LexTalk

Day 10 of 31 Days of October: A Photo + Writing Challenge

Today’s photo prompt is “Your Bed.”

And apparently Juggy heard “his bed.”

Because naturally, there he is.

Front and center.

Completely comfortable.

Contributing absolutely nothing financially.

But when I looked at this photo, I realized it actually captures exactly what I love about our bedroom.

It’s cozy.

It’s personal.

It’s seasonal.

It’s a little bit spooky.

And most importantly, it feels like home.

Today’s writing prompt asks:

What makes your bedroom feel like your sanctuary?

And for me, I think it comes down to creating a space where I can finally shut out everything else for a little while.

I Love Changing Our Bedroom With the Seasons

I am absolutely one of those people who gets excited about changing things around the house when a new season arrives.

Especially October.

There is something about bringing out the Halloween quilt and suddenly seeing pumpkins stretched across the bed that makes me ridiculously happy.

Is a seasonal quilt necessary?

Absolutely not.

Does it somehow make climbing into bed in October approximately 73% more enjoyable?

I’m going to say yes.

There are matching pumpkin pillows across the headboard, darker colors, little fall touches…

And then Juggy sprawled across the middle as though he was carefully placed there as part of the décor.

Honestly, he does coordinate pretty well.

Home Should Feel Like You

I’ve realized over the years that I don’t really care whether every room in my house looks like it belongs in a perfectly curated catalog.

I want it to feel like us.

I want books on the shelf that I’m actually interested in reading.

I want things around me that have stories.

I want seasonal decorations simply because they make me happy.

I want cozy blankets.

I want photographs and little objects that mean something.

And apparently I want an entire collection of pumpkin bedding.

There’s something comforting about walking into a room and immediately recognizing yourself in it.

Your interests.

Your memories.

Your personality.

The things you love.

That’s what makes a house feel different from just a place where you live.

My Bedroom Is Where Everything Gets Quiet

Life can be loud.

Even when the house itself isn’t.

There’s work.

Schedules.

Responsibilities.

Phones.

Notifications.

Things that need to be done.

Things you forgot to do.

Things you’re already thinking about doing tomorrow.

And sometimes my brain continues running long after the rest of me would very much like to clock out for the evening.

That’s why I love having a bedroom that feels calm.

At the end of the day, I can come in here, get comfortable, climb under the blankets and finally feel like I don’t have to be doing anything.

Nothing needs to be posted.

Nothing needs to be checked.

Nothing needs to be accomplished.

I can just be home.

Of Course, There’s Juggy

I feel like there’s an important distinction between having a cat and having a bedroom.

Because once you have a cat, you technically no longer have a bedroom.

You have their bedroom, which you are graciously permitted to sleep in.

Juggy loves the bed.

Fresh blankets?

His.

New quilt?

His.

Perfectly made bed?

Thank you for preparing his afternoon lounging area.

And while he may occasionally make actually making the bed significantly more complicated, there’s something incredibly comforting about seeing him curled up there.

Especially when sunlight comes through the window and he finds the warmest possible spot.

It makes the room feel lived in.

Not perfect.

Not staged.

Just comfortable.

And loved.

A Sanctuary Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy

I think we sometimes hear the word sanctuary and imagine something luxurious.

A giant bedroom.

Expensive furniture.

Perfect lighting.

Everything coordinated.

But I don’t think that’s what makes a space feel safe or comforting.

A sanctuary is simply somewhere your shoulders drop a little when you walk inside.

Somewhere you can exhale.

Somewhere you’re surrounded by things that make you happy.

For me, that’s this room.

My books.

My seasonal bedding.

My little decorations.

The familiar view from the bed.

My husband beside me.

And usually a striped little creature who has somehow managed to take up significantly more mattress space than his body size should mathematically allow.

Maybe That’s What Cozy Really Means

Ten days into this October challenge, I’m realizing how often the things that make me happiest are incredibly ordinary.

Coffee in the morning.

A favorite pair of shoes.

Dinner at home.

A walk for frozen yogurt.

Juggy keeping me company.

And now…

My bed.

Maybe cozy isn’t something we have to go looking for.

Maybe we build it ourselves.

One blanket.

One book.

One pumpkin pillow.

One ridiculously spoiled cat.

One ordinary evening at a time.

And when the world outside feels busy, complicated, or just plain exhausting, there’s something wonderful about knowing there’s a little corner of it that feels completely like yours.

Mine just happens to be covered in pumpkins.

And cat hair.

Lots and lots of cat hair.

Day 10 Complete

Photo Prompt: Your Bed

Writing Prompt: What makes your bedroom feel like your sanctuary?

Excerpt:

My bedroom doesn’t need to look like a luxury hotel to feel like a sanctuary. Give me seasonal bedding, books I love, a cozy place to end the day, and one very spoiled cat stretched across the bed like he owns it — because apparently, he does.