Simplicity Revolution

Tumbleweed tiny houses ......the very name invokes images of tiny elves tucked in tiny beds with sweet dreams floating through their tiny brains, but it is actually a company started by Jay Shafer.The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company to be exact and it is just what the name suggests...tiny houses.  Compact houses that store only the necessities...everything that you need and nothing extra. (http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/) I am fascinated with  all things tiny... I once saw a tiny skillet which sent me reeling with laughter and I couldn't get the thought of making little sunny side up eggs out of my head all day.  So you can imagine my excitement over Tumbleweed Tiny Houses!!!  Everything you need... simple, compact and purposeful.

Jay Shafer founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

I was thinking about that philosophy and how I could apply it to my own life. With all the junk that can take my focus and distract me from what is truly important, how can I get rid of the things that do not truly matter to make room for what is needed?  I  am not simply talking about material things ( like an episode of the popular T.V show "Hoarders") but ideas, and thoughts, and worries that don't really matter in the whole scheme of things...it's kind of my unofficial goal for this year. I recently did a journal entry that helped me figure out both things that have been cluttering my life and what is really important.   I drew a big square with a little square in the center. The big square held all the ideas, mindsets, frustrations, worries and philosophies that I feel have been cluttering up my life. I focused on different aspects of life from my career to my marriage, and everything in between and just wrote down what I felt was keeping me from moving forward.  I had things like "fearing being taken advantage of", " using perfect words", " sticking with what is comfortable", " trying to figure out life all at once" and " appearing strong" all in that big box.  There were more than forty items in that box, and in the center was a tiny box which I used to focus on what I felt was really important... five items " Compassion", "Helping when I see a need", " Growing in the fruit of the Spirit (attitude), " Knowing and believing God" and "Maturing in how I love people".

The outside square are the things that have cluttered things up

In the middle are the things worth my focus

 These things are what I am passionate about and the forty plus items only serve to take my focus off of what matters, loving God and loving people.  This year I want to keep it simple.. Let the war on clutter begin!

Keeping It Real!

When I was in college I was in the painting room working on yet another class assignment when a friend came to visit me in the studio.   It was odd, not that she came to visit but that I was used to seeing graphic design majors, fine art majors and the likes in the art building prancing around at all hours of the day and night (Sometimes all night without any sleep). Since she was neither, I wondered what had brought her to this side of the tracks. We spent some time chatting and then she turned her gaze to what I was doing... A self- portrait in the style of a famous painter.. but what caught her eye was not how well she thought my technique was or how  she thought I captured the artist's style.. no that could have all been true but that was not what she pointed out. My friend asked " Why did you make your hair so short?" I was a little taken back by both the tone and the implication in the question but I thought for a bit then urged her that it was alright  because my hair was short. She told me that if she were doing the painting she would have made her hair look longer.. I guess she felt free to critique my work and my hair style that day...I have been thinking about that situation lately, because it brings to mind a painting I admire.
I am sure that you remember the great artist Vincent Van Gogh and the infamous story of how he cut off his own ear after an argument with his fellow artist Gaughin. How he wrapped the bloody ear up and mailed it to his lady friend.  That's a story that most of us would have tried to hide... to push under the rug pretending that it never happened... we most assuredly would have kept it to ourselves... nope... not Mr. Van Gogh, he chose to do a couple of self - portraits to commemorate the glorious event! " Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear" is one such painting. A somber looking Van Gogh gazes at the viewer from what appears to be his studio.   Although the background is colorful there is a looming feeling of cold. This could be because of the big blue coat  and furry hat that adorns the artist but I think it comes more from his intense gaze.. Oh and yes his freshly bandaged ear!

" Self- portrait With Bandaged Ear" , Vincent Van Gogh, 1889, oil on canvas

I admire the fact that he could have fudged the portrait.. painted himself with the flap of his hat turned down or painted himself with ear muffs or painted some long curly red hair down to his shoulders (and set a new trend for that time) in the painting but he chose to paint himself just as he was, bandaged ear and all.  It is not always easy to share with other people when we are struggling..We are afraid that when we share our weaknesses people will label us as weak. People choose to hold on to the things we share even when we are over them, they have a hard time seeing us differently. We worry about seeming too negative or placing too much burden on others.  Or boring others with our minor problems.  I have always admired people who are candid and real.  I am drawn to those who are not afraid to say what's on their mind  or share their heart with those they are conversing with (  I think that's one of the many qualities that attracted me to my husband)...Maybe I admire that quality because it's something that I would like to cultivate in my own life.