Simplicity, Romantic Gestures, and Rest Stops

I'm a huge fan of tiny house television shows. If you aren't familiar with tiny houses, they are generally 500 square feet or smaller (usually much smaller) and they make people choose what is most important to them because they can't fit everything they currently own inside.

Tiny houses promote experiences and relationships over stuff.

In theory, I'm on board with the concept of going smaller to live bigger. In practice, not so much.

But, in 2016, I took a big step in whittling away my CDs, DVDs, and print books. And I also started on my clothing. I'm planning to do more of the same in 2017. I won't be moving into a tiny house anytime soon, but the lifestyle holds more appeal to me every day.

The lifestyle promotes the idea of making the most out of what you have. I haven't always done a great job of this, but this is what 2017 will be about for me as I continue to downsize.

My theory is, as I continue to downsize my possessions while also making the most out of what I already have, then I'll see marked improvement in making myself more mobile by the end of the year.

Those are my thoughts heading into the new year. I'd love to hear yours. Just hit the reply button and share them with me, if you want to.

Now, let's get to this week's thoughts about slowing down and living deeper:

• Read this delightful piece if you get a chance this weekend: Picnics, Pit Stops and Potty Breaks (A brief history of America's rest areas).

 

• The Our Daily Bread devotion from Wednesday included this little factoid: "In June 2015, the city of Paris removed forty-five tons of padlocks from the railings of the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. As a romantic gesture, couples would etch their initials onto a lock, attach it to the railing, click it shut, and throw the key into the River Seine." The city removed the locks of love because there were so many that they were compromising the structure. Apparently, many people still believe in love and are willing to go out of their way to offer a romantic gesture.

 

• I used to have an uncle who lived in Arkansas. Whenever I went to visit, he could be found outside, sitting at his picnic table, whittling as he spoke. He didn't make anything, other than converting sticks into pointy spears, as best I know. But the fact that he was doing so told me he had time to talk. People who whittle aren't in a hurry. We don't whittle enough anymore. 

 

• Did you hear that Taylor Swift dropped in unannounced on a Christmas gathering that included 96-year-old superfan and WWII veteran Cyrus Porter? Apparently, she saw this story and made his dream come true. Various sources say he has cancer and wanted to see her perform one last time. Here's the full story. She played for more than an hour at the private gathering. The article includes a video in which she plays "Shake It Off." Halfway through, Porter stands up and dances in front of Swift. I cry every time I watch it. Why is Porter crazy about Taylor? He says because of the shows she puts on, and because her music helps him connect with his nearly two dozen grandchildren.

 

• Joshua Becker's book Simplify contains this, among many other nuggets, about why we might want to consider living with less: "Consider the fact that at some point in your life (or in your death) every single item of your belongings will be sorted by another human being."

 

• I saw a Facebook meme this week that encourages people to write one post-it size note per week that includes something good that happened and then place it in a jar. Then, on New Year's Eve 2017, open the jar and read about the amazing year you had. That would be a great exercise. But how much more meaningful might it be if you were to jot down one thing that moved you each week and then relive those moments at the end of the year?
  

 

• Yesterday, I took several hours to lay out my plans for 2017. One of those plans included which books I want to read from my to be read pile, including the order I plan to read them. I've never compiled such a list, but I was tired of floundering between books, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm sure new books will sneak onto the list, and that's okay. I'll still be able to go right back to my plan afterward. Do you have a plan to attack your TBR pile?

Many, many thanks to those of you picked up or downloaded a copy of Mercy Inn: A Christmas Novella. To my amazement, the e-book made it to the top 1,500 of all books on Amazon. If you did pick up a copy, don't forget that the book contains a link in the back to get a free followup story called "Comeback." It'll allow you to find out what happens to Brad, Sarah, and Megan after they left the inn. The followup story isn't a Christmas story, so it can be read anytime.

If you like what you're reading here and want to support it, then forward this to a friend who might be interested in joining my email list, or consider buying a book or becoming a patron.

Have a great weekend!