Open Minds, Open Houses..
If I don’t know a visitor to my apartment very well they may only see the front room or receive a really quick walk-through tour. I usually do not give them enough time to linger and look around. After all, they may find something disagreeable about me. They may not like the same music, for instance, or they might not prefer my style of decorating. They might find I am too messy or too neat; too boring and plain. The point is, by inviting others in, I am sharing my personal space and exposing parts of myself. I am vulnerable to their opinions.
When my self-esteem took a nosedive, I no longer cared about the state of my surroundings. For the past few years I have even discouraged visitors for fear they might see the mess I have been living in. As a result, I closed off not only my home but myself.
When others open their homes to me, I find my comfort zone with them very easily. I am able to show a little more of myself. A happy, healthy home should have both familiar and unfamiliar visitors. A happy, healthy person should open the doors to allow in visitors as well.
How often do you invite someone in? How important is a visitor’s comfort to you?
Josh said,
January 25, 2008 at 4:23 am
I invite people in, but sometimes they just refuse the invitation, or they accept it but suddenly run away screaming like you lit their hair on fire.
What can ya do?