Minimalism can seem so ridiculous sometimes if you don’t understand the true benefits. It has nothing to do with how much money you do or don’t have. Although many are finding financial freedom from taking on a new life philosophy of minimalist living.
My new minimalist goal is to be able to move into our next apartment with less furniture and easily unpack books, cosmetics, clothing, accessories, dishes, and cookware, and put them all away in a few hours. Finding the best arrangement of furniture may take more time, but unpacking would not. This may sound absolutely impossible, yet the feeling of not dreading moving ever again is a dream of mine.
Living a more minimalist lifestyle has really forced me to look at myself and my possessions and make new decisions of what really is important for my life.
Not being bogged down by things is especially one of them. I’ve been decluttering for over a year and a half now and know that although the process takes time, the benefits are so great! Looking over our apartment I am seeing items that really don’t have grand value in terms of artistry or necessity. It is all the little nick nacks that take away from what could be just simple beauty. Small steps of finding new ways to beautify our space is what I truly desire.
Taking my simplicity one step further is clearing out anything that isn’t needed to continue daily life, or that does not create absolute beauty and artistry in the decor.
I decided to take the brown vases and bamboo mats off the bedroom night tables to Goodwill along with two other glass vases, a basic chafing dish set that was leftover from my wedding, and whatever else I can find. By going through the small hidden places like a random kitchen drawer, I’m finally going through the unknown cords and duplicate tools. I’m tackling a large bin of photos and have already shredded around 50% of unnecessary photos, and will probably shred another 50% of what I have left today. I will only keep special photos to scan and digitally store, and a few others to make a nice album. I do like photographs so living a 100% digital life doesn’t match who I am.
Clearing out has become somewhat of an obsession of sorts. Every time I finally get the opportunity to dig deep, the place looks a bit of a mess for a moment although reveals something unimaginably serene afterwards. It is a veil of weight lifted off. I also have more clarity of what I do have with the space to appreciate it. People always say to count your blessings, and gratitude is certainly establishing a platform to bring more good into your life. Counting your things is another way to see how abundantly blessed you have been, and releasing what you no longer need may in turn be a blessing to someone else.
Read other articles on declutteing to find out my methods of clearing out and keeping it out. Enjoy your weekend!
(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)
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