Having relocated many times over the years, I tend toward a minimalist philosophy. With each move, I determine what possessions I value most, and let go of the rest.
I have rare moments of “whatever happened to that…?” but I don’t yearn to repossess anything I gave away. Life is so much easier with less.
When I stay in one place awhile, I accumulate again. (I come from a long line of pack rats!) I get to a point when clearing the excess feels necessary for my sense of peace.
Here’s how I assess what stays…
1. I LOVE it! It’s ‘me’. It resonates with my soul and the person I want to be in this world.
2. It brings me JOY! I want everything I own to make me happy. No point in keeping things that don’t.
3. It’s MEANINGFUL. Association with a happy memory is good. A gift I don’t like or use, and keep out of guilt, evokes discomfort. Not good.
3. I USE it. It’s practical and makes my life easier.
Here’s how I determine what goes…
1. It’s served its PURPOSE with me. If the reason I got it has long since passed or my situation has changed, it can move on to live a new, fulfilling life with someone else.
2. I won’t MISS it. If I haven’t thought about the item for the last few months, I don’t need to continue paying for the space to store it.
3. Someone else NEEDS it. There are people in dire need of stuff that is sitting here doing nothing in my life.
For me, the Fort McMurray wildfire motivated me to haul out brand new (still tagged) clothes I bought on sale over the years (but didn’t quite fit into, yet!). Six bins full.
The things we redundantly hoard can make a world of difference to someone else.
Going minimalist is not about living without stuff. It’s about consciously choosing to surround ourselves with the best of what we love. And that is what make us feel rich.
Going Minimalist © May 11, 2016 | Annie Zalezsak
Annie Zed 