Today is the fourth anniversary of my blog, hooray! Wow, four years already. I can’t believe how time flies. So much has happened in those four years! For starters, I’ve published 346 blogs on Marjolein in het klein (and a few more on other websites). I’ve given about 70 lectures. I’ve seen the attention for the Tiny House movement go through the roof! I’ve given about 160 interviews. I’ve started Tiny House Nederland. and I’ve done so much more. Let’s take a moment to celebrate.
It started out as just a blog and a bold plan to build my own Tiny House to live in, and it ended up to being a huge Tiny House movement. That’s not all due to me, of course; a lot of passionate Tiny House enthusiasts were involved. My desire to live in a different way became a mission to bring man and nature closer to each other again and make people aware that it’s ok to follow your own path, the path of your heart. A plea for simplicity, respect for nature and each other, for being content with having enough. I even managed to make a job out of it. Promoting the Tiny House philosophy and helping people on the way to realising their own living dream. I’m still surprised sometimes how it all worked out. And I’m so grateful for it.
It hasn’t always been easy. It took leaps of faith, dealing with setbacks, hard work and little certainty. But I have also learned so much and have got to know heartwarming people. I’ve been touched to tears by all those lovely people who are so happy with what I do and want to work with me. Finding the balance between staying close to your heart and following it, and still running a business and earning a living.
I’m doing ok now. I’m happy. I love my house and where I live. I’m getting more and more attached to Alkmaar and I love living with my neighbors here. I love developing new services that help people get further, like the database and the online course.
I’m also very proud of the success of Tiny House Nederland and the huge group of volunteers that joined us and the core team that’s working passionately to realise the mission of the foundation. You’re the best, every single one of you! The Netherlands are unique for having such a big group of volunteers that work for the Tiny House movement, to make it possible for other people to live small, affordable, simple and sustainable. And now it’s time that these years of devotion are rewarded with a little financial support from government or business. So far, we’ve done everything on our own.
I still love blogging. I’m not only blogging for Marjolein in het klein still, but also for TinyFindy.nl and TinyHouse4all.nl. And I have a regular column in Klein Wonen Magazine. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of writing. Writing a book is one thing that’s on my wish list. I have already started, but I keep coming up with new ideas that take a lot of time to realise, making the book drop a little on my priority list. But one day or another, it’ll be there. Maybe I can finish it just in time before the 5th anniversary of Marjolein in het klein. That would be good timing!
Thank you so much, dear reader, for following my adventures, sometimes from the very beginning. I have a group of loyal followers and it makes me proud and thankful. I hope to inspire you for years to come and make your days with a happy note from my virtual pen.
The beautiful photos in this blog are made by Ester Gebuis.
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