Homes w/Soul

Thank you for the comments on my last post. 

The Dog's Mother - Kudos to your daughter! I am discovering more and more of her generation truly appreciate the craftsmanship which went into the old houses.

Mittens - I love to hear stories about people who have lovingly restored these glorious homes. Hubby and I have always been on the 'other end' of the house restoration - we restore the house and then end up selling it and moving on to the next one. This is the first time we have owned a house which has already been restored (at least 95%). There are some things we wish to do to give it that "POP". We want to restore the gingerbread around the front eave, upgrade the front porch light, new picket fence. 
All minor details. But then, The Devil is in the Details......

Soul-less Houses

There's a saying, "The Devil is in the Details". 
This couldn't be more accurate when it comes to the Victorian Houses found in small towns across the globe. It used to be main-stream thinking to demolish these old beauties and put up some under-engineered stick built dwelling. In many locales, these houses are seen as a boon to the community and they have been lovingly restored. In some towns, developers have gotten hold of these homes and have kept the exterior but have completely 'modernized' the interior. Tearing out and not replacing beautiful woodwork, ornate doorknobs, or other details which add to the charm, the Soul of the House. 
Those are the Soul-less Houses.

A house in Cripple Creek that was recently sold

The interior of the above house could be an apartment
or small condo located in Anywhere, USA

When gaming was established in Colorado. There was a new kind of land rush to the state. People focused on making a quick buck swooped in, bought up real estate (both commercial and private), and then did their darnedest to turn a quick profit. I understand that the commercial establishments had to do a fair amount of remodeling in order to bring old buildings up to the modern building safety codes. But I think that a little more care could have been taken in designing the brand new buildings so they blended in with the old ones a wee bit better.

Proposed expansion for a local casino

To me, the details say it all about a house. And all the people, who over the years, have left their mark on that house. Our house was purchased, along with several others, by a retired gentleman in the 1990's, not long after gaming was established. This man did his best to modernize these houses and yet retain as much of the old charm as he could. I commend this guy! And it is because of his attention to detail that we have a home with a Soul.

Original light fixtures (modernized) with embossed wallpaper on ceiling and walls, crown molding, chair rails all add to the original ambiance of the house

An Emptiness of the Soul

We are spiritual beings. Our souls desire a sense of purpose, a sense of fulfillment and a sense of belonging. When any or all of these things are missing from our lives, then a deep unhappiness settles upon us. This Emptiness of the Soul can quietly and quickly sneak up on a person. Entwining its tendrils into the very essence of ourselves. Once this occurs we become numb to what is taking place around us and our lives quickly lose meaning and purpose.

Today's society does not encourage a person's connection to the world or the people around us. We are encouraged to live by what our phones, our tablets and our computers tell us. We are not encouraged to think or explore beyond what the media and society deems as PC (politically correct), or necessary for the betterment of society, nor are we encouraged to doubt the powers in charge. The pressure to conform which is placed on Society has caused us to disconnect from each other and from Nature. People are encouraged to use material things as a way to nourish their souls.

Emptiness of the Soul can manifest in a variety of ways: Self-doubt, feelings of hopelessness or pessimism, low self-worth, inability to dream about tomorrow. An Empty Soul can lead to a myriad of physical ailments. Chronic pain, mental illness, insomnia, and depression can all be manifestations of an Empty Soul. Western Medicine will prescribe a drug to 'treat' one or more of these symptoms while the true cause of the condition will remain un-diagnosed. The prescription pharmecuticals will further numb the patient, causing him to think that this is how Life is supposed to be and any other way of thinking is bordering on the ridiculous. ***

If you find yourself in a frump, take a close, hard look at how you are leading your life as well as the people you choose to surround yourself with. Perhaps you need to make a career change or relocate to a locale where your soul can have room to grow. Do your friends encourage you or are they constantly talking only about themselves and how hard Life is? Get out into Nature for a walk or just sit in the park and enjoy the sights and sounds around you.  Try looking at your glass as half full instead of half empty.  A healthy does of optimism can go a long way in healing a soul-sickness. Remember to love yourself. Not only are we are own best friend but also our own worst enemy.

No matter how you choose to remedy the problem, remember to be patient with yourself. You didn't get to this point over night. May your Soul find the food it needs to nourish itself and soar amongst the heavens.

*** This post is not meant to replace a doctor's diagnosis of an illness. If you believe you are sick or ill then seek out a trained doctor's opinion. ***