talk about creating a soulful home that supports the 509 00:23:19,859 --> 00:23:21,659 Speaker 2: people and purposes that matter the most. 510 00:23:24,260 --> 00:23:24,780 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 511 00:23:24,820 --> 00:23:28,070 Speaker 2: I'm talking with Michael Lynn Smith about her book, House Hushing. 512 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,310 Speaker 2: And you described a soulful home as one that is 513 00:23:30,350 --> 00:23:33,710 Speaker 2: personalized with pieces that matter. So you've talked about getting 514 00:23:33,770 --> 00:23:36,409 Speaker 2: rid of some of the items, but really being intentional 515 00:23:36,430 --> 00:23:40,300 Speaker 2: about what we keep. So what gives a home purpose? soul, 516 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:42,300 Speaker 2: and how can we tell the story of people who 517 00:23:42,340 --> 00:23:44,570 Speaker 2: live there without the space feeling overly full? 518 00:23:44,770 --> 00:23:47,270 Speaker 3: Yeah, I really have to think about that one because 519 00:23:47,290 --> 00:23:48,609 Speaker 3: I'm like, oh, I'm writing a book and I'm going 520 00:23:48,630 --> 00:23:50,310 Speaker 3: to write about a soulful home. That means I have 521 00:23:50,330 --> 00:23:50,970 Speaker 3: to define it. 522 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: That's right. 523 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:54,740 Speaker 3: A lot of times when I have to define something 524 00:23:54,780 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 3: that feels kind of tricky, I will go to the 525 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,020 Speaker 3: opposite extreme and think like, what is that? What would 526 00:24:00,060 --> 00:24:02,619 Speaker 3: be a home that isn't soulful at all? Like the 527 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,169 Speaker 3: most un-soulful home ever. And to me, that would be 528 00:24:06,630 --> 00:24:09,050 Speaker 3: like a model home in a new neighborhood. You know, 529 00:24:09,250 --> 00:24:11,210 Speaker 3: we've all gone in something like that. So not just 530 00:24:11,230 --> 00:24:13,450 Speaker 3: an open house of your next door neighbor, but like 531 00:24:13,650 --> 00:24:16,330 Speaker 3: something that a designer has created. And usually what they 532 00:24:16,369 --> 00:24:18,050 Speaker 3: do is they decorate it in a way that it's 533 00:24:18,090 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 3: going to appeal to the most people. So there's nothing 534 00:24:21,340 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 3: that has like an opinion. There's nothing stunning. There's nothing 535 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 3: that says who politically they're voting for or anything religious 536 00:24:28,340 --> 00:24:31,340 Speaker 3: or anything with a person's face. You can't tell what 537 00:24:31,380 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 3: sport they're into. You cannot tell anything. It is the 538 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:38,450 Speaker 3: most neutral feeling house and it's soulless on purpose. But 539 00:24:38,590 --> 00:24:41,630 Speaker 3: that tells us the soul of a home has something 540 00:24:41,690 --> 00:24:45,169 Speaker 3: to do with humanity, something to do with life. You know, 541 00:24:45,350 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 3: even I think a soulful home When we think about, 542 00:24:47,980 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 3: I think about living in this house that's over 100 543 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:54,810 Speaker 3: years old. It's the history, but we know it's history 544 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:59,430 Speaker 3: because there's age on it. There is patina. There are scars. 