I recently found this quote on another blog, and I’m digging it.
“Love where you live…”
I’m learning much lately on contentment. Isn’t life so much happier when one is simply content with what one has and the place one is in life?
It’s so easy, however, to take a look at what situation others are in around you and get bitten by the little big green-eyed monster.
Last year we made the decision to switch up everything and go from a TWO income household supporting 4 people to a ONE income household supporting 5 people. During the convos we had discussing it, I came to the realization that I would rather live with less and be home with my kiddos while they were little. {I know that’s not for everyone, though…}
Included in that seemingly innocent phrase “living with less” meant for us… being willing to live in our current house just like it was. AKA… become what sometimes feels like the old woman in the shoe.
I have had my share of struggling moments, for sure, but lately I am thankful for the lessons I’m learning to truly be content.
I learned an important lesson in all this from organizer Peter Walsh. He preaches that you should fit your stuff to the room and not try to fit the room to ALL your stuff. In other words, if my closet is only so big, I don’t need to buy an extra wardrobe or two so I can keep cramming all my excesses of clothing into it. I need to instead fit my clothing to the space I have.
Basically, if you don’t have the room, it’s a good idea to just get rid of the stuff, already.
I really do love our little house. We gutted it and renovated it just how we wanted it. YES, I would love another bedroom… ooh and a bathroom would be fantastic, but for the time being I am choosing to focus on our blessings.
I choose to call my teeny house my cozy house instead, where I get time with my sweetheart and 3 little “treasures.”
In honor of this “loving where I’m living” I’m going to be celebrating the Birthday of our Cozy House. We have just reached 4th year living here and have added 2 chilluns in that time!
Some Happy Birthday House posts coming soon…
I SOOOO need to get rid of stuff. SOO bad. Your organizing posts have been quite inspirational! Now if I could just find the time…
Yes, yes, and YES! I totally know how you feel… but I know that having something "bigger, better & newer" would also mean that I would have to give up SOMETHING about the way my life it at this very moment and I just can't!
Stay contented! ;-)
Hi. I jumped over here from The 36th Avenue. I REALLY like what you had to say in this post. I also really agree that I would rather have time with my children than more $ and stuff. And thankfulness really is key to getting over jealousy as soon as it rears it's ugly head.
-Katie K
Loved this post! As an Army wife, I sometimes find loving where I live to be a challenge. Thanks for the encouraging words!
love that saying, need to print it out and post it somewhere – "Love where you Live" :)
also love tip about making your stuff fit your space – my plan for 2012! :)
[…] Pin ItprintMost of you know our unique living arrangement. We are family of five living in a cozy TWO bedroom house… all up in each other’s […]
Hey Renee! I am absolutely loving your blog :) I am about to start a series on just this— creating home, wherever that may be! I would love to feature you and your sweet family. Reminds me of our own (and we also just went from two incomes down to one for 5 of us— nuts, ha?). Feel free to email me at laurenATmercyinkblogDOTcom :)
blessings!
lauren
This is such a good post. As my 18 year old daughter has said (to me!)–Bloom where you are planted. It took me so long to do that. We have been house hunting on and off since my now 21 year old son was a baby.(Long story!) Our house is small, and it has only been within the last few years that I have begun to love where I live and have really made it a home that I want to be in. I wish I had learned to love it sooner. A family can flourish as long as there is love and unity.
[…] realized it wasn’t the right time. I came to the place where I could be thankful and even love where I was living even it all its crampiness. […]
I was wondering where you lived because your house looks identical to my parent’s old house. Their neighbors said that it still looks the same.
I believe like you do, but instead of love where you live, I like the saying “Bloom where you are planted”. Same message, different spin.
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