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. (Note: the schedule is now full through mid-December — but if you don’t mind waiting, feel free to send me your submission!)
This week, Laurel tells us how she discovered (and embraced) a minimalist lifestyle, and how she plans to simplify further in the future. If you’d like to read more about her, please be sure to visit her blog.
Laurel writes:
Growing up, I always liked stuff, but I also felt trapped by it. I had no idea that stuff could be gotten rid of (except for the occasional parental mandated purge of old toys in the playroom, or a garage sale my sister and I once had). Getting rid of old toys, and unused bedding was fine, but I never realized I could go through all those boxes of knick knacks I didn’t even like!
It wasn’t until my mother discovered FlyLady and started to declutter, that the light went on. After leaving college, I was left with two rooms full of stuff crammed into 135 square feet! So began the purging, and I haven’t looked back. Then, I had to make room for my beloved guide dog last year. Out went more stuff. And I’m still working on it. We live in an apartment, so it has to double as living and play space.
I don’t consider myself a hard core minimalist; I still like clothing, accessories, makeup, and artwork, but I don’t have much–my mother says my apartment is too sparse! Minimalism