545 00:24:59,630 --> 00:25:02,820 Speaker 3: There are marks. There are cuts in the wood. It 546 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 3: has aged with people. And that is the part that 547 00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:09,739 Speaker 3: gives a soul. And so the humanity of something is, 548 00:25:10,140 --> 00:25:13,010 Speaker 3: it's just like that imperfection part. That's kind of what 549 00:25:13,050 --> 00:25:16,030 Speaker 3: we're craving. We want to tell the people's story. We 550 00:25:16,070 --> 00:25:19,190 Speaker 3: don't want a new white Ikea box. And it doesn't mean, 551 00:25:19,210 --> 00:25:22,230 Speaker 3: I believe every home has soul, no matter if it 552 00:25:22,310 --> 00:25:25,169 Speaker 3: is brand new. You know, that home, the soul of 553 00:25:25,230 --> 00:25:27,790 Speaker 3: it might be saying, I am a blank canvas ready 554 00:25:27,830 --> 00:25:30,780 Speaker 3: for you. I have open concept. You put your own 555 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 3: stamp all over. Like, I think that is wonderful. A 556 00:25:33,580 --> 00:25:35,940 Speaker 3: bossy soulful home like this one is kind. 557 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: Of tricky, actually. 558 00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:40,239 Speaker 3: But the home itself can have soul based on what 559 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,580 Speaker 3: has happened to it historically. But also you're bringing in 560 00:25:43,619 --> 00:25:47,110 Speaker 3: your own soul with your story, with your decor, with 561 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:51,430 Speaker 3: your dreams, your past, your family history, your present. What's 562 00:25:51,470 --> 00:25:53,510 Speaker 3: going on right now? Oh, you've got a fifth grader. 563 00:25:53,550 --> 00:25:55,530 Speaker 3: You've got a middle schooler, like all of those things. 564 00:25:55,590 --> 00:25:57,969 Speaker 3: And you can tell they've got their band instruments. You 565 00:25:58,010 --> 00:26:00,510 Speaker 3: have a cat with new kittens and then your future. 566 00:26:00,869 --> 00:26:03,110 Speaker 3: Maybe you're planning a trip to Italy in a couple 567 00:26:03,130 --> 00:26:05,890 Speaker 3: of years. So you've got magazines and you've got stuff 568 00:26:05,930 --> 00:26:08,909 Speaker 3: taped up. All of these things should show up in 569 00:26:08,930 --> 00:26:11,580 Speaker 3: a real living home that even if we weren't there, 570 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,619 Speaker 3: someone could walk around our home and learn something about 571 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:15,700 Speaker 3: everyone that lives there. 572 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,530 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I need to get better about that because 573 00:26:18,550 --> 00:26:21,150 Speaker 2: when you were talking about your home now is kind 574 00:26:21,190 --> 00:26:24,350 Speaker 2: of an extroverted home and I feel like mine is 575 00:26:24,390 --> 00:26:26,750 Speaker 2: an introverted home and I need to bring that extrovert 576 00:26:26,790 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 2: to it and bring some more of that soul into it. 577 00:26:29,670 --> 00:26:32,980 Speaker 2: And so I'm encouraged by today. And so this season 578 00:26:33,060 --> 00:26:35,060 Speaker 2: we have been asking all of the guests, is there 579 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,420 Speaker 2: a biblical concept of love? that you think applies to 580 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:39,260 Speaker 2: this topic today? 581 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,910 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I'm just going to say a hospitality. 582 00:26:42,050 --> 00:26:44,270 Speaker 3: I just really believe in that. I think all of 583 00:26:44,310 --> 00:26:47,909 Speaker 3: the meaningful moments in my life, whether it's something I've learned, 584 00:26:48,010 --> 00:26:50,470 Speaker 3: something that's brought me closer to God, something that's brought 585 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 3: me closer to other people, usually don't happen in a church. 586 00:26:53,260 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 3: They happen in someone's home, whether it's community group or 587 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 3: meeting with my best friend or going to someone's house 588 00:26:58,380 --> 00:27:01,550 Speaker 3: or renting an Airbnb with our friends and going on vacations. 589 00:27:01,890 --> 00:27:04,550 Speaker 3: The home is the natural place where we feel most 590 00:27:04,590 --> 00:27:08,530 Speaker 3: comfortable to open up. And so I think anything that 591 00:27:08,570 --> 00:27:11,650 Speaker 3: you do to your house to create an environment where 592 00:27:11,690 --> 00:27:14,020 Speaker 3: you can use it just with your family, you can 593 00:27:14,690 --> 00:27:18,340 Speaker 3: become rested and be your better self or you're welcoming 594 00:27:18,380 --> 00:27:20,460 Speaker 3: people in. It's so worth it. 595 00:27:20,619 --> 00:27:21,330 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. 