inspiration, from tiny places

I spent this morning looking around the web for inspiration to keep on going with the purging.  it just gets hard to get started because i think of all the reasons why i am afraid to get rid of certain things.  i found lots of inspiration...starting with the tiny house.  wow!  what a great idea.  here is a link to a guys website that has some great info on it and where you can see a tour of his tiny home.  and here's a picture of one too.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/



then I found this post on a blog for simple living...interesting thoughts on how just focusing on having less stuff isn't really the key to being happy either.  i like the idea here, and think it important to share and live into.

"Most of us would agree that a materialistic life is not a fulfilling one. More clothes, bigger houses, the latest electronic gadgets, newer and flashier cars… these things might bring temporary enjoyment, but a life based around acquiring things can feel pretty empty. The reason is simple… “stuff” doesn’t equal happiness.

So what about the idea that many people have nowadays that less stuff equals happiness? It’s really the same mindset carried to the opposite extreme. One group thinks that buying another new thing will make life better… one more purchase will make life happier. The other group thinks that ridding themselves of another existing possession will make life better… one more act of purging will make life happier.

Both groups are putting far too much importance on “things.” It’s possible to be happy living in one room with few possessions… or in a mansion filled with the finest of everything. It’s also possible to be miserable in both situations. Lasting happiness comes from relationships and spiritual and emotional fulfillment… it isn’t determined by how much stuff you have, or the process of acquiring it or purging it. The person who has simplified his life isn’t happy because he has less stuff… he is happy because he has achieved inner peace.

There are some very good reasons for purging and decluttering, but compulsive purgers who purge for the purge itself are just as excessively focused on stuff as compulsive shoppers are.

And that is not the path to achieving true and lasting simplicity."

i know this has been out there for a number of years, so many of you may have seen it before...but if you have not watched this little cartoon, The Story of Stuff, i highly recommend watching it.  

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

thanks to all that have been leaving me little clips and such via email or FB for more inspiration.  i love it!  in fact, here is a story someone shared from the Seattle Times about a tiny apartment, enjoy!  and thanks Amy!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2012595209_pacificpnwl22.html?cmpid=2628