The concept of a makeover, as I’ve come to understand it, is essentially about taking something that already exists and making it useful in a completely new context. A chair becomes a stand, a ladder turns into storage, a sofa transforms into a bed, and sometimes even scrap finds new purpose.
But here’s the thing: how is this any different from a person’s journey through life? A baby becomes a toddler, then a boy or girl, a lover, a husband or wife, a father or mother (in no particular order, of course), a grandparent, and then eventually we return to plain old soil or ash. It’s not just philosophical musing—it’s the reality of life.
Along this path, how many makeovers do we go through? Mini makeovers and full transformations—dancer, writer, teacher, caregiver. It’s endless. Each transition can feel messy and awkward at first, but eventually, the new identity settles in. It lasts for a while, and then the process begins again. Another transformation, another version of who we are.
As I look at the photos of the furniture makeovers I’ve done, I realize that each one had to go through its own period of deconstruction before being reconstructed into something different, something useful for the present moment. Some pieces only needed a light touch-up to shine again, while others required a complete overhaul. People are the same. Some of us just need a gentle dusting to find our light, while others require serious, deep work to uncover their truest selves. Those who only need a light touch-up are lucky. Most of us, though, need the hard work—the slow, often painful journey of transformation.
Nature does this so easily—caterpillars become butterflies, seeds grow into seedlings, flowers die only to leave behind seeds that will bloom again. So why do humans find the process of deconstruction and reconstruction so painful?
Maybe it’s resistance. Perhaps that’s why some people break down along the way, just like furniture that can no longer be salvaged.
Personally, I hope I never become resistant furniture. I want to be like the caterpillar—always open to the possibility of becoming a butterfly. So far, I’ve flowed through my identity transformations, learning and growing with each new version of myself. And I hope, with time, I’ll come to embrace these transitions rather than seeking the comfort of the status quo.
Life, after all, is as we will it to be. What are you going to be ?
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