596 00:27:21,869 --> 00:27:22,510 Speaker 1: Well, okay. 597 00:27:22,590 --> 00:27:24,390 Speaker 2: Is there a project that you're working on right now, 598 00:27:24,490 --> 00:27:26,750 Speaker 2: or you feel like everything is hushed? You followed all 599 00:27:26,770 --> 00:27:28,150 Speaker 2: the house rules, like you're good now? 600 00:27:28,290 --> 00:27:30,610 Speaker 3: Oh, gosh, no, no. It's the least hushed it's been 601 00:27:30,630 --> 00:27:33,830 Speaker 3: in two years. Because I've been writing this book, I'm like, oh, 602 00:27:33,890 --> 00:27:35,250 Speaker 3: in order to write a book about this, you have 603 00:27:35,270 --> 00:27:37,210 Speaker 3: to have a house that's going to make you crazy. 604 00:27:37,540 --> 00:27:41,109 Speaker 3: We had... the book came, it like had its release 605 00:27:41,150 --> 00:27:42,909 Speaker 3: day the other day. And so we had our neighbors 606 00:27:43,030 --> 00:27:46,390 Speaker 3: over and I was exhausted. So I just went through 607 00:27:46,450 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 3: all of our drawers, found like Moscato, Prosecco, sparkling water, 608 00:27:50,340 --> 00:27:53,860 Speaker 3: sparkling apple juice, ordered Chick-fil-A nuggets. We basically had sparkling 609 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,260 Speaker 3: wine and Chick-fil-A nuggets, got the Legos out. Fruit salad 610 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 3: went all over my carpets. I have to, eventually I'll 611 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,690 Speaker 3: get my carpet cleaner out and find those spots. It 612 00:28:02,730 --> 00:28:06,020 Speaker 3: was So enjoyable. I did not clean anything in my house. 613 00:28:06,210 --> 00:28:09,420 Speaker 3: I wore jammies and I had filthy hair. I wore 614 00:28:09,460 --> 00:28:12,500 Speaker 3: my slippers that are right back here. And it just, 615 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 3: I wanted it just to be like, come as you are, 616 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,660 Speaker 3: come as you are. I am as I am. Let's 617 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 3: celebrate the fact that this book is over and I 618 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 3: can get my life back. But if I would wait 619 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,700 Speaker 3: until my house was perfected, even I would never have 620 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 3: anyone over. I want them to come over in the midst. 621 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,780 Speaker 3: If we want people to feel free to invite us 622 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 3: over in the midst of their imperfect life, someone has 623 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 3: to go first. Someone has to say, I know my 624 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 3: house isn't perfect and I trust that you can relate 625 00:28:40,220 --> 00:28:41,739 Speaker 3: to that. And those are the people that we want 626 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,940 Speaker 3: to be friends with. And all of my friends can 627 00:28:43,980 --> 00:28:46,420 Speaker 3: handle the imperfection of my home and of my life. 628 00:28:46,670 --> 00:28:49,670 Speaker 2: I love your vulnerability in that because, I mean, you 629 00:28:49,790 --> 00:28:52,350 Speaker 2: are the house professional. Everybody looks to you and thinks 630 00:28:52,810 --> 00:28:54,650 Speaker 2: her house is going to be perfect all the time. 631 00:28:54,750 --> 00:28:57,540 Speaker 2: And so I think it is really freeing for everybody. 