“Live Simple, Dream Big,”
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”
It’s sayings like these that are engrained into our minds from a very young age and suffocatingly follow us through the rest of our lives. Our parents love us so much that they want us to succeed to the fullest. Be the best at whatever we do. Our friends encourage us to never settle, always reach for something more than we already have. The media teaches us that new and improved is always better.
But what about finding what truly makes us happy? What about placing more value on quality of life, rather than quantity? It’s so easy to get stuck in a daily routine where you go to work every day doing something you don’t enjoy doing at all, just for a paycheck. And for what? Just to maintain?
I know, I know, easier said than done, but there are millions of people all over the world that have found a way to live comfortably doing something that brings them joy. It may not make them rich but they have found a way to live a happier life. The hardest part for most is actually taking the time to think about what brings them joy. Once you truly know what your passion is, finding a way to make an income from it is surprisingly easy.
I say, dream tiny. Think simple. Enjoy the moment. Life is less cluttered when you live simply.
If I didn’t already live in a tiny floating home in the islands, I would dream of living in a tiny one-room cottage on the beach. A tiny kitchen is all I need, and a tiny bathroom just big enough for one. I would spend most of my days in a hammock strung up in the shade while the cool Caribbean breeze gently blew across my face. I would gaze out at the crystal blue waters and listen to the waves crashing on the sand. Coconut trees would rustle in the wind and I would thank my lucky stars for my tiny home and the simplicity that comes with it.
What do you dream about?? What brings you joy?
By Jody Pountain for the [Tiny House Blog]
Caribbean? I was told by a woman who used to live in Jamaica that she left the Caribbean because of the high crime. Is this true? You don’t seem to be experiencing this. I’ve often thought about going to the Caribbean, but a lot of grief I don’t need.
In the mean time, I dream about a 26′ THOW to live in and a 14′ THOW to travel in. A day does not go by when I’m not thinking about these two things; dreaming, planning, collecting good ideas, and worrying about land to put them on. I’ve even designed my enclosed yard around my THOW’s, and I know which part of the country I’m headed for just as soon as I sell my behemoth foundation home. I can’t wait; I’m SO ready for THOW living! 😀
Poverty is rampant in the Caribbean, ergo crime is a part of life. I grew up on St Thomas and years ago it was very Colonial and friendly. Everybody knew one and other, but drugs have taken a toll. We protected our property as best we could but eventually the constant stress caused us to head to the states. It’s a nice place to visit if you stay at an all inclusive resort, or come by cruise ship for a day, but being out and about after dark is risky business anymore.
Gee, I wish there was some way to alleviate poverty and crime in an area where tourism brings a strong and steady income into the place…