Wednesday, August 5, 2009

A House With Four Rooms




My daily ritual is to check in at writer Deanna Raybourn's blog to read her daily posts. I enjoy her perspective as she writes about her life as an author, mother, and wife, and she just happens to love reading and writing about the past as much as I do.

Today's post addressed the way in which she approaches life in order to achieve a healthy balance and still accomplish many things in several areas of her life. She quoted the work of 20th century writer and poet Rumer Godden, and the following quote comes from her autobiography, A House With Four Rooms:

"Everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person."

I thought this was very interesting, and in examining my four rooms I see I do often neglect to take time to visit each room daily -- or I avoid one room completely for long periods of time. I do get the feeling that I'm out of balance from time to time. I think I'm going to put this quote where I can see it every day to remind me to take better care of my four "rooms."

How about you? Have you visited all four rooms lately?

4 comments:

septembermom said...

I definitely neglect at least one of my rooms each day. I do feel out of balance often. As a mom with young kids, I feel like I'm in robot mode and forget to cultivate what needs to grow within me. Thanks for this post Joanne. I think I'll follow your lead and keep this quote close as a reminder.

Joanne said...

I like the way she reminds us to take a little time to at least let in the fresh air --moms of little ones, like you, have little time for yourself, but a few minutes for yourself are doable...and necessary!

Kim said...

Love this! Can I use it for my Think on Thursday and I will link it back to your blog? ~~ Kim

Joanne said...

Hi, Queen Bee - Sure! I'd love that!

Favorite Period Dramas

Mount TBR

Joanne's to-read book montage

On a Highland Shore
A Light on the Veranda
Entwined
The Queen's Vow: A Novel Of Isabella Of Castile
The Edwardians
Maisie Dobbs
Howards End
Lady's Maid
Instruments Of Darkness
When Maidens Mourn
Where Shadows Dance
What Remains of Heaven
Where Serpents Sleep
Why Mermaids Sing
When Gods Die
Shadowfever
Before Ever After
The Sugar Queen
Garden Spells
After the Night


Joanne's favorite books »
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