What I Will Lose in 2014

This is my first blog post written from my smartphone so I'll keep it breif to spare my poor thumbs.

I've posted a lot on facebook and told many people in person over the holidays about my new, small apartment. When I went to pick up my keys and start unpacking somethings today, I was shocked yet again at how small it really is.

361 sq ft of living space and an additional 180 sq ft of storage/workshop area. To many people in the world and even many in our own country, this is probably a lot of space for just one person. But for a rather comfortable, midle-class millenial from the spacious Chicago suburbs who runs numerous businesses, it will certainly be an adjustment.

Besides square footage, here is a brief list of everything I will be losing when I move into this new apartment:

-cable tv
-internet (but I do have data on my phone)
-central air conditioning & heat
-dishwasher
-washing machine & dryer
-microwave
-toaster oven
-tv set
-one dog
-big back porch
-a very safe & comfortable neighborhood
-the safety net of living with a family member

This is a lot to lose, especially considering I am ADDING to my monthly expenses to live in this new place. But what I hope to gain will hopefully outweigh the loss of all these creature comforts. I hope to gain:

-a greater sense of autonomy and self-worth
-more space for messy, creative projects
-the joy of living truly on my own
-the freedom to mess up and be confused
-a release from the pressures of materialism
-more clients and work I love
-the simple pleasures of a slow life
-increased productivity
-using public spaces & rescources more
-staying couped up in my house less

Now, this is a long, unedited list of what I hope to gain and it may not all come true but I can only hope that a lot of what I will lose in my tiny apartment will lead to even bigger, more meaningful gains.

What could you stand to lose this year? What do you hope to gain?

Happy New Year, everyone. As always, thanks for reading!