“We’ve paid for our speeded-up lives with a loss in the quality of our time. Our chronic lack of time has robbed us of the ability to understand that the truth of living is found in the experience of being, and that life cannot be put on hold while we’re trying to produce more.”
–Alexandra Stoddard, Gracious Living in a New World
I started The Inspired Room in 2007 to share my love of decorating and home, but the deeper purpose was always about living more authentically. With Thanksgiving in the U.S. approaching, we’re reminded to slow down and count our blessings. That reflection, however, is something I try to practice year-round: noticing what I already have and appreciating it.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a beautiful, orderly home. Decorating is my passion and my work, and wanting a pretty, functional, comfortable space is natural. What becomes problematic is when wanting, doing, and acquiring begin to eclipse simply being. When busyness or the pressure to keep up takes over, I lose balance.
Slowing down helps me refocus on what matters: investing my time and attention intentionally in the people who share my home and life. To me, living authentically means choosing presence over production and gratitude over constant striving.
As the world accelerates, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We can be persuaded that another purchase, more recognition, or one more project will finally make us content. But what if we practiced gratitude for what’s already here?
The internet often fuels a hunger for more—more attention, more affirmation, more likes, more things, more ideas. It tempts us into believing happiness is just one more acquisition away. In that chase we can forget to live fully in the present.
Chasing things rarely satisfies. Whether we want more or less, if we’re always trying to reach a place we think is better than where we are, contentment will remain elusive. Being fully alive in the moment means cultivating a deliberate attitude of gratitude.
I love sitting down to dinner with my family. Making space in the day to eat together is a conscious choice to pause and appreciate our blessings instead of rushing on. When I tidy the house, I try not to grumble about the mess; I remind myself I have a home and people I care for. When I dream about new ideas for our rooms, I focus on projects that fit my time, budget, and skill—letting creativity coexist with contentment.
Turning off screens and stepping away from the noise of the internet is another intentional practice. It creates room to be present with the people I’m grateful for and to enjoy ordinary moments without distraction.
Gratitude at home is a daily discipline. It’s a habit of noticing what’s already good and making choices that honor the life I have, rather than endlessly pursuing a hypothetical “better.”
– From my New York Times Bestselling Book Love the Home You Have
I was invited to join a Thankful at Home blog tour this week with fellow bloggers reflecting on ways to celebrate Thanksgiving and cultivate thankfulness at home. Below are the contributors and the days they shared their posts. I enjoy their perspectives and the many ways we can practice gratitude in daily life.
Monday:
Savvy Southern Style
Finding Home
Lilacs & Longhorns
The Inspired Room
The Crafty Woman
Tuesday:
Stone Gable
Debbiedoos
What Meegan Makes
Maison de Pax
Confessions of a Plate Addict
Wednesday:
Thistlewood Farm
Eclectically Vintage
My Soulful Home
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Southern Hospitality
Thursday:
The Lilypad Cottage
A Little Claireification
Fresh Idea Studio
Pennywise
The Rustic Pig
Friday:
Housepitality Designs
Mom4Real
Country Design Style
The Everyday Home
Unskinny Boppy