At a Christmas celebration last week, a couple of cousins and I got to talking about decluttering and minimalism. In February of 2015, I wrote the post Minimalist Mary says, "These boots were made for walking..." about minimalism and getting rid of my seventeen-year-old boots. Rereading the post nearly two years later, it still describes very well my attitude toward "stuff." In fact, I'd say that I'm even more committed to the essence of the classic saying: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." It's not just about minimalism, simplicity and financial priorities, but also about being aware of the finite resources and the precarious state of our beautiful planet.
Back to those boots... After getting rid of my seventeen-year-old boots, I "made do" with some hand-me-down boots for a while. This winter, it became clear that the hand-me-downs were deteriorating and causing me some serious foot problems. Finally, I bought new boots. I'm not sure they'll last seventeen years, but I definitely know I'll wear them out.
In the last week or so - my husband, three children and I individually went through our own closets and dressers. We all had clothing that we were no longer wearing, whether we outgrew it or just didn't need or use it anymore. A few big boxes went to Goodwill. I personally do not want to have more clothing than I can fit in my closet and dresser. This is not only about minimalism and keeping clutter at bay, but it's also about the simplicity that results from not having a lot of clothes to choose from. I've seen blog or Facebook posts in recent years about having a "uniform" or "go-to" outfit. I grew up with school uniforms and wore them for first grade through my senior year of high school. As much as I may have tried to push the limits of the accepted shade or style of shirt allowed with my uniform skirt in high school, I did recognize the benefit of not having to think about an entire outfit everyday.
As an adult, I have my own uniform of sorts. Black yoga pants and t-shirts or sweatshirts for around the house. Jeans and a couple of blouses or sweaters for going out with friends. Dress pants and a skirt that can be used with the blouses or sweaters for work events. And then just rotate through those options. People in many parts of the world live in small dwelling spaces and have no choice but to limit their amount of clothing. They don't have extra bedrooms or walk-in closets. Many people, myself included, find the limited possibilities of less clothing to be very freeing. Less to chose from means less time spent on thinking about it and choosing. Of course, if fashion is your thing - then minimalism in this area may not work for you. But there might be other areas in your life where minimalism and simplicity will benefit you.
As I was having that conversation with my cousins last week, we all acknowledged how clutter in our living spaces could lead to clutter in our minds. By living with less stuff, we free our time and mental energy to focus on what's important to us rather than on taking care of stuff. Getting rid of physical stuff can also motivate us to get rid of mental "stuff" or shed habits that aren't serving us anymore.
Heading into the new year, I'll continue to declutter. As much as I love my books, the bookshelves could use some culling. And I'm also going to think about mental "stuff" or attitudes and habits that I might want to let go of as well
How about you?
 |
| living in WI, good boots are a smart investment |
Back to those boots... After getting rid of my seventeen-year-old boots, I "made do" with some hand-me-down boots for a while. This winter, it became clear that the hand-me-downs were deteriorating and causing me some serious foot problems. Finally, I bought new boots. I'm not sure they'll last seventeen years, but I definitely know I'll wear them out.
In the last week or so - my husband, three children and I individually went through our own closets and dressers. We all had clothing that we were no longer wearing, whether we outgrew it or just didn't need or use it anymore. A few big boxes went to Goodwill. I personally do not want to have more clothing than I can fit in my closet and dresser. This is not only about minimalism and keeping clutter at bay, but it's also about the simplicity that results from not having a lot of clothes to choose from. I've seen blog or Facebook posts in recent years about having a "uniform" or "go-to" outfit. I grew up with school uniforms and wore them for first grade through my senior year of high school. As much as I may have tried to push the limits of the accepted shade or style of shirt allowed with my uniform skirt in high school, I did recognize the benefit of not having to think about an entire outfit everyday.
As an adult, I have my own uniform of sorts. Black yoga pants and t-shirts or sweatshirts for around the house. Jeans and a couple of blouses or sweaters for going out with friends. Dress pants and a skirt that can be used with the blouses or sweaters for work events. And then just rotate through those options. People in many parts of the world live in small dwelling spaces and have no choice but to limit their amount of clothing. They don't have extra bedrooms or walk-in closets. Many people, myself included, find the limited possibilities of less clothing to be very freeing. Less to chose from means less time spent on thinking about it and choosing. Of course, if fashion is your thing - then minimalism in this area may not work for you. But there might be other areas in your life where minimalism and simplicity will benefit you.
As I was having that conversation with my cousins last week, we all acknowledged how clutter in our living spaces could lead to clutter in our minds. By living with less stuff, we free our time and mental energy to focus on what's important to us rather than on taking care of stuff. Getting rid of physical stuff can also motivate us to get rid of mental "stuff" or shed habits that aren't serving us anymore.
Heading into the new year, I'll continue to declutter. As much as I love my books, the bookshelves could use some culling. And I'm also going to think about mental "stuff" or attitudes and habits that I might want to let go of as well
How about you?
*****
For a couple of more humorous takes on minimalism and fashion, see also:
Shopping is NOT a recreational activity
My top three accessories for middle age
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