Innovation Nation

JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

A new day is dawning

RECYCLING (Re-use, Reduce waste, support 

Recycling programs.)

     RECLAMATION of still-viable materials,

unused goods & buildings.

REDUCTION of spending, consumerism, 

clutter, possessions.

RETHINKING living space, dwellings, 

politics, lifestyle, beliefs,

communities, societal resources.

RE-PURPOSING, REFURBISHING, 

RENOVATION: Make use of what we 

already have on hand; Find new uses.

REPLENISHING ourselves and others, 

our environment, and the animals we

share the planet with. Protect, preserve,

repair.

RESOURCEFULNESS: Efficient, self-

sustaining, networking, shared resources.

REDUCTION in spending, eating, 

consumption, escapism, stress,

time spent on electronic devices.

RETURN to active lifestyles, connected 

communities, looking out for one 

another, simplicity.

RENEWABLE energy and smarter usage 

of resources; wind and solar power, 

saving rain water, better landscaping, 

conserving energy, better energy sources.

RELEASE from all the division we have 

been fed, release from fear and worry 

and prejudice.

REALIZING that we are all in this

together, and ALL our citizens

deserve respect, care, and protection.

(Ending homelessness, police violence,

sexual assault, poverty, child abuse,

vet and elder neglect, & much more.)

The Time is Now.

Join the REVOLUTION as all these

movements converge as One:

REBUILDING the System.

***

Simplicity, itself

Out with the old!

Ideas like Feng Shui have been in use in our
country for a while now, sometimes more in vogue
 (read: 'fad') than others. But as times and the world
around us become more and more complicated, 
people's brains are seeking means of controlling
the things they can: Their immediate environment.

Cutting out clutter has been the focus of some
Americans for a while now. Whether inspired by 
spiritual beliefs of an Eastern nature, being scared
by watching episodes of "Hoarders," or being 
inspired by the great George Carlin bit on 'Americans
and their stuff,' clearing out one's space has been
a steadily growing idea.

The idea of having a less-crowded, more-simplified
living space in order to produce a less-stressed, 
more-relaxed person is a great one. Getting the 
American public to give up purchasing 'stuff'
after decades of having their identity made to
seem dependent on said stuff...that's taken 
some time to change.

  

But, the more distressed people become, and the more 

powerless they feel about what's happening in the world,

I imagine more will find solace in reducing their belongings.

In recent years, the 'tidying up' and 'purging' movements

have picked up more steam, in part thanks to endorsements 

like Oprah Winfrey's. But even before this, we were seeing 

trends like 'life coaching' and 'professional organizing'

becoming more popular.

It takes time for concepts to spread and for people to 

become open to the changing of mind and habit...but 

we're getting there.

***

Housing

A huge, growing trend in the last decade has been the 'tiny 

home movement,' which arose due to a number of factors.

Affordable housing continues to dwindle, even as wages remain

stagnant. This has led to an epidemic of homelessness in the U.S.

 (and around the world.) Lack of available housing led many

to seek alternatives to traditional (or standardized) ideas 

about dwelling spaces. But it's more than just price reduction.

Americans are increasingly becoming disinterested in the

trap of consumerism, and seek to simplify their lives by 

reducing the number of their possessions. Having a much

smaller space in which to store 'Things' makes that goal

infinitely easier to achieve.

Out of necessity, folks without the means to jump into a full-scale

tiny-home had been finding themselves living in metal buildings,

sales of which had gone up as more and more were becoming

emboldened to take to that lifestyle. Needless to say, in our 

prestige-obsessed society, living in metal buildings was not as 

warmly-received by the media or the general public as folks

living in adorable, custom-built, trend-following homes.

There was definitely a stigma attached to people who were

'living in their shed/garage.' Baby steps.

As people become more comfortable with bucking the

traditional, limited way of approaching life, not only does

a particular trend gain steam but it also opens the doors to

other progressive ideas. We are--and will be--seeing all kinds

of innovation in our housing realities. It all starts with 

opening our minds to new housing concepts.

***