In my last blog post I discussed my new found interest with this idea of minimalism. It all sparked from the documentary, “Minimalism: A Documentary about the Important Things” and I’ve been trying to re-condition myself to live a life where having “less” is more comfortable than having “more.”
Since my last blog post about a month ago, I have gotten rid of two trash bags full of clothing that I have not worn in over year, shoes I no longer need or wear and bags of purses that I have kept with the thought that they would come back into style. Surprisingly enough it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. It actually felt good to have a little more room in my closet and I felt less overwhelmed. However I can’t say it wasn’t the easiest either. There were a few times I found myself staring at and trying to convince myself that I would wear it again or there would be an occasion that it would be perfect for. How silly? I had to remind myself that it had been just collecting dust for a year so obviously it was not a shirt that had any true value to me.
Needless to say, I still have plenty of items to sift through and get rid of. I’m currently in the middle of a move and plan on going through each item as I unpack. But overall it was and still is a rewarding experience. With that being said, I am still striving to become more and more minimalistic as the end of 2017 approaches.
Here are a few additional thoughts about minimalism I’ve had during this process:
Overall, I think it is safe to say that our culture is filled with the idea that having the latest and greatest is what you should strive for. And although looking like a million bucks is nice, it is not a lifestyle you should feel pressured into maintaining.
Many of us like to think that larger quantities are what we need. And we can see it conveyed in just about everything – we want more food, more clothes, more money, more vacations, more luxury, the list can go on and on. But in reality, it is not necessary (well maybe the more vacation part).
Realistically there are far more important things to indulge in, and the truth is-you should only worry about two things. First, what makes you happy and second, what you need – the actual necessities. Sure we all want things, but we should all take the time to step back and think, “What’s the purpose of this item and do I actually need it?” And I am beyond guilty of it myself. I see a friend with a great pair of shoes and the next thing I want to do is find something just like them. It’s the culture we are accustomed to, but it’s time that we start putting our energy and time towards the items that truly matter. Like family, friendship, and your livelihood. Because truthfully, those are the things that are irreplaceable, unlike the material items we think we have to have.
I worked for an organization that had “Green Trash Bag Day” once a year. The purpose was to clean out one’s files and desk in order to cut down on the need for filing cabinets (even with computers, paper accumulates). No one was permitted to answer a phone, reply to email, etc., until they completed the tasks.
Every Dec. 15-31 when my business is pretty much over for the year, I methodically go through all my computer and hard copy files and after 17 years, I have just 2 file drawers (one business, one personal). I also go through my closets and drawers and get rid of anything I haven’t used/worn in a year. To this day, I’ve never regretted throwing anything away. For me, it’s a perfect system.
I love that idea. It’s human nature to keep things just because you think you’ll need it, but then that one thing turns into 20 and then you’re work space,home and car is cluttered.
Thanks for sharing- and hearing that you never regretted it, makes me want to get rid of many more things!