She Shed for My Soul

You’ve seen them, right? These amazing sanctuaries called “she sheds” ultimately for a woman to have her own space to restore her sanity. At least that’s how it looks to me. And I want one. Like really bad. My brain keeps planning it…seeing the layout, furniture, and décor. There’s a wooden fireplace surround at the back wall as a focal point with a vintage mirror, wooden candlesticks, and fresh florals. Outside it’s surrounded by wildflowers with a flagstone path to the double doors and maybe even an ironstone breakfast table to the side for morning sit-downs. There’s a comfy wrought-iron daybed inside where the decorative pillows never get thrown to the floor. Inviting an afternoon nap or girls’ get-together. On the other side sits a worn, farm table for intimate gatherings under a romantic chandelier. It’s so clear in my mind, and it’s grabbed onto my heart. Rather than force myself to let go, I decided to embrace this dream.

Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself.

– Mark Twain

It all started with a desire for myself. And I’m not going to lie. Most things don’t start with me. I say no to myself about a lot of things. Because it feels selfish. Excessive. Not necessary whatsoever. I’m an uber responsible, practical person. Who am I to go after this dream, this passion, this desire-that-won’t-leave-my-heart and see it fulfilled? Who am I to deserve such a thing? I don’t need this. That’s what I would normally say. And frankly, I decided, “Not this time.”

I am a Mom. I am a woman. In those two truths, a lot of real struggles exist. We put the family first. We fulfill our duties first. We clean the toilets first. We’re the ultimate multi-taskers. We get All. The. Things. Done.

And in the midst of the repeated dishwasher emptying, towel folding, appointment making, school function attending, meal planning…you know how that list goes on and on…we lose ourselves. We lose patience, we lose passion, we lose creativity, we lose faith, we lose our minds, we lose our temper, sometimes we even lose purpose. The biggest thing I felt I’d lost was Joy.

I don’t mean I’m not happy. I’m incredibly blessed. With health, family, friends, a wonderful home, food on the table, money to pay the bills, a long-time career, all the things that give me a great life. Truly great. I love my family dearly. We all do, right? Even though my 3 boys (hubby included) drive this female nuts. I don’t often understand them, and they sure as heck don’t understand me. But they are my world and always will be. They bring me joy. But let’s be real; they also suck a lot of my energy.

And I can be grateful for clean, warm clothes…but there’s no Joy in doing laundry. I can value precious minutes on the back patio listening to the birds, but it’s fleeting. I can sigh with contentment at the end of the day snuggling with my youngest boy for a movie and a bowl of cookie dough, but it’s a moment. Tomorrow, I tackle the every-day all over again. It’s normal. It’s life. It’s absolutely okay because more of it is good than not. But sometimes it doesn’t feel enough…or it feels like too much. That’s the constant cycle I’d like to break.

So when I say Joy, I don’t mean happiness or contentment. I’m talking about the bubbling-up Joy inside you that feeds your soul. Joy that recharges you. Joy that invigorates you to start the day. It’s almost like an electrical current. At the same time, it can give you a sense of peace, which allows you to tackle that daily stuff…even better than before. I want this Joy in my life so that my patience cup overflows (or at least refills), I slow down enough to cherish all the moments, and I’m able to refill my energy as often as I use it, so it is more plentiful than not for my loved ones.

And it’s the dream of a she shed that sparked this for me. Now I’m not naïve enough to believe a she shed is going to have me singing to the bluebirds and planning my next project with the woodland animals. But I’ve learned to listen to my heart and my gut when they’re aligned. I’m choosing to believe this could be a blessing. A place for needed escape and rejuvenation. It could bring Joy to my life in a way that I can use for me and my family. To be better. To be Joyful.

I see the she shed as a place to gather. To recharge. To focus on simple pleasures. To speak volumes with its quiet surroundings. Lord knows the world needs de-stressing these days. And connection. And Joy. I bet you could use some of this, too. I’d like to share these moments with you.

Let’s find more Joy. To recharge and be inspired.

Let’s celebrate beauty. To cleanse our minds of the ugly around us.

Let’s feed our souls. To be the best “us” we can be.

Will you tag along on this journey with me? I’d be so honored to have you. We’re worth it!

Here’s what I think the journey may be like, captured in photos, descriptions, and personal thoughts.

• The ups and downs of planning/building it
• Decorating decisions, tips, and what I hope will make it magical
• Small projects with some instructions to even make your own
• Joyful moments & intimate gatherings shared to inspire you
• For those local (northern WI), a chance to host special events here to experience your own Joy, in the future

If that gets your juices flowing, you want to know more, and you can’t wait to see what happens…then you’re in the right place. And I’d love for you to be part of it.

With much Joy,

Kellee

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