How Can We Build Enchantment Into Our Lives? - Part 2

How Can We Build Enchantment Into Our Lives? - Part 2
By Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, Fri Dec 9th

Thank you for staying with me for this two part article abouthow our environments add enchantment to every day living. Thisweek I invite you to read about how my Virtual Assistant,Rebecca, put beauty, meaning and form into her home. Her storyis different from mine, as each of ours are, but it is the samein the sense that it is her way of building enchantment into herlife.

Building Enchantment By Rebecca Trelfa

I wanted to share a little note about creating enchantment inyour home. I recently moved into an old Victorian house thatneeds serious redecorating. A previous owner loved dark woodsand shag carpets. (Not my style!)

Since I work at home, I found it necessary to temporarily addsome enchantment to 'this old house' because I spend so muchtime here. I took down dark drapes and replaced them with sheersto let the light in and, and sanded down and refinished some ofthe dark wood to give it a lighter appearance.

What a difference! Now I love my new home and am even happier tospend my days here. We have a nice back yard that I plan toplant some flowers and shrubs in once the weather is nice. Ihave even developed a new interest in Feng Shui and sit gluedmost nights to the Home & Garden channel watching dreary homesget enchanting face lifts.

I am reminded of an article of Dr. Holstein's called PositiveSpaces, which focuses along the same lines. When you aresurrounded by enchantment and things that really reflect yourown personality and things that you love, you create new warmmemories by bringing out the best of the past.

For example, my love of New Orleans has inspired me to create aCreole-style kitchen and my love of the Caribbean has inspired asoft bathroom with unusual colors. It is so fun to be creativeand pull the best from your experiences.

A Play Date with Building Enchantment

You have now read two different accounts of making a house comealive with personal history. Take a few moments to reflect onwhat you have loved in the

past. Was it what you saw on avacation? Perhaps, actual household items, as I talked about.Perhaps a certain style or time period makes you feel great.

What else would you like to bring into your life ... new things... a new home ...a garden ... new clothes? Perhaps it isnothing physical, but things like more music, or time withfriends. Whatever it is, take some time to daydream. Let ourstories wet your appetite and give you encouragement to bringmore enchantment into your life.

About the author:Dr. Holstein is the originator of The Enchanted Self and apsychologist since 1981. She is the author of two books: TheEnchanted Self, A Positive Therapy and Recipes for Enchantment,The Secret Ingredient is YOU! Dr. Holstein speaks on radio, andappears on television in NY and NJ. She gives lectures,seminars, retreats and audio interviews on LadybugLive.com andis in private practice in Long Branch, NJ with her husband, Dr.Russell Holstein.