Sometimes the way life works out is simply amazing. The fact is we often times are aware of the changes that are taking part in us and in our lives without really seeing or understanding what is actually happening. Over the past couple of months years I have started to take a more simplistic approach to life. I have always been a clean and tidy person (just ask my mom or anyone that has visited my house). Lately though I have felt a nagging at my soul. Okay, that may seem a tad dramatic but I stand by it.
The nagging is just what it sounds like, a pestering that is constant. It is constantly on my mind, it is constantly in my thoughts and actions. The nagging has been there for awhile but became increasingly louder after we bought our house. The fact is after, yes after, buying a house and everything that comes with that responsibility I started to really question myself about what I wanted in life. See after we bought our first house it occurred to me that there is always more and more and more to do. (I know some may roll their eyes here and shake their heads at that obvious statement but stay with me). Just one more thing to buy or organize or paint. Admittedly, I always thought these were the things I wanted in life. I always thought that I would feel so much better after I completed said tasks, but the secret is that…
IT WILL NEVER END!!
After, buying something I will have to replace something else. After, I buy just one more thing to make my life better I will have to buy something to organize that item (See neat and tidy description above). The list will go on and on indefinitely and instead of thinking, oh well that’s life I started to fight this type of thinking. WHY? Why do we have to stay in this ridiculous cycle that, let’s face it is a waste of our time and money. I would much rather have less things and more time. More time to spend with my kids and husband. More money to do what I like, not what I feel I HAVE to.
Our society places so much value on stuff. I used to think that the more I had the better I would feel and over the past few years I have come to the realization that it just stresses me out more and takes my time and energy. Time and energy that needs to be used for other things in my life. So the nagging at my soul over the last couple of years has led me to this point in my life where I am ready to embrace a truly minimalist lifestyle.
As crazy as it seems accepting this and letting go of the societal boundaries that I have felt constricted by has opened up my mind. I feel better everyday and more at peace than I have felt in a long time. I have felt myself shifting and changing over the years but never really understood why I felt restless in my own life. I feel like I have finally found the answer. I AM restless. I realize that we were put here to accomplish so much more and live with so much less. This is why I am starting Minimalist Mondays. Join me every Monday as I show how I am downsizing and living a more minimal life one week at a time.
Do you feel overwhelmed by life? Do you think living a minimal lifestyle would help?
Heather! I love this entry. I have been feeling the same way, especially since we have our move so soon. I am starting with my closet and then branching out from there. I have been researching minimalist living and it really coincides with something I told my brother while we were at a work camp one summer. We were working with underprivileged families in San Antonio, Tx. These kids were so happy all the time, so imaginative, so content and they had basically nothing. One little girl was in the same 2 outfits all week long. Most of these children shared the little that they did have (cookies, drawings, etc) with us, and we could not help but notice that they truly loved life even though they had “nothing.” I am trying to surround myself with things that truly make me happy, bring me joy, and foster a healthy lifestyle. Everything else, needs to go. I can’t wait to check in for your minimalist Mondays!
Angela,
It is so great to hear from you. Your example about the children living with far less and being happy and content is exactly what I have read in terms of how people who have started a minimalist lifestyle feel. I wonder where we learned that the more stuff we have the better we feel. As you know I have always pared down but even that doesn’t feel like enough lately. I think it will be interesting to really dig deep and let things go. I actually went through the girl’s rooms the other day and wished I would have taken “before” pictures to show how much I was able to get rid of. I have some things in the works so I am glad you are onboard to check our my minimalist Mondays. I really believe that leading a more minimalist lifestyle will help calm me and help me to enjoy a more fulfilling life.
It’s a lot easier said then done.
Michael,
You are definitely right about that! I think that is what makes it a hard thing to accomplish for so many. I hope you’ll join me to see how I progress in attempting to live more minimally. Thanks for checking out my site.