Step 7. Live in a peaceful environment.
For the last 10 months I was living in a flat share with 7 other people (two of them being quite hard to live with) without a lounge room, a tiny kitchen which also doubled as a loundry and occasionally, I’d have some friendly mice come and visit - oooh, how lucky can a girl be?! My room was fairly large for London standards, with my own little shower and a kitchenette, which I stored my clothes in as I had no tall boy or drawers, only one small IKEA cupboard and a computer desk.
I had been wanting a new place for a while, however nothing was available in my price range and for some odd reason, something kept me tied to that room.
Finally, through the help of a friend and devine timing, I moved into my new place just before Christmas. A three bedroom flat, shared only between four people, myself included, with a lounge, a spacious kitchen, and my own room with a built in wardrobe, would you believe.
New spaces can be a bit tricky - they can take a while to get used to. However, I had the most wonderful experience last night and I want to share it with you, so here I go…
I came home last night, put on a load of washing, a pot on the stove to make some pasta and then I started cleaning my room… just some random stuff that I didn’t get to. So all of that is happening, pasta is ready which I stir with some natural yoghurt (Lebanese style of macaroni) and it tastes warm and unreal and reminds me of home. THEN! I sit down ON A COUCH in front of the TV and watch French Prince of Bel Air, feeling every inch of my body relax into the couch and enjoying every single morsel of the macaroni. I can’t tell you how pleasurable it was. Then! I pour myself a glass of red and sit in front of the TV and watch more and sip on my red wine and do nothing. Wow. Then a load of washing finishes – I wash the big red doona cover you gave me and hang up the previous load. Meanwhile still sipping on the red. I do the washing up and give the kitchen a bit of a clean then continue cleaning my room and actually get through sorting out that pile of paperwork I’ve been avoiding for weeks. The sighs are endless. Stevie Wonder is playing on the ipod, I have lit my vanilla scented candles, and I have my lamps on so my room is so warmly lit. I hang up the doona cover. It’s about 10:45pm. Ok ready for this?! House mates arrive home!! that’s right!! No-one was home so I had the whole house to myself while all of that was happening. Oh dear lord, can’t describe the feeling. Music switched off now. Get ready for bed. A quick phone call to a mate to say goodnight and then I tuck myself into bed. Amen.
In the words of my darling friend, Steven, living in London is like a right of passage. And I think that living in my previous flat was a 10-month reminder of how to appreciate the small things.
I may not have much in the way of assets, but I have something that no amount of money can buy. I have peace in my home.
