Embracing Boldness (in the Little Things)
There’s a unique thrill that comes with stepping outside of our comfort zones, embracing the unknown, and tackling new tasks that may initially seem intimidating or even silly. A while back, I decided to transform my bathroom by installing a statement wall. And then I took some good time talking about it to my friends, showing the wallpaper I picked and purposefully procrastinating. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt.
Who am I to have a statement wall? Who am I to give myself what I want? Who am I to be a person with more than people anticipate from me? Who am I to colour outside the lines, society tells me to stay within?! Surely, I thought, that could feel excessive. The nagging voice inside me whispered that perhaps I should just play it safe and leave it all as is and always have been.
However, I soon allowed myself to pause. In life and interior design, it’s often the bold choices that spark joy and evoke the strongest responses. Sometimes doing what you have not been taught before can feel equally strange and envigorating, scary and elevating - I began to draw parallels to the way in which we construct the personalities we present to the world. Much like the statement wall, our personal traits can be dramatic, colorful, and unapologetic. I reflected on how brave it is to own our distinctive qualities and stand tall in our beliefs, even when they may provoke responses from others.
Just like a bold wall can evoke a variety of opinions—some admiring and others questioning—the way we choose to express ourselves can also stir a mix of reactions. This duality and complexity is part of the human experience; embracing our strengths while navigating the delicate balance of how we’re perceived. The task of owning such a little part of my home - my bathroom wall - turned into a therapeutic experience. I reminded myself that every moment that I am intense and undeniably present, I also am more rooted in the now.
In life, it’s easy to blend in with the crowd, to mute our colors in hopes of being palatable. And I realize that a bathroom wall is a tiny DIY project for the rest of humanity but it’s a big moment for me claiming parts of myself and standing for who I am. I believe that most of my life I have played with the idea and the notion that being different and standing out is a strength, not a weakness. There’s a rewarding feeling that comes with creating something that speaks to one’s truth. Just as the statement wall invites different reactions—some might love it, others might not—I’ve learned to cherish the feedback I receive about my personality yet always trust in myself the most. Authenticity is not to be valued, its to be felt. Even though being bold and standing by our truths can sometimes feel like a balancing act, but growth arises from this very challenge. I want this tiny experience of doing something by myself to be a reminder of the courage it takes to be unapologetically ourselves. Embracing boldness in our personalities fosters deeper connections and encourages others to step into their own color. So, as we navigate this world, let’s not shy away from our statement walls, whether literal or metaphorical.