Can I tell you something I realized about myself?
- chandra redding
- Jul 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 26
For years, I spent more time explaining my life than actually enjoying it.
Nobody was asking me to defend my choices.
I had already decided they were judging me.
If someone complimented my car, I'd explain why I bought it.
If someone found out I had seven pets, I'd explain why my house didn't smell like a kennel.
If someone admired my home, I'd explain where I saved money so they didn't think I spent too much.
Looking back, almost all of those conversations happened inside my own head.
The Porsche Story
I used to love fast cars. I still do. My dad was a gearhead, so maybe I come by it honestly. I love the sound of an engine, the smell of rubber, and the sleek lines of a beautiful car.
But if someone complimented my car, I’d immediately start explaining:
"Oh, it’s used."
"I got a really good deal."
"It’s not as expensive as people think."
It was almost as if I needed permission to enjoy something that made me happy. Why?
I realized I was trying to protect myself from judgment before it even arrived. I was preemptively defending my choices because I thought others would see me as frivolous or irresponsible. The truth was, I was the one who felt unsure about enjoying something purely for myself.
Looking back, I wasn't really explaining the nice car I had..... I was apologizing for liking it.
Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that enjoying something beautiful required a disclaimer.
Why?
I honestly don't know.
Maybe I was afraid people would think I was irresponsible.
Maybe I was worried they'd assume I spent money recklessly.
Or maybe I simply hadn't learned yet that I didn't need permission to enjoy something that made me smile.
The Pets
If you've been around Michelle's Room for more than five minutes, you already know my house isn't exactly quiet.
Three pugs.
Four cats.
Seven furry roommates with very strong opinions.
For years, whenever someone found out how many pets I had, I'd go straight into defense mode. I’d find myself saying:
"My house is actually really clean."
"I vacuum all the time."
"You'd never know I have this many animals."
But one day I caught myself and thought...
Why am I explaining this?
The truth is, I wasn't embarrassed that I had seven pets. I was embarrassed by what I thought other people might assume about me because I had seven pets. That's a huge difference.
These days, I don't design my home to hide the fact that I have animals. I design it for them. My washable rugs weren't an accident. Neither were my robot vacuums. Or my air purifiers. Or my furniture choices.
My home finally reflects the life I'm actually living instead of the life I thought I was supposed to have. And honestly? It's never felt more like home.
The Real Issue Wasn't Other People
So, here’s the thing that finally clicked for me.
I realized that most people weren’t judging me nearly as much as I thought they were.
It turns out, I was the one doing all the heavy lifting in that department.
I was giving complete strangers opinions they had never actually expressed.
I was out here living my life trying to answer questions that nobody had even asked.
My Home Changed Too
The biggest change wasn't just in me.
It happened in my home, too.
For years, I wanted people to walk into my house and forget I had pets. I wanted everything to look perfect, and if someone found out I had three pugs and four cats, I'd immediately start explaining how often I vacuumed or how clean my house was.
Now?
I do the exact opposite.
I don't design my home to hide my pets anymore—I design it for them.
That's why you'll find washable rugs instead of rugs I'm afraid to walk on.
You'll find robot vacuums quietly doing their thing every day.
Air purifiers running in the background.
Furniture and fabrics that fit the life I'm actually living instead of the life I thought other people expected me to have.
The funny thing is, once I stopped trying to hide the things I loved, my home actually became more beautiful.
Not because it became perfect.
Because it became honest.
It reflects the people—and pets—I love most. It's comfortable, welcoming, and designed for real life. When someone walks through my front door now, I don't hope they overlook the fact that I have seven pets.
I hope they notice that my home feels warm, peaceful, and lived in.
Because that's exactly what I was trying to create all along.
What Michelle's Room Really Means
When I first started Michelle's Room, I honestly thought I was creating a space to share products I loved.
A place where I could post great deals, beauty finds, home décor, pet products, and maybe help someone save a little money along the way.
Turns out...
I'm building something much bigger.
Yes, you'll find affiliate links here. You'll discover products I genuinely love, home projects, beauty favorites, travel ideas, and probably more pictures of my three pugs and four cats than any normal person should have.
But that's not really what Michelle's Room is about.
It's about building a life that feels like you.
For me, that means mixing bargain finds with things I choose to splurge on.
It means buying washable rugs because I have pets instead of pretending they don't exist.
It means learning to fix things around my house instead of automatically paying someone else.
It means taking myself on adventures, trying new things, and proving to myself that it's never too late to learn something new.
Most of all, it means giving myself permission to stop apologizing for the life I've chosen.
I don't want this website to make you feel like you need to buy more stuff.
I want it to make you feel like you can build a life you genuinely love—whatever that looks like for you.
Maybe that's a home full of rescue animals.
Maybe it's finally learning how to paint a room, fix a leaky faucet, or grow a garden.
Maybe it's treating yourself to something you've wanted for years without feeling guilty about it.
Maybe it's simply realizing you don't have to explain your choices to anyone else.
If something I share helps make your life a little easier, saves you some money, gives you the confidence to tackle a project on your own, or inspires you to stop waiting for permission to live the life you want, then Michelle's Room has done exactly what I hoped it would.
So welcome.
Come in, get comfortable, and stay awhile.
I'm really glad you're here.
❤️ Before You Go...
If you enjoyed spending a few minutes with me today, I'd love to stay in touch.
Michelle's Room is where I share honest product recommendations, pet-friendly home ideas, beauty favorites, DIY projects, and the occasional life lesson I've learned along the way.
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