Minimizing

The worlds biggest fan of maximalism is possibly turning minimalist. A little bit. Maybe. Or maybe a lot.

I have been obsessing about minimizing stuff in my house for three to four years. A few years ago I felt I was drowning in stuff. My cupboards, closets, and walls had so much stuff I couldn't find anything it. I was endlessly dusting and reorganizing all my stuff. Since then, I have gotten rid of SO MUCH STUFF. I can't believe it myself. In 2016 I read Marie Kondo's book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up  and got rid of truck loads of stuff. It literally changed my life and I have NEVER gone back to owning that much. It changed my whole thinking on how to buy things too. Does it spark joy?


Then I got rid of that book and started reading more and more about minimalism. I found The Minimalists and started following them trying to understand the whole concept. I have played the #minsgame (Click here for description of game) 4 1/2 times. Plus any other challenge I come across I do.

Last January was the last time I tried playing the #minsgame (Click here for description) and I only made it to 266 items and had to quit. So I thought I was maybe done. But oh no, I'm still finding stuff to get rid of! My letting go muscles have gotten very strong. It's getting easier and easier to part with things.

So easy it was kind of scary. I loved the feeling of space opening in my home more than things. Out went my childhood doll. Out went lots of personal mementos and cherished things. Or. Things I THOUGHT I had cherished. There is a difference.

After I got rid of many beloved things that I didn't need or even use I really got strong.

My purchasing habits have gotten stronger too. I rarely buy things and when I do, I will take days (garlic press), months, even a couple of years (Lazyboy) before I buy something.  It depends on how much something costs and how big it is.

But lately I've been developing a fear. What if I turn into a REAL minimalist. Am I heading that way? How can I stop myself before that happens?

And I'm wondering why that scares me. What if I get rid of all my decorations? Will I start wearing only black and gray clothes?

I don't know. I seriously doubt it.

Then I read an article.   The Difference Between Decluttering and Minimalism by Sarah Anne Hayes  And it helped me relax SO much. That even a minimalist can look around their home and feel overwhelmed by excess. So I will just carry on because as {{{the minimalists say}}} -If it feels like too much it is. And the other very big reason is.... I have not regretted ONE THING that I have gotten rid of in the last 3 years. Or ever actually. I only feel freer and lighter.

It's 2019!

A fresh new year with endless possibilities. 

In the past, I've frequently tried to choose a word to focus on in the new year. This year I really struggled. I was reading THIS SITE and trying to narrow it down and I just couldn't. Only ONE WORD???? I need lots of words. And color. And cheerfulness....

So this is what I came up with. 

Everything kind of falls under three categories. A lot of the things I have chosen I started incorporating last year and I just kept them because they are important to me and I want to focus on still.

Creativity.

Continue setting aside time to be creative every day but this year I want to add in painting.

Goals.

Plan out some time on the calendar for exploring in the jeep, going on short road trips with our camper, and pick a new area of the U.S. to fly to and then drive around and explore for a week.
 Setting specific limits for how much time I spend in the internet.
 Continue eating lots of fresh vegetables and also continue my new passion of finding lots of new recipes to make that are fresh and healthy.

Habits. 

Two parts on "just do it"- stop procrastinating about chores and also to not be scared to challenge myself with new things to learn/try.
Continue working on making my muscles stronger.
Talk nicely to myself and focus on the things I have done instead of what I didn't get done that day.

And minimalism will continue to be big.