I’m only about 50 pages into Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin and I’m already inspired.
She talks about cultivating shrines in your home, which basically means transforming areas into places of super-engagement. These are places where your most precious possessions are given more prominence. As Gretchen says in the book, a shrine “is arranged with care. It entices people to particular activities and moods. It’s a sign of dedication.”
My office is the most important area of my house because it’s where I go to write, so it’s natural that my desk should act as a shrine. And when your desk is as small as mine is, you really need to evaluate everything you decide to put on it. But not being able to fit very much on it has a hidden benefit: it’s almost impossible for it to look messy. There is simply no room for clutter. And I love that.
Here are the desk accessories that make up my shrine, a few of which I bought after writing about them in a previous post.
To remind me that time doing what you love is never wasted.
Dekad Alarm Clock from IKEA
A warm & fresh scent to calm me down.
Diptyque Figuier Candle
A nod to the past and the perfect size for a cupcake.
Absinthe Saucer from Teatro Verde
There is nothing like the look and feel of old books.
Vintage book from the Sunday Antique Market
Coffee is a constant source of inspiration.
Homegrown Monogram Mug from Anthropologie