Improving the view

An update on the 'say yes' plan.

In addition to saying yes to trips and concerts and plays, oh my, I’m saying yes to making my home more mine, less ours. My late husband never once discouraged me from redecorating our living spaces, indoors or out. One year he even gave me a dump truck load of topsoil for my birthday, for a major landscaping project.

That was one of the best and most thoughtful gifts he ever gave me, he who customarily tucked a generous check (or a few Benjamins) into the perfect card.

But he also didn’t really care what things looked like, only that they functioned in a way that worked for him. He was, if nothing else, practical.

I’ve restyled the bookshelves and anchored the living-room seating with an area rug and dressed the dining table and REPLACED THE UGLY WINDOW OVER THE KITCHEN SINK.

This say-yes project was a big investment in both money and happiness. My house is one level, and the windows all have wrought-iron bars on them, which was most likely some kind of safety factor included when the house was built 50 years ago. In addition to peering through bars, the left casement had fogged up between the double panes. My view was thus limited to an 18-inch wide space, marred with bars.

My dishwasher is broken, and I’m only cooking for one. Looking through that window as I washed my few dishes became more and more and more of an issue for me, and last fall I finally made the decision to improve the view.

It took several months for the new bay window to be built and finally delivered. I was patient, though, knowing the end result – whenever it happened – would be worth the wait.

And now, in much the same way that a woman with a new coat needs to add leather boots, a fabulous scarf, and a statement handbag to her look, I’m accessorizing my window with a new sink (on order) and faucet. And thinking about how I can update the cabinets without depleting my emergency fund.

But mostly (and most affordably) I’m working on the landscaping. It’s physically challenging for me to work in the yard, but doing a little bit here and there has been rewarding, and a friend will be coming soon to help.

The most surprising result of these spruce-up projects has been the change in my inner view. Who knew that clearing up my actual outlook would clear up my inner outlook as well? I feel lighter. Happier. I recently told my daughter I feel like I’m coming back to life without having to force it.

Much of this say-yes year has been impulsively agreeing, to myself or to others, to go or do or help or be or attend. Mostly it’s been fine. Occasionally it’s been not-so-great. Sometimes it’s been wonderful (I’m looking at you, Healing Appalachia, Morgan Diann Tattoo, and Asheville!). My Good Stuff jar runneth over.

Recently, my yeses have been more intentional, more thoughtful. Less spontaneous. Definitely more soul-satisfying.

And who among us doesn’t need to satisfy our souls?