I Thought Fixing the Clock Would Fix Me

To the version of me who thought an antique mantel clock would be a simple, charming project: I wish I could warn you. I wish I could tell you that winding a clock is nothing like winding back time. That the sound of the spring unwinding at 11 o’clock will haunt you, because it’s quieter than your own doubts, but just as persistent. I sat on the floor, hands shaking, listening for a chime that never matched the hour. I thought if I could just get this old thing to strike five times at five, maybe I’d feel like I belonged here. Maybe the house would finally feel like mine. But the more I tried to sync the chimes, the more out-of-sync I felt—like I was the one who couldn’t keep time, no matter how carefully I turned the hands. #RenovationRegrets #DIYDiaries #HomeIsHard #Home #HomeDecor