Since the beginning of the year, I have broadened my research for what minimal living is and what it means to me. Through research, I have come to understand some of the origins of the tiny house movement and the push towards minimalist life. It’s an idea which some say is a modern day application of Buddhism. The more I have read about minimalism and minimalist life I have found it is a very personal topic. A topic which can mean entirely different things depending on who you ask. While I like the ideas surrounding minimalism I am not drawn to the individualism of it. Instead, in the recent weeks, I have come to see how minimalist traits can make positive changes in struggling parts of the world. Over the next semester, I will begin a study into the refugee housing crisis and how minimalist living, in the form of simple shelters, can be a possible solution to this issue. It took me a semester to come to this, but I am now ready to move forward with my research and eventually produce a writing piece outlining the solution.