632 00:28:57,710 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 2: Just open your home, open your heart to the people 633 00:29:00,780 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 2: around you. And I think that you will be so 634 00:29:03,100 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 2: happy that you did. Well, so I want to hear, 635 00:29:06,060 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 2: I know you've been in kind of an exhausting season, 636 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 2: but tell us something you are loving right now. 637 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:13,830 Speaker 3: You know, right now I am loving doing puzzles. And 638 00:29:13,850 --> 00:29:16,990 Speaker 3: I've always loved puzzles, but there's something about I've been doing, 639 00:29:17,420 --> 00:29:19,180 Speaker 3: you know, when a book comes out, you do a 640 00:29:19,220 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 3: lot of podcasts like this. You get to talk to 641 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:22,719 Speaker 3: a lot of people. You get to do a lot 642 00:29:22,740 --> 00:29:26,020 Speaker 3: of Instagram posts. And I'm the biggest introvert that ever lived. 643 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:30,460 Speaker 3: And so usually when I'm tired, I will want to 644 00:29:30,550 --> 00:29:33,790 Speaker 3: read fiction. But after kind of looking at screens or 645 00:29:33,810 --> 00:29:36,290 Speaker 3: looking at words all day, I don't want to read fiction. 646 00:29:36,730 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 3: So I had to find something else I could do. 647 00:29:38,170 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 3: It's a thousand degrees outside. It's I started buying, like 648 00:29:41,220 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 3: I bought a lot of summer puzzles and now I 649 00:29:43,180 --> 00:29:45,370 Speaker 3: started buying some fall puzzles and then I keep them 650 00:29:45,430 --> 00:29:47,490 Speaker 3: and I'll just redo them every year. But instead of 651 00:29:47,530 --> 00:29:49,850 Speaker 3: having like one for each season, now I have more 652 00:29:49,870 --> 00:29:53,310 Speaker 3: than one. And they have been so fun. I just 653 00:29:53,350 --> 00:29:55,150 Speaker 3: leave them on the breakfast table. If the next door 654 00:29:55,170 --> 00:29:56,990 Speaker 3: neighbor boys come over, they'll help me with it. If 655 00:29:57,070 --> 00:29:59,660 Speaker 3: my kids come home, my friends came over the other day, 656 00:29:59,700 --> 00:30:02,180 Speaker 3: they helped me put the puzzle together. There's something just 657 00:30:02,220 --> 00:30:04,540 Speaker 3: really relaxing about it. And that's what I've been enjoying lately. 658 00:30:04,780 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. 659 00:30:05,380 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 2: My mom is a big puzzle person. And that's something 660 00:30:09,100 --> 00:30:10,980 Speaker 2: that every time she comes to visit, she brings the 661 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,060 Speaker 2: puzzle and we'll sit and do just because you can. 662 00:30:13,140 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 2: It's something that you can still have good conversation, but 663 00:30:15,820 --> 00:30:19,130 Speaker 2: still have an activity. I love that so much. Well, 664 00:30:19,810 --> 00:30:21,550 Speaker 2: I know I want to stay connected with you. I'm 665 00:30:21,570 --> 00:30:23,730 Speaker 2: sure listeners are going to want to. So tell us 666 00:30:23,770 --> 00:30:24,690 Speaker 2: how we can best do that. 667 00:30:24,890 --> 00:30:27,850 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I'm on Instagram a lot, at The Nestor, 668 00:30:27,930 --> 00:30:31,510 Speaker 3: encouraging people in their home, hopefully daily there. And if 669 00:30:31,550 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 3: you want to read anything or find out anything I 670 00:30:35,150 --> 00:30:36,950 Speaker 3: have to offer, I have a private community. I teach 671 00:30:36,990 --> 00:30:40,340 Speaker 3: decorating classes at thenestor.com is where you can find that. 672 00:30:40,420 --> 00:30:42,580 Speaker 3: And The House Heshing Book, if you're interested in that, 673 00:30:42,700 --> 00:30:44,660 Speaker 3: is just wherever books are sold, you should be able. 674 00:30:44,540 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 1: To find it. 675 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,690 Speaker 2: Well, I really hope that when we talk again, that 676 00:30:48,770 --> 00:30:50,870 Speaker 2: I will have put some holes in the wall and 677 00:30:51,010 --> 00:30:53,430 Speaker 2: painted a few things and put some curtains up or something, 678 00:30:53,530 --> 00:30:54,770 Speaker 2: some sort of progress. 679 00:30:54,850 --> 00:30:56,450 Speaker 1: I hope that I can report that back to you. 680 00:30:56,690 --> 00:30:58,070 Speaker 1: That sounds great. All right. 681 00:30:58,130 --> 00:31:01,730 Speaker 2: Well, let me pray for us as we close today. Father, 682 00:31:01,890 --> 00:31:03,969 Speaker 2: we just are so thankful for this time to get 683 00:31:03,990 --> 00:31:06,670 Speaker 2: to spend with you and so thankful for Mike Willen, 684 00:31:06,730 --> 00:31:09,700 Speaker 2: for her heart to serve you and for just the 685 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 2: gifts that you have given her and the way that 686 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:13,810 Speaker 2: she has encouraged all of us. I just pray for 687 00:31:13,850 --> 00:31:17,100 Speaker 2: each woman listening, for the family and the home that 688 00:31:17,130 --> 00:31:19,660 Speaker 2: she has, Father, that you would just put a special 689 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 2: blessing over that home, that as she makes it heard, Father, 690 00:31:23,820 --> 00:31:26,260 Speaker 2: that you would just encourage her to open up her 691 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,940 Speaker 2: heart and open up her home to welcome people in, 692 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,219 Speaker 2: as you have so done for us. So we're just 693 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,820 Speaker 2: thankful for this opportunity. I pray a special blessing over 694 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,980 Speaker 2: each listener, that she would feel your love and that 695 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 2: she would be able to offer it to the world 696 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 2: around her. We love you, and it's in your holy 697 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:42,550 Speaker 2: and mighty name we pray. Amen. 698 00:31:43,010 --> 00:31:43,330 Speaker 3: Amen. 699 00:31:44,150 --> 00:31:48,170 Speaker 1: Thank you, Michael, for encouraging us in our decorating and 700 00:31:48,610 --> 00:31:51,209 Speaker 1: maybe decluttering. Thank you for helping us to make our 701 00:31:51,230 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: house a home. Thank you so much for your time today. 702 00:31:53,660 --> 00:31:54,420 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. 703 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering Podcast. 704 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation reminded you that a peaceful home 705 00:32:01,020 --> 00:32:04,300 Speaker 2: doesn't have to be empty, expensive, or perfect. With thoughtful 706 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 2: choices and a willingness to release what no longer serves 707 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:10,180 Speaker 2: this season, you can create a home filled with clarity, comfort, 708 00:32:10,260 --> 00:32:13,740 Speaker 2: and beauty and belonging. Your home doesn't have to impress 709 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:16,820 Speaker 2: anyone to become a place where people feel welcomed, cared for, 710 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,540 Speaker 2: and loved. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it 711 00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:21,260 Speaker 2: with a friend and leave a review. It helps others 712 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:23,660 Speaker 2: find the show and spreads the message of love even further. 713 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 2: To connect with me, visit me on my website at rachelkadams.com, 714 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:29,740 Speaker 2: where you can download the Love Always devotional, a free 715 00:32:29,780 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 2: resource to help you realize how beloved you already are. 716 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 2: Be sure to check out House Hushing by Michael Lynn Smith. 717 00:32:36,460 --> 00:32:38,940 Speaker 2: A special thank you to Life Audio for supporting this 718 00:32:38,980 --> 00:32:41,950 Speaker 2: podcast and making it possible for To find more great podcasts, 719 00:32:41,990 --> 00:32:46,260 Speaker 2: visit lifeaudio.com. Until next time, let's make our lives an 720 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 2: offering of love.