Choosing Minimalism

Hey lovely people!

It’s been a while since I posted to my blog. Looking back at the dates between then and now, a lot has happened!!

The full story can only be told over coffee or cocktails but here’s a quick run-down:

• We needed to scrape our popcorn ceilings. Surprise! Asbestos!
• We moved out.
• We moved back in.
• We listed our house for sell.
• We moved back out.
• We sold.
• We moved in with my mother-in-law for two months.
• We purchased another fixer upper.

See! I told you it has been a lot!! Since we’re saving the full details for a later conversation, let’s get to the real reason for this blog post- my recent decision to move towards choosing a minimalist lifestyle.

When we were finally all moved out of our house, we occupied 2.5 large storage units. During our transition, I discovered @afrominimalist on Instagram and purchased her book. I was first captured by the book title, but more so interested in a solution to my impending problem- what to do with all my stuff!!

I was familiar with the concept of minimalism but was convinced I could not be a minimalist. How is this girl who has a gazillion crafting things and tons of cooking and bakeware supposed to be a minimalist? Not to mention the clothes. So, many, clothes! Well, I got the book and decided that because we were going into a smaller place that I needed to read it and prepare myself for the move.

Moving time arrived… We knew we the house was smaller than what we had, but sometimes small doesn’t seem so small until you’re in the house, right? Well after multiple trips to multiple storage units I felt completely overwhelmed and was severely anxious. I was on the brink of tears. Every day for a week I started my day at the new house and left at 11pm to go back to my mother-in-law’s house (I needed to make a bit of progress for the space to really be ready for us to live in it). I nearly cried every single day.

Christine’s book has really been the kick in the butt I needed to get started on this journey. To avoid spilling all the tea (because you must read the book), I will speak to the parts of the book that spoke most to me. First, from the table of contents you will see that she divides the book into three parts: principles, process, and practice. For me, the principles section was the most insightful because it helped me center why minimalism makes sense for ME. While we hear the author’s personal story throughout the book, she has the skill that just makes everything resonate with the reader. How have we lived the same life I asked?! Lol!

This book not only taught me about minimalism but it taught me about myself.

So, these are just four of the reasons I am choosing minimalism:

1. I have stuff simply for the sake of having it.
2. All of my stuff, pre-move and post, is a source of anxiety for me. Clutter really tanks my mood!
3. My material possessions don’t define who I am.
4. I can live a very full life without it being full of stuff!

Will you join me?