Recently, while watching a portion of a talk show, participants were asked to describe their childhood bedroom. It was believed aspects of their early way of life gave interesting insight into who they were or the people they would become.

Of course, this caused me to take time to remember the details of my bedroom. When my sister and I were teenagers, our dad added a new master bedroom and a new bathroom to our home. Our parents were happy to get this beautiful new space, but one of the main reasons this project began was so all three children could have their own bedrooms.

Our brother was younger and really not concerned with his bedroom, but my sister and I shared a room, and we had very different ideas about how it should be decorated. So, once the new addition to our home was completed, we each had our own room. Even better, Sharon and I were allowed to choose the carpet for our rooms and new furniture.

After looking all around the furniture store, I chose a bedroom suite in the Mediterranean style. It was ornate, and I learned later, harder to dust. As a nice gesture, the store owner then let us each choose a swag lamp to hang from the ceiling on a chain by the bed. The furniture and the design and colors of the swag lamp were something I would never choose today, but I thought they were very cool. And besides, I felt very confident in my decision-making at thirteen years old.

But the thing I remember most about the room is a poster I purchased of the poem “Desiderata”. I don’t know what happened to the poster. I wish I had kept it. The poem was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann. I learned the text was widely distributed in poster form in the 1960’s and 1970’s. My copy of the poster would have been from the latter part of the 1960’s.

Desiderata is Latin for “things desired”. It begins with these words, “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons”. The remainder of the poem is just as beautiful and inspiring, but too lengthy to include here since it is a prose poem. I’ll definitely be ordering a copy of the poem on a poster today for my office.

The poem on my poster wasn’t just for decoration. I read it often and relished the words. The memory of the poem made me realize the great gift our parents gave us. They knew we needed a space of our own to be the individuals we would become. We each had a space where we could spend time to reflect, dream and plan.

I thought my sister’s room was decorated beautifully, but it wasn’t what I would have chosen. And I’m sure she felt the same about my room. In fact, I’m pretty sure we told each other so. She still decorates her home beautifully, and when I need guidance in that area, she’s the one I call.

When I remember our little brother’s room, I think of the cowboy theme that our mother used, complete with a ceiling light fixture to match. If he cared to change his decor when he was older, I’m sure he was allowed to do so.

The discussion of childhood bedrooms generates lots of memories. It also reminds us of the parents who give their children the freedom to express themselves and learn to make decisions and that doesn’t always involve separate bedrooms. Sometimes creative solutions are put in place to make a private space for each family member. Sharing a bedroom as a child can surely develop expertise in diplomacy and can create an atmosphere of togetherness and a feeling of security. All different kinds of skills can be learned from childhood bedrooms.

Do you have a favorite memory of your childhood bedroom or a description of something in the room that helped or inspired you?