“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.” ~ Will Rogers (1879-1935)

With so many beautiful spaces and people out there in the world, who doesn’t struggle with comparison from time to time… I know I certainly do!

I love to create, but I can get really down on myself when I have a vision in my mind of how I’d like something to be or go and when it gets down to nuts and bolts and the finished project, I find it doesn’t measure up to the beautiful things I see in others homes or lives…

I have to remind myself I don’t know their struggles. I remind myself that they probably all compare themselves to someone else who has some aspect of what they feel they don’t have. I remind myself that it’s ok because I’m not called to compare anyway…

I’m only called to imitate…

Because even at my absolute best I am really only an imitator.  I’m not God -the real creator,  author, finisher, accomplisher, and provider.

And imitation is the sincerest form of flattery- no? So I relax and resolve to be *inspired*, not irritated and envious. Besides what good does that do? If there weren’t so many variations on a theme, so many different takes on one project, one idea, one design, and if everyone was the exact same how much fun would that be…??

When I’m hung up on comparing it only drags me down and tells me how I don’t measure up to some ideal. On the flip side, imitation looks at the best qualities and strives to make them a part of our own life.

So I think I will compare less and imitate more. Because imitating is more than ok when our greatest desire is to imitate God and his compassion, love and grace. This is what leads to inspiration.

Thanks for sticking with me 🙂

P.S. This crafty area in my dining room (i use the term dining room very loosely….it’s just a glorified eat in kitchen…!) looks nothing like this after a Saturday at home with nothing else to do….! Details soon!