By Jené DeSpain, April 12, 2020
“Obstacles, of course, are developmentally necessary. They teach us strategy, patience, critical thinking, resilience, and resourcefulness.” – Naomi Wolf
Home remodels tend to come with a certain set of expected challenges. Things can cost more than what was originally quoted, timelines can drag on a bit, that desired shade of tile always is out of stock. For the majority of home buyers entering the adventures of remodeling, the hoops to jump through to arrive at the dream outcome don’t often include a pandemic.
Our current times have brought with them completely new parameters for all of us. We are taking care of each other by staying home, but what do you do if the new home you just moved into doesn’t have a functioning bathroom because the Covid-19 outbreak caught you mid-remodel? For one of my wonderful clients in this situation, she is calling upon her patience, just one of her qualities that makes her heart shine like gold.
I’ve been calling her to check in, as I have been with many of my clients, as I’m thinking about her and the remodel of her bathroom, office, and ADU all underway at this time. Different rooms are in different stages, but her upstairs bathroom is literally mid-point (no shower, no toilet, no sink) and it seems like it might be this way for a while.
The Inspiration ↓ Before ↓ Currently ↓
I was chatting with her yesterday to see how things are coming along, and she spoke about the situation with such calm and patience. She shared how it’s a bit chaotic, but she’s been expressing to the contractors and crew, working in shifts around her house, how important it is to her that they stay safe and make choices about engaging in the work that enable them to not stress. She spoke with understanding of the obstacles that were encumbering each aspect of the projects. I smiled at her good naturedness. Her embrace of the mayhem, with ease and grace, is a quality I admire. And she’s correct… Before too long, we’ll be over at her place together toasting the finished outcome of everyone’s hard work over long hugs and glasses of sparkling champagne. She found an unopened bottle from the 80’s tucked away in the back of a pantry deep inside her 1940 Colonial. Perfect for celebrating!
