Monday, October 29, 2012

31 Days to a Minimalist Lifestyle Day 28

I am writing every day in October--taking on the challenge set forth by The Nester for bloggers to write a "31 Days to..." blog series. I'm tackling Minimalist Living and you can click here to read Day 27's post

I've been asked by some of my "real life" friends & acquaintances the reason behind attempting to thin out our belongs and adapt a more minimalist lifestyle. I have written about some of my initial attempts at "trimming the excess" here on the blog before.

In January 2011, I talked about being tired of having too much "crap" everywhere and wanting to "decrapify" my home.

I participated in a friends' garage sale in the summer of 2011, and I amazingly got rid of many "sentimental" items, including some of my kids baby toys. (baby steps, people, baby steps.)

After the garage sale, the kids and I cleaned out the playroom (again!) and discovered that when it's clean and tidy, they actually PLAY in it.

I  spent several months reading what seemed like every.single.book.ever.written about organizing, and motivated myself to clean out the corner cabinet in my kitchen. (October 2011) Which still, to this day, has no lazy susan.

I then had an organizational epiphany of sorts. I realized in late October 2011, that if I organized my home and cleared away the excess, I'd create a space which welcomed PEOPLE and not stuff. This is my most viewed post---it's been viewed 3,777 times!!!!  I have to say that everything I wrote in there is TRUTH. As I have less stuff kicking around, it really makes for less to maintain which in turn, gifts me with more time to do other things. Like scrapbook play with the kids.

I think the final event that really kicked me into high gear to want to have less STUFF hanging around was the loss of Brad's parents this summer. Please understand-his folks were by NO MEANS hoarders. Or messy. They had a lovely, large home and had spent a lifetime collecting things. Things that Brad, his sister, their spouses and various family members had to spend a LOT of time going through trying to determine if there was some kind of meaning behind each "thing". Did this lace hanky belong to Grandma H or was it made by Auntie K? Whose baby blanket was this? Brad's, because it's blue? This old clock--what's the deal with it?

I am not criticizing his parents. Because of their sudden death (they were killed by storms that knocked down trees on their cottage), we were left standing dazed and confused and had to go through their things, looking for meaning or sentimental value.

Because there was so.much.stuff--enough that truly, Brad & his sister could EACH stuff their homes to the GILLS with all their parents' stuff, we had to start parting with things. We had to look for the handmade things (Brad's mom was a very talented quilter, crafter, seamstress and Brad's Dad did AMAZING wood work). The things his folks had touched--personally--were the things we wanted.

Not all the other crap. You know, the crap we all keep because "someday when I die, my kids might want it" kind of crap. We wanted photos. Things they'd made. Things we remembered them using at holidays or special events. Things the kids would find meaning in-that toy shopping cart that DROVE US NUTS--or the chess set that both my older boys remember their Grandpa playing with them & cheating. (again-this in not an insult. Brad's dad ALWAYS cheated when he played games with the kids. It's one of our funny memories of him.)

But all the other "stuff"? The holiday decor, the books, the baby items Brad's mom saved? Yeah. We didn't want it.

Eye-opening to say the least.

I have been keeping things that have "value" to me because I think my children will find value in them some day.

WHY would I put that kind of pressure on my kids? Why would I make them have to sort through MY lifetime of possessions, trying to decided if this or that should be saved or be donated. My STUFF is not a record of who I am today, and honestly, it really isn't a "record" of who I was 20 years ago.

It's just stuff.




Day 1 email

Day 2 magazines

Day 3 kitchen tools 

Day 4 junk drawer

Day 5 bathroom counter

Day 6 first aid & medicines

Day 7 kitchen sink

Day 8 plastic containers

Day 10 spices

Day 11 mail

Day 12 linen closet part 1

Day 13 linen closet part 2

Day 14 donate!!!





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Linked to A Bowl Full of Lemons





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