Centerpiece

“Energy flows where attention goes,” or so people say. Whether you believe in that kind of magic or not, it’s enchanting to remember that you can choose to see what is beautiful, surprising, or compelling in your everyday life. And once you see it, why not move it to the center?

A centerpiece has something to teach us about attention—it needs to be inviting enough to draw people around it, but not so ostentatious that you can’t see the friend seated across from you. Like the hub of a wheel or the host of a gathering, a centerpiece’s role is to help all the other pieces of its orbit function cohesively. Though arguably the most important element, it does not stand alone but plays a central role in the collection of all things. Whether friendly or elegant, modern or heirloom, functional or joyfully impractical, a centerpiece can set the tone for a table, a party, or a home. So, in the spirit of the centerpiece, ask yourself: what do you want to pay attention to? Then arrange everything else around that.