It is not enough if you are busy. The question is, What are you busy about? –Henry David Thoreau
I apologize for slipping away last week – just in time to reveal our decluttering progress! As many of you know, Martin and I are in awe of how country neighbors help one another. So that’s just what we were doing. I got to spend a lot of time outside and with a frugal, inspiring old man.
It’s no mystery to Martin and me that living in Europe has had a profound connection to our choices to simplify our load so we could enjoy living more. I was a little surprised this summer to find that while we’re back in the United States, there are some of those ol’ European habits that came back with us. They’re stubborn little guys. And frankly, I’m so glad that they are. Here are three very non-American habits we’ve sticking to in our path toward simplicity.
We had to stop the car. I saw cows grazing in a field of daisies.
It felt like a dream world. Then again, whenever I slow down and notice the little things, wherever I am feels dreamy. That’s the great thing about choosing to rush less.
Do you ever go on walks? I love taking long walks in the morning. I think my best ideas come then. Walking to German class in Berlin solidified it for me. Everything about my day is better if I find a way to walk where I am going.
Sometimes I crave the pieces of Berlin that are empty and silent. I found some on Saturday. It was rainy and cold.
It reminded me of home. Well except for the green; home is more of a golden yellow. I love the moss growing on the edge of the sidewalk and on the tree trunks here. Some more sun would be beautiful. But if we had more sun, I would not have moments like this. ”Shhh,” I whispered to myself.
A couple of months ago, I was flipping through an English magazine. The entire issue was all about decluttering and organizing for the new year. The funny thing was that I didn’t agree with a single one of the suggestions.
Take this one for example:
Bring a cluttered drawer with you to your favorite chair while you watch TV. When the commercials are on, you can declutter the drawer and get rid of stuff you don’t need! It’s win-win.
Small spaces certainly offer their own unique design dilemmas. Not only do you have to fit your whole world into tiny rooms, but you also have to make it functional and as uncrowded as possible. That’s no easy task!
I’ve rounded up some (frequently requested!) tips on how we are making our small home work and you can make your little space into your perfect and functional escape, too. Enjoy!
I'm an American in Berlin, Germany. My apartment is 480 square feet; the kitchen's only 36. This blog chronicles the DIY approach my husband and I take in Making This Home.Read more.
