Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
This week, I’m pleased to feature Heather in Texas, who has shared some wonderful simple living advice in her comments to my posts. I hope you enjoy her inspirational story!
Heather in Texas writes:
I am not the type of person who believes that your age, adulthood or job in life dictates a right of passage to acquiring a certain pre-existing list of expected accumulation…whether credit cards (with debt), materials items with the right labels, the right house filled with (insert big box store name here) or even trying to exude a certain lifestyle. I am a visual person that must be comfortable in my surroundings. A mason jar with flowers, my white down comforter, yoga pants with a basic white t-shirt, snuggling with my son or giving my dog a scratch behind the ear. These make me happy and I can always go back over and over, without ever needing to feel that I am not up to snuff with others. I always liked the saying “Follow you Bliss.” No attachment or want…just lot of laughter and good food. It has made me choose EXACTLY what I want and to realize I don’t need a specialized this or that for one task or just because it’s the latest greatest.
I grew up in a packrat, image driven family. The keeping up with it all actually made me have a nervous stomach every time I stepped out the door. When I turned 18, I donated what I had to a charity and got on with MY life…which consisted of joining the military and living out of a duffle bag and back pack. My first little barracks room was shared with 2 other females…I had a bed, a stand up locker and the last small drawer in an otherwise tiny bathroom. It was about quality of quantity and I was in shear simplicity heaven!!!
When I moved into my first apartment, I literally spent weeks living with a white love seat, a large wooden box as a coffee table and storage and double bed mattresses on the floor. I added little bits and pieces here and there that I loved. I never wanted something that had to be in a certain order and arrangement just because. I wanted to invite 20 people over and enjoy myself and not worry about how clean is my house or is my “stuff” up to snuff.
I never really actually thought about minimalism, it honestly just comes natural to me. I know when I need to edit or put things away or when a good cleaning will make me feel better. It is also a metamorphous as I get a bit older. It’s the natural progression in finding me. Even now that I am married with a son and have more than I would like, we still live minimally compared to the average family. Our goal is to put away our paychecks to make that jump out of the rat race as soon as possible or when it just feels right. My ultimate goal is to one day, walk away from whatever I have when “THAT” day comes…whether 10, 20 years or tomorrow and hit the beach with a bag of clothes, a margarita and a smile. I want to not be afraid to waste my whole day building a sand castle or just picking up shells.
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Great story, Heather! I came from an image driven family, too, though it took a while for me to pull away from it. Best of luck hitting the beach and drinking that margarita – sounds like an excellent plan :).
Heather–great story. I can certainly identify with wanting to live simply after growing up in a packrat family! Good luck on quitting the rat race.
I always love reading these stories. I get more motivation out of someone’s story than I do from most of the tips people post.
That is so moving and inspiring. I’m hoping for exactly that kind of freedom one day. No longer working 40+ hours just to maintain, but making just enough to stay free and mobile and enjoy my life as much as I can.
Thanks to all ya’ll for the nice comments. I had surgery yesterday, so it was nice to be the minimalist of the week. It makes me smile!! : ) I might need that margarita sooner than later. ; )
Wow. I love the thought that someday, I might be able to just walk out of a job that I despise, because I have not spent my life collecting stuff that I don’t really want.
Minimalism gives you the freedom to choose how to spend your time. I was talking to a friend with a lot more money and a lot more stress because she has a lot more possessions.
We keep giving away a big bag or two each week to Goodwill and a bag or two of books to the library. We don’t have much and we keep aiming for less. I’d like to have an empty bookcase or two and give them to my daughter, who has piles of books everywhere. I just gave away some baking equipment I hadn’t used in years.
I don’t know how but we find a big bag for Goodwill every week. There isn’t much in my closet or in my drawers to give away. Yesterday, I donated some small bottles of paint to a children’s art program at my local park district. I have only a few places to look for more art supplies. I mostly draw or make collages when I have free time, today we went to the beach to look at the birds and wildflowers.
Living with less and less. I gave away 10 teacups I found. They were beautiful, someone gave them to me and we’ve never used them. They will be used for a fundraising project by the local museum. I also gave away some tiny bowls we never used. I have more stuffed bears to give away. I found some in a cupboard. I had gotten them for gifts years ago.
My grandson said his cousin would like one of my stuffed bears. I told him to give it to her. Then I picked up a pile of pens and gave them away. I am going to teach a class I have taught before on living with less and saving more money. People pay a fortune for cable TVand movie star magazines, for example.