There’s an old saying that says, “You never really know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” Well, quarantine has taught me a totally different phrase. “You never really know what you’ve got until it won’t go away.” It’s crazy how it happened. After years of being together, everything surprisingly still felt new and exciting. That feeling I would get when I knew I was about to get off of work and head home. That smile that came across my face when I walked in the door. Going to bed and waking up every morning to something that was hand picked for me and by me. There was a joy there that can not be explained, only experienced. That is, until quarantine happened.

This House is No Longer a Home

In the beginning, it was cool. I was excited about spending more time with you. Quality time is my love language so I just knew this was exactly what I needed. But after a few months, things changed. What was once exciting and new became stale and predictable. Everything from your looks to the way you were dressed suddenly were old and unattractive. “What is happening?” I asked myself regularly. Then, it dawned on me. There was no opportunity to miss or be missed, and I get bored easily. I was becoming bored with you. I feel horrible just saying that, but it’s my truth. So what now? How do I combat this boredom?

Quarantine Conversations

I chose to confide in someone close to me and let them know what I was feeling. The response that I got was shocking and unexpected. I thought I was going to receive a stern talking to about being grateful for what I have. However, this confidant basically told me to have an, “Out with the old. In with the new!” type of approach. That threw me for a HUGE loop! Throw away all of the time and work that I’d invested over the years?? That would be completely asinine. But as time quickly passed, the idea became more and more appealing to me. Eventually, I went for it. I picked up my phone and made a call that would ultimately lead to me turning my back on everything I knew and loved.

“So when do you want me to come down there?” “As soon as you can,” I responded. Everything had been set into motion. All of the many conversations that took place while my husband was out running errands. He was completely clueless, although I knew full well what I was doing. It lit a spark in me. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but it was exciting and new. Excitement and newness: the two things that had been missing in my life. The monotony was finally about to come to an end.

Quarantine Brought Us Together

My life was about to be changed in ways I had never imagined. We laid low for three days and got a hotel room. I didn’t know what I would be going back home to once it was all over, but I didn’t worry myself with that. I made a conscious effort to be present and live in the moment with no cares. My anxiety crept in on occasion, but I suppressed it. I wasn’t about to allow anything to ruin our time together.

The Reveal

The ride back home was full of nervous tension and an array of thoughts bumping around in my head. The “what ifs” nearly drove me crazy and turned a 30 minute drive into something that seemed endless. Did I make a mistake? Should I have just left things as is and continued to suffer silently? Part of me felt that I had made a mistake. The other part of me felt justified because up until this instance, every decision I’d made for myself had been made with others in mind. For once, I made a decision based on ME and my needs. That was an empowering feeling!

I pulled up to my house and parked in my garage. Before going inside, I took a moment to breathe and prepare myself for whatever came next. As I opened the door and entered my living room, I was blown away. It was beautiful! While my husband and I were away at the hotel for three days, my sister had come in and totally transformed our home into something new and exciting! Newness and excitement: the two things that had been missing in my life! The colors and décor left me speechless. We had talked several times (while my husband was out running errands) about her plan and vision, but seeing it come to life was a whole different experience. The reveal was an even bigger shock to my husband because he wasn’t privy to our previous conversations.

Quarantine: A Blessing In Disguise

If you haven’t caught on yet, I wasn’t talking about my husband. I was talking about my house! When I think about my initial conversation with my sister, I’m grateful. I’m grateful that she didn’t tell me to stop tripping and be grateful for what I already had. I’m grateful that she didn’t preach to me about staying within the budgetary boundaries that I had set for myself. Instead, she encouraged me to treat myself throughout the process and turn my house into a home that brings me peace, joy, and relaxation. And that’s exactly what she did.

Listen. Cabin fever is a real thing. I don’t know about you, but being stuck in the house since March has taken a toll on me in ways I never saw coming. This house that I’ve always loved so dearly and took the time and money to decorate and make cozy slowly became a source of stress for me during quarantine. I was tired of looking at the same old stuff every single day. I needed a change, the rooms needed some new outfits, and I made it happen with the help of my extremely gifted sister, Eulonda. Talk about turning a dream into a reality! My sister did exactly that, and I can’t thank her enough.

Shameless plug: my sister is currently working on building her interior decorating business, Dae’s Designs so be on the lookout for that. I will definitely be sharing all of the amazing things she’s doing in my stories!

Behind the Quarantine Scenes

Curious about how the whole experience went? The full vlog of my home makeover experience, including before and after footage as well as testimonials from my husband and me, is live on my YouTube channel! All you have to do is click here and enjoy. Be sure to subscribe and keep your eyes peeled for more dope video content that is to come. Stay tuned!

– Mommi Joanna