Central Ohio Home Source

If we have learned anything from the housing crisis of the last 2 years, it is that the notion that we “deserve” a certain home or a certain lifestyle is ill conceived.  It only takes talking to an elderly relative that lived through the depression and World War II to realize that we probably have much more than we need right now.  Folks back then came up with creative ways to just survive from day to day.  There was no talk of mud rooms, outdoor living spaces, spa bathrooms–you get the picture. 

The picture above is from a fantastic, life changing book, Material World, the the photographer, Peter Menzel.   In this book, Menzel features a snapshot of life for the median family in 3o different nations in the world (the family in this picture lives in rural India.  The highlight of each section is the signature photograph, where the featured family takes all of their worldly possessions from inside their home (or hut or whatever it might be), and poses with those possessions outside their home.   If you don’t want to buy it, check it out of the library.  Most of us spend countless hours of our week thinking about what we don’t have, lusting over the latest gadget, car, our neighbors new $20,000 kitchen makeover–whatever the thing might be.  All we need to to is ponder the statistic that 2/3 of the world lives on $1.00 per day to realize that our perspective in the United States is very far out of proportion.

Take some time to make plans and goals for this year — try to include some time where you are focusing on the needs of others less fortunate than yourself.  You will feel much better about your life — I guarantee it!