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« Fashion Statement | Main | Its the Race We Run-- Not the Destination »
December 4, 2007 |Permalink |Comments (5)
Small Houses
Very cool...
Take a look.
Comments ( 5)
Many years ago, I had a friend who lived in a small house he had built - essentially one room, but it had everything you could need. It's an enticing idea.
More, more more....
This really is a society of more, bigger, larger!
This article makes me think how the trend of society encourages purchasing huge mansion-style homes, living on credit, buying the latest and greatest...surrounding ourselves with "things." Heck, even our plates are getting bigger "Super Size me!"
It is equally interesting to witness how often unhappy we are in the compulsion to "Keep up with the Joneses." It is as if we are attempting to fill an abysmal void and continually looking around thinking "This will make me happy--this car, this house, this trip..."
It somehow reflects to me that an External Locus of Control--and often unconscious of it, at times, drives society. It appears to be the norm.... the expectation.
I readily admit that I can get caught up in the tornado of societal expectation. I also readily admit that when I attempt to simplify, when I consciously move to the center of that tornado spinning...it is quiet, it is calm, I can hear myself think...I can begin to listen to my own voice. I begin to look inward for my own answers. I begin to perceive my own sense of internal validation and not the external chatter of what society dictates to me.
From my experience, simplifying my life requires conscious effort but can result in great rewards. How many times, when people have made a major move, got rid of loads of stuff that hasn't looked at or used for years and has been held on to for a multitude of reasons? I've always felt a sense of relief giving away boxes and bags of things I previously perceived as "important" or "necessary."
It has also felt good when I have lived with less stuff, as if I had shed some skin, carried less weight (literally and figuratively).
There is something to be said about living in a minimalist fashion. It seems like society is propelled and encouraged to crave more and more.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to see a society that craves less and less?
I guess, in my opinion, it comes down to what I need as opposed to what I “think” I need.
I have often heard stories from so many loved ones and friends that some of the happiest times in their lives have been when they were “poorest” by societal standards. I’ve heard that during these periods of time they focused on and appreciated the “simple things” in life since they could not afford extravagant or monetary things.
Richest of all....?
It really gives me pause to not only think of my external housecleaning and simplifying, but my own internal housecleaning and simplification.
Time, again, to shed some skin…
Watched "The Story of Stuff" lately? I think it speaks to this.
I watched the "Stuff" video and it was both educational and disturbing.
I started to look further on the topic and came across some local (USA) folks that started their own environmentally conscious group in attempt to minimize consumption and the ever increasing "landfill" issue.
Check it out! Pretty cool!
Now...if this trend (which has on some levels) would catch on in our local communities-wouldn't that be great!?!
This is a wonderful example/response of people trying to proactively address the problem.
Below are links that describe what they did in more detail:
http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/web_exclusives/alumni_spotlight/as_040407pelmas.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/27/BAGRON6E431.DTL
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-01-03-shopping-sabbatical_x.htm
I think anyone can downsize and do more with less, live more efficiently, and maximize their budget. Its easy going from less to more but to go from more to less is not easy. To most people it is a step backward and away from their goals. Many Americans need to do this in order to live within their means and it won't be by choice.