I’m a self-proclaimed gypsy. I like moving around. A lot. I like adventure. Over a year ago I tried on something different. Renting my place out on Airbnb. It’s a beautiful condo, in a beautiful part of the city. Near the falls, right off the light rail, only a few stops from the airport.
I opened my home to strangers.
Not only this, I curated the space to elicit the most positive, creative, and introspective experience for these guests. I wanted to offer them a fresh perspective to life when they walked over the threshold.
During the time guests are staying in my space I’m gaining my own new perspective staying with amazing friends, house sitting for people I love, traveling the world, or sleeping in unconventional spaces you might be worried to know about so I’ll leave this one alone.
I’ve always had a welcome mat. It wasn’t quite right though.
Yes, I welcome you. Also, I want you to know more than welcoming you, I’m excited you are here. I want you to experience presence and aliveness in this space.
I did a search on Amazon and found this most perfect welcome mat.
‘YAY, YOU’RE HERE.’
This was perfect because it said more than ‘welcome’, it said what I wanted all my guests to know…
“Yes, I’m so glad you’ve arrived”. Step into this space and breathe. For real. For now. Forever.
Light a candle. Read a book (I don’t have a TV), use the spices and oils to make some beautiful food, pull a card, drop some essential oils into the psychedelic style infuser, play some tunes on my JBL extreme (a sweet gift), open up a local beer with my skeleton opener (another sweet gift), listen to the sound of the fountain (yes, one more amazing gift), peruse the art…all of it has meaning and significance, or step outside and take a short walk to Minnehaha falls.
Fall asleep in this bed. Be at home. Love your life.
This home is my home. And also it is not. I’ve carefully curated an environment where anyone can rest their bones (heavy or light) and feel like they’ve come home. I want them to feel this is their home too. I want to share the joy of this space.
You are at home here if:
- You’re frustrated
- You’re grateful
- You’re grumpy
- You’re elated
- You’re grieving
- You’re happy
- You’re heartbroken
- You’re in love
- You’re unaware
- You’re conscious
- You’re living pain
- You’re living bliss
Rumi has this beautiful poem:
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
So indeed, I found the perfect welcome mat for my home and all guests who pass through my door.
And I’d like to extend this welcome mat to my life as well, all emotions which come from various circumstances, all feelings and awarenesses which come from the daily mundane. All of it.
I say, “Please step over this threshold” with my (now) favorite message…
YAY, YOU’RE HERE!
xx, LVA-