Simple Living Tip: Live in a Small House

This post on Treehugger was brought to my attention by Vanessa of A Simply Good Life the other day and I couldn't wait to share it with you. I have started developing a fascination with the small house movement. While I cannot imagine myself living in the minute home of the Lorence family, I know that right now I am living with way less than I thought I could 5 years ago. 

The examples of people who have turned away from luxurious visions of inexistent riches inspire me so much. Leading a fulfilled and mindful life can never be achieved by owning. It is all in our way of thinking and attitude to life and that is why, it comes as no surprise that living with less enriched the senses and the mind.

Building small when the world craves big

Johnny Sanphillippo is a university-graduate working as a housekeeper and painter, who earns less than $20,000 a year. And yet over time he has built himself a tiny home in Hawaii, for which he has paid only in cash in the process of building. While it took him 10 years to finish his project, he is a happy owner of a small house and a garden where he also grows his own food.

Indeed, our family of three lives a perfectly full-blooded life in much the same area as Johnny, the only difference being that our home has two floors and our backyard is the forest. Oh yes, and we live way more north. But, when you evaluate your needs you will be left with just a few basic things that can make you a happy and self-sufficient person. Everything beyond that is in your imagination.

 

Evolution, really?

I am in awe with the evolution of humanity, or lack of it, actually. After living modestly for centuries, humanity has reached the point of such extreme greed and over-consumption that nowadays, the people who have got out of the daze and are trying to get back to the basics are pronounced revolutionaries.

Just think of how many useless stuff you have in your home. Even if you are trying to de-clutter. Even if you already have de-cluttered. I bet that there are still objects that you feel emotionally connected to and don't want to let go even if you haven't used them in a year. 

All we need is love

According to psychologists, lack of love makes us crave and collect stuff. The more stuff we own, the bigger space we need. Notice that I am not even saying "living" space. Because it is not for living, it is for storing. Why not open up your house today and really, and honestly clean it? This will translate into opening your heart and mind for new opportunities and will make space for love.

And, after all, all we need is love, isn't it?

You might actually find out that you don't need so much storage space after de-cluttering and can even move to a smaller home which will also save you money. Or time for making the money. 

Work less.

Need less.

Consume less.

Less is more. It opens time and space for what really matters - intellectual growth.

Now tell me, would you like to be in Johnny's shoes?