Over the past two years I have packed up my little family and moved 4 times. First, we house sat my parents place for a little while, then we took off for the United Kingdom for 6 months, then back to my parents house and we find ourselves moved back into our little house. It feels good to be back and to be setting up our space.
In doing so, I am really taking on a new approach as to how we want to live as a family of three in our happy little house. I want to be a minimalist kind of Mum that has time and the freedom to focus on the things that are important and make us deeply happy.
There are a few items of media and literature that have triggered this kind of approach to life for me. The first was the book that I read at the beginning of the year called Present Over Perfect- a book solely focused on returning to an authentic and decluttered everyday lifestyle, bringing God into every little detail. Then there was the documentary The Minimalists on Netflix, which was mostly un-relatable seeing as I'm not a white upper class American male leaving a high paying corporate job in pursuit of a simpler life, however there were aspects of it that I felt were important to implement into my own lifestyle. Then there was the book I just finished reading entitled Chasing Slow- also a journey focusing on what matters most despite social pressures to be something else.
Here is what I have taken away from each of these influences that fell into my life right as I asked for them:
We are happier when we have the opportunity to simplify and focus on what is important.
Being present is a habit that creates bonds ad frees up our energy for good and positivity.
Making decisions about what matters most, rather than trying to do everything, is completely crucial to living a happy and fulfilling life.
Stuff makes life busy and sometimes messy and is mostly unimportant.
Placing value on the things that we already own decreases our desire to keep on adding more.
Things do not make us happy, people and places do.
Life experiences are far more satisfying than the pursuit of things.
Owning less means more time to do the things that we want to do.
So, in light of all of this I have decided to set myself a little challenge for the next three months starting on 1 July. That is simply this... no more "stuff". I will be focused on using what we have and living that saying "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." As I have been unpacking everything we own, getting the things out that have been in storage for the last few years I have kept thinking to myself "we have got enough stuff." Infact, we have an abundance of stuff, and I am just going to use it rather than add to it. I am really seeking to be mindful about what we bring into our home. I want to simplify systems that we have, work on a capsule wardrobe for every member of my family. Weed out the items we just don't use or need. I want time and freedom to do things and create memories rather than taking care of more stuff. I intend to declutter and give the things that we don't need to those who do need them and will use them. For me, it's about creating community rather than consuming. Sharing rather than taking and wanting. Unless it is something that needs to be replaced or an absolute need I'm striving not to bring it into our home.
Here's to testing out this minimalistic lifestyle and seeing just how it works for us as a family. I'm excited about it and interested to see what kind of a difference it makes.
