Minimalist Living

Have ya'll heard of Minimalist living?

Living with less but in reality you have more?  

Less clutter, more peace of mind. No stuff to hold you back? 

Getting rid of stuff to make room for what really matters and to start really living? 

I've been hovering over this way of life for a few months now. Scanning (lurking) blogs of people who live this way that are happy with this life and pouring over books trying to see what it's about. I'm not sure what pulled my heart strings in that direction (Could be happiness and contentment which are all things these individuals profess have occurred in unloading "stuff")  but that's the direction I'm walking. Quickly, I might add.

I've sensed for such a long time my attachments to material things or my stuff  is causing me to find myself empty on the inside. Looking for the material to fill the spiritual in me. 

“Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.” - Henry David Thoreau 

 One of my problems with this stuff is I tend to get emotionally attached to it. A strong sentimental attachment that I've always had with things since I was a little kid. ( blankets, stuffed animals, rocks (yes, rocks) books , paper, things I would find etc..I think I have some deep issues there) But on a lighter example of sentimental attachment... I still have my wedding dress. I was married over 15 years ago, which to some may not be that big of a deal , but it's in a plastic storage bin in my garage. Why am I keeping it because I'll never wear it again. I don't think I could even squeeze into it for some kicks and giggles! Now, it's just taking up emotional and physical space and  I'm kinda over it. I have pictures of me in it and I look kinda cute so that's where it needs to stay, in the picture but the dress is outta here. 

I feel this way about a lot of stuff in my house.  

So I'm getting rid of it. 

Lots of it.

Not only will this be a clutter cleaning but I think it'll be a spiritual shake off as well. It'll be interesting to see where my heart will be at the end of this journey. Will I feel like a new person ready for a true spiritual awakening with nothing in the material to hold onto. Or... will I be left raw and wounded. Maybe that would be a good thing? I can then open my heart to Jesus. That's what this is really about anyway. Getting rid of the things that hold me back from Him and being able to focus on my passions and living. What I was created to be.

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” - Socrates

A loving, compassionate, creative and giving human being made to reflect God's glory. I have a lot of holes in those very traits that keep me from living to my fullest potential. Getting rid of the "stuff", I think, is a great way to start filling in those holes. Finding completeness. Finding wholeness. 

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” - Confucius 

 This stuff holds me back. One emotional hole is guilt. It's always on my mind to organize, shuffle and find ways of using things, you know, reuse renew recycle? Got to find some way to keep it out of the land fill and I don't have the heart to give it to charity because I'm attached to it! Good God man! I have issues. 

I won't even begin to tell you about my crap (craft) room that is filled with so much stuff that I thought I would do or had a bright idea or new hobby but it all now sits and collects dust. And the guilt because I spent money on it. Oh dear. So, I'm selling it. For crying out loud, I have three sewing machines and a serger that I have yet to use. The sewing machines...yes. The serger...no.  I have issues. 

Too much stuff.

Too much clutter taking up valuable emotional and physical space. 

My goal is to get to a place, in a relatively short period of time (a month) to get clutter and stuff free. 

I'm taking the month of June to de-clutter and get rid of stuff. Keep only the things I use and if I don't use it? Get rid of it. Let someone else enjoy it. Or----stuff it in a plastic storage bin in their garage.

I'm starting in my kitchen. So the first week of June will be kitchen. Well, I've actually started now.

Wish me luck. 

See? 

 Not a pretty site. Gah!