Living in My Office for a Month
The one space I called my haven and my private room turned into a place for my husband, puppy, and me. The office is co-living in a tight spot to build an exciting new hospitality business.
This blog is about our story of scarifying a one-bedroom apartment for a tiny office. This month has tested minimalism, organization, character, and imagination!
There is a sense of joy when we sacrifice something for a venture. You may be saying, “Patty, you crazy!” In all fairness, I am. I’m learning that joy is beyond choosing to be “positive.” I see it as finding new lenses or a point of view (POV). Now disclaimer here, I can nag and complain, ask my husband (He’ll be happy to chime in the comments!) I’m talking about expressing and processing both pain and joy.
Challenges like this are why I write!
I write to release the millions of thoughts that run through my head day in and day out. When I see my thoughts on paper, I create a space between myself and my frustrations, struggles, and ideas. I want to share my self-discoveries with you!
I am living in my office writing this blog, and Jimmy is reading on the sofa bed next to Poppy as she naps. And I heard a friend say the other day, “You can’t make this stuff up!”
Jimmy *just pulled my desk out; yes, as I’m writing to get his laptop plug
We’re all sharing this space that was only mine, and accepting that we were at different parts of the decluttering spectrum has been the biggest challenge in co-existing in a tiny space.
Documenting the real feelings has been vital.
The writing is not about “God do this or that.” The writing is “I feel X-Y-Z (in details), and it sucks! I mean, this is terrible! Ahhhh! Help me see myself better.”
Old POV - My husband moves too slow
I was under my excuse that Jimmy and I were on different paces. I want things to move faster than what he wants. The truth is that I want him to be like me.
When we first married, I would complain about how much I wanted him to wake up at the same time as me and have our morning quiet time together. He answered, “if you wanted that, you should have married your old roommate.”
For some, those are fighting words, and it was for me for a hot minute, then it made sense. Women and men are different and even more accurate.
Every individual is UNIQUE.
Is the only thing I can do about Jimmy’s pace is to get angry and frustrated? Adding “and the only thing I can…” to my feelings helps me to anchor myself. Give it a try; add that phrase to your feeling. Is it true? Is it the ONLY thing you can feel? Or do you have other options?
This only works when you state and write your real feelings. This exercise of adding the phrase above is different than washing off a sense because you “have to” be a better person or wife, mom, etc. Own your feelings, accept them on paper, then put on the new lenses.
New POV - I’m in control of my pace
When I ask myself if I have done “everything” in my control for something, I’m usually in a place of curiosity. When I point that thumb back at me, it gives us time to explore me instead of Jimmy.
And now that the thumb is on my chest and heart. I get to reflect on myself. I can ask Jimmy for his best work set-up while I’m writing content for my blog and social media. I can get better at doing all my writing before he wakes up. I am in control of time and pace, and Jimmy is in control of his.
And guess what! It turns out that when we are in a position of full ownership, solutions and ideas come running. I remember Jimmy is a master at Tetris, and one of his strengths is problem-solving, complicating things.
LOL - I heard you, be nice
Our plugs and outlets can work for us instead of against us, and we can share a space when we rely on each other’s strengths. You may think this is small, and it’s usually the little things in life that make the most impact.
Many people assume that minimalism is about simplicity and the opposite of chaos. It’s about us, it’s about me, and it’s about you. It comes down to where we choose to stay in our mindset. I believe it is about problem-solving. And when we are busy with other people, in my case, Jimmy.
Anger and frustration block creativity.
Accepting our humanity and feelings opens the door to being creative about our responses to people, situations, and circumstances. You’re most likely reading this blog because you are interested in the organization. Facing our mess is the dark and scary tunnel. And yes, there is light at the end of it.
Grab a pen and paper. Anchor your thoughts!
Giving the magic of writing things down helps you navigate your feelings and thoughts to peace and harmony with yourself and your loved one. One day, Jimmy and I will own a lovely home in the woods with rooms to host an army.
Wherever you go, there you will be.
I want to start training my mindset in this little office I call home. You can start whenever and wherever. You and I are in control of ourselves and our pace.
As always, drop your thoughts in the comments below and share them with a friend.
Love,
Me.
