聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 I think that I'm finally finished making holes in my walls.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Well...I'm ALMOST finished.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Since my daughter and I moved into our house one year ago, I've made quite a few holes. Some of them have been pretty big. In fact, I've heard a few nervous chuckles from my friends as they've walked in and surveyed my 'handiwork'.A couple have asked me (somewhat timidly) if I have ever heard of something called a 鈥渓oad-bearing wall鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Actually...I have.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Although this is the first 鈥渕ajor鈥� renovation I've ever undertaken on a home of my own; I have worked (as a laborer) on a couple of renovation projects. I've also help a few friends with work they were doing on their homes.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 None of this鈥漰revious experience鈥� makes me an 鈥渆xpert鈥�. But, it has helped me to understand how much work I can do on my own...how much I'd be willing to TRY (provided I have some learned supervision)...and when it's best for me to stop what I'm doing and yell for help.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Having a better understanding of my own abilities and limits has freed me. It has meant that this聽 ongoing project of mine has (so far) been a REALLY enjoyable experience. I've been surprised to discover how much fun it is to 鈥渙pen up鈥� my 鈥減lace鈥�...and let the sunlight pour into a space that it might have never touched before. I'm amazed at how much I actually enjoy exploring the different possibilities that every new opening gives birth to.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I've learned to appreciate this (almost) century-old house of mine even more than I did that day...when I walked through my front door that very first time...and KNEW that I'd just 鈥渃ome home鈥�.I've grown to love my home's creaks and crannies...the edges that aren't quite 鈥渟quare鈥�...and those lovely...solid fir 鈥渂ones鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I've also been somewhat astonished at how talented I appear to be with a pry-bar. But I have learned the 鈥渉ard way鈥�...that it is much easier to take something APART...than it is to put something BACK TOGETHER. As a result, I've become better able to tame my own enthusiasm. These days, I am much more apt to 鈥渕easure twice...and cut once鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This project of mine has also impacted the way that I see the world around me.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I look long and hard at the challenges confronting my hometown...and am driven to look for ways that I might help my community walk through those challenges. I listen to somebody like Ryan Meili talk about bringing 鈥渞enewal鈥� and a 鈥渇resh vision鈥� to Saskatchewan...and I'm inspired to become part of that process as well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I join together with my friends and neighbors to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday...and I'm reminded of just how fortunate I am to have been born in this country. At the same time...I am encouraged to help my country continue to mature and thrive...so that my daughter might know an even brighter future here.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is entirely possible for us to 鈥渞enovate鈥� the places that we cherish as 鈥渉ome鈥�. We must be careful to protect those values and sensibilities that are needed to maintain 鈥渋ntegrity鈥�. But that need not serve to limit us. Rather...by coming together to preserve those things we hold most dear...we will find ourselves free to 鈥渙pen up鈥� the opportunities that were once closed to us.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We might be surprised to discover how much fun creating change can be.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And...who knows what possibilities we will discover?
