Change is GOOD

I've always loved change. Changing my hair, my clothes, my friends, my lifestyle, I LOVE CHANGE!! Moving to this tiny house has been one of the biggest changes I've ever made, and not only am I living in a tiny house in the woods, I'm living on an island which is SO different from the suburbs or the city, which I am used to. Honestly, thugs, drug addicts, and city allies don't scare me, but get me out in the woods at night and I'm shaking like a leaf. It's getting easier though, I'm toughening up and each experience that I face head on I become stronger because of it.

Here are just a few of the changes I've had to make living out here:

1) The Bathroom- There are two houses on the farm property I live on- the big, main house with a kitchen and bathroom and everything a normal house would have, then my tiny house, about a 5 minute walk through the woods on the property. When I am at my tiny house, especially if its at night or I just have to go really bad, I'm either squatting in the woods, or using the outhouse. Strangely enough, I REALLY like peeing in the wilderness haha!

2) Heat- My tiny house uses a wood burning stove to heat. I've never built fires before this experience. Nuff said.

3) Transportation- Well, since I live on an island, to get off the island I have to take a ferry. The ferry is about $20 round trip each time. But I honestly LOVE the ferry, and I just love watching the scenery as we cross the water. But it not just as easy as getting in my car and just driving somewhere now. At a certain point at night, the ferries stop running and I am stuck until the morning if I need to get across.

Another aspect of transportation, that amuses me greatly, is the 4 wheeler I drive to and from the tiny house each night. If its daytime, I usually just walk to my tiny house. Its great exercise and I get to commune with the trees. But, if I am carrying a lot of stuff or it's dark out, I take the gator. It's loud, and doesn't drive fast, but it gets the job done ;)

4) Time with boyfriend- In the 2 years we have been together, we have pretty much lived together from day one. We have been connected at the hip. This change has been hard for both of us but so necessary for our growth. We now see each other at least once a week and it actually has helped us to appreciate each other more!

5) Diet- I do NOT have the convenience of just driving across the street to get take out or to just order pizza. And the grocery store isn't right across the street like is usually has been for me in the suburbs. Plus, I live on a farm, so needless to say I'm eating WAY healthier than I was. Also, the grocery stores out here are spendy. You are paying almost double sometimes because it all has to be shipped across the water. Gas is more expensive too, so driving to the store a lot can be spendy as well. I've been learning to make due with what I already have for groceries, which is actually saving me a lot of money in the long run :)

6) Convenience- Like I said before, I can't just drive across the street to the store or to a take out place. I'm much more limited on what I can do here, which is actually a really nice change. I've kind of developed a disdain towards convenience and the "American way". I think we've actually become a little spoiled and have lost the art of working for what we want.

7) Media- Instead of scrolling Facebook mindlessly like I did before, I would rather read a book, or draw, or make my jewelry. I don't get great reception at my tiny house so while I still do spend some time on FB, its gone way down and I'm actually putting my energy towards being creative which it truly what I love to do! I am also not watching movies or TV at night and staying up until some ungodly hour. I go to my tiny house and I read or do something else since I don't have Internet. Its been a HUGE blessing to be able to disconnect.

8) Activity level- When I lived in a normal house, in the suburbs, I sat, like ALL day. I work from home as a health and fitness coach so I would literally have no reason to leave the house! Now, I am walking all the time, to and from my tiny house, and I work for a few hours in the morning and then I go about my day! I also help on the farm here and there so whether I'm doing house chores or fetching chicken eggs, I'm doing something! I feel more energetic, I've lost weight, and being outside is actually nice, even in the rain!!

9) Scenery- Best of all!! No more traffic, stores, strip malls, city lights, concrete... I see trees, I see water, I see beauty all around me!

I'm going through many changes here, and they are all strengthening me and helping me become the strong woman I am meant to be in this world. Each segment of our lives has purpose. Each thing we go through makes us stronger. We are here for a reason and we are called to grow to our highest potential. This is done through change. Some people embrace it easier than others, but not matter what, it should always be embraced.