If you’ve been a reader of this blog, you know that I *adore* tiny houses. I love the way they are so incredibly beautiful in detail (after all, if you don’t need to buy much, you might as well go with quality materials) and I especially love the way they are designed to be compact with a place for everything and everything in its place. You don’t need much when you have enough.
Simplicity at its finest.
But when you (me) decide to have 6 children, you (me) eventually have to give up the dream of a tiny house – forever. I don’t want to live away from my family, but neither do I want to live with them underfoot at all times either. A tiny house does not fit with our family situation.
But I still dream.
What remains of my tiny dream is the vision of a tiny writer’s shack. I imagine it will look much like a tiny house (surrounded by my chickens), but its purpose will be to provide a safe and quiet haven for creativity. I can see my writing desk, my favorite books on a shelf, my writer’s muses standing ready to inspire. It is cozy and everything in it is there for a reason.
Even though I don’t live in a tiny house (or even write in one at the moment) tiny house mentality has invaded my thoughts. When you live in a tiny house you must constantly evaluate your possessions and keep asking whether the joy of owning something and keeping it with you is worth the space it will then take up in your life.
It’s not such a bad question for anyone to ask, especially now as we enter the holiday season. You can certainly ask this of yourself, but you can (and should) also ask it about others when you are out buying gifts.
Will the joy your friend feels when receiving some holiday pot holders be worth holding on to them for the rest of the year?
Will the joy of a knick-knack be worth the shelf space it will then take up?
I’m not saying to not give gifts. I love giving gifts, by all means, be generous to others, especially, *especially* to the children. Instead, what I am saying is to try incorporating a “tiny house” mentality this holiday season. Give gifts that bring joy and that don’t take up a lot of space. Give quality over quantity.
A donation to a charity in a friend’s name.
A set of movie passes.
An article of clothing that’s really needed.
A promise to take a friend out for coffee.
A much needed spaghetti spoon
Sure, these gifts may not be the most glamorous, but if they are what’s needed or truly wanted, then they will be the most perfect gifts.
This holiday season, wouldn’t it be nice if we gave as if we all lived in tiny houses? Because no matter where you live, you don’t need much when you have enough.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
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