Wit & Delight has been quiet for a year, but I’ve been writing more than ever. Slowing down the pace of publishing has allowed me to develop a curiosity about how we live and why. I’m fascinated by what lies beneath the surface of aesthetics.How we decorate our spaceWho we let in, and Who we are stopping. Most importantly, we rediscovered what it means to feel joy in our own way of life.
Writing about these experiences has been profoundly transformative for me. It has sparked conversations with readers that I would never have had with short-form, visual content. That’s what I love most about Substack.
While Wit & Delight continues to share lifestyle content and the occasional personal essay, we also post weekly on Daum. Home visit clinicIn the Substack newsletter, we explore why our homes and the lives we live in them are so important. Whether you’re a new or longtime reader who hasn’t yet discovered House Call, I highly recommend checking it out.
Below is an exclusive excerpt from a recent House Call essay.For a quiet home life.” In an increasingly noisy world, choosing a quiet life felt like a career death for my lifestyle brand, but it was something I desperately needed to do for myself. I wrote about creating space for emptiness, enjoying simple pleasures, and enjoying quiet time at home. I hope you enjoy this piece and join me on Substack.
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Visit Visit Excerpt: For a quiet home life
One of my favorite indulgences in the repetitive rhythm of daily life is daydreaming. Since I was a child, I have been free to wander into the realm of imagination. What started as a subconscious desire to comfort myself in the best possible way has proven to be fertile ground for a rich inner life. The ordinary becomes magical, the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary. Daydreams turn into vivid dreams, and sometimes these images are so vivid that reality cannot compare.
When I earned the nickname “Space Katie” for my mind wandering during academic classes, dance classes, and softball games, I realized that my tendency to escape the here and now was not helping me navigate social situations. Like most introverts, I viewed my natural state as “less than,” something I had to “fix” to excel in the world.
But lately, I’ve found myself more introverted. This winter has been deafeningly quiet in all areas of my life, a kind of magical darkness that feels intentional. It’s as if this part of me has been given a space to come back to. There’s no escape as usual. Creativity has been stifled, schedules have been tight, and drinking and eating have made me feel worse. My intuition told me to take the quiet and be with the emptiness. I soon realized that this emptiness is life-giving.
How Pleasure and Family Life Intersect
As I gradually opened my heart to this call to introversion, I kept looking back at how joy and quiet domesticity intersected. It was where I learned to accept things as they were and gave me time to recover from my frustrations. More more more.
These little things, the overlooked, the underrated, the simple pleasures (like sitting in a sunny chair with a cup of hot toast and tea) have boosted my mood and happiness more than working on one project at home. I began to wonder if I could enjoy my home if I didn’t know how to find joy in just being. All the paint colors, wallpapers, and patterns don’t translate into a sense of inner permission to sink into myself through the simple pleasure of being home.
This joy I have been pursuing since 2009 will never be revealed through self-help or the stereotypical advice on how to decorate your home from a magazine. In fact, I believe there is no manual at all. When designing a life well lived, you have to be brave enough to let go of the personas, masks, and armor you have accumulated. Perhaps letting go of what is not ours and letting what does not fit us die is the only way to design a life that feels like home. Unfortunately, this process is more like walking through the valley of death than a path lined with candy-colored daisies.
I began to wonder if we could ever enjoy our homes if we didn’t know how to find joy in just being. All the paint colors, wallpapers, and patterns couldn’t possibly translate into a sense of inner permission to sink into ourselves through the joy of simply being in our homes.
This week on House Call, I want to talk about the power of a home beyond its appearance. The inspiration for this post came from years of decorating homes, but not necessarily feeling good about the spaces I created. When I asked myself what I felt most satisfied and happy about in my home, what I found surprised me.
What a quiet home life means to me
A space that does not change.
It’s important to have spaces in your home that you no longer actively update – rooms that simply sit there untouched. BE. It is a practice that brings me a sense of comfort and peace. These spaces, including my bedroom, kitchen, and office, have evolved to reflect my changing needs and preferences. I still make adjustments occasionally, but with a clear necessary For update…
These spaces have become more than just rooms in my home. They have become extensions of myself, reflecting my personality, values, and aspirations. By allowing them to be as they are, I am able to appreciate the beauty and comfort of the present moment without the need to constantly change.
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Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is Testing the limits of her creativity. Follow her on Instagram @withanddellight_.
