One Special Anniversary

Written by Valérie Pichet Text

Last month, I celebrated a very important date for me—my one-year anniversary living in my home sweet home! It felt like an eternity since I had stayed in the same place for more than six months at the time. I have to say that I am pretty proud of myself, for I am a very unstable and impulsive person. To have taken the step of living under the same roof for the whole year is quite something, indeed.

TO TAKE ROOT AND TO UNCOVER HAPPINESS

25 years-old and homeowner demands good thinking. I would not recommend it to just anyone. I sure would have liked to live through this experience with somebody by my side, but sadly—or fortunately?—it has not been the case. So I took the time to establish my home, to take root and to figure out what really made me happy.

As I started down that path, I was sort of terrified to the idea of becoming a homeowner—alone. Yet today, I can guaranty that I do not regret anything, not even a second. Up to now, it really was a life-changing decision.

Throughout the year, I went through different stages, and here they are:

Phase 1: The “new house” thrill.

Phase 2: The calm after the moving storm.

Phase 3: Meltdown and questionings.

Phase 4: Stabilization.

How would I have loved to have someone by my side helping me fix the beam in the attic, to reassure me when a stranger came to take a piss at the end of my backyard as a regional festival went on—and yes, it did happen—or even to just look at me while I cooked. And then I recently realized that none of this was my priority, in the last year, nor was it to let someone into my world.

MAKING SPACE FOR NEW EXPERIENCES

As for now, I feel I am ready to live new experiences, to begin a new chapter in this house.

Still, before embarking in this whole other terrorizing commitment adventure, I made myself a promise, one to respect myself before anything else. I am who I am with all of my flaws and life experiences. To whom will want to enter my home will have to accept it wholly if I am to open the door gently.

I realize now why I love this place so much and why I feel at ease here. My house is just like me. It has its own story, its own scars in the foundation (just a little), yet it is beautiful and warm. My house has seen bad times, but it got through it all. It has a past, and it is an ongoing construction site. My house needs love and investment, just like myself.

This evening, I decided to trust in what life will bring me, and I hope you can do the same. I wish you will find what makes you happy, be it a place, an activity or a person!

Take good care of yourself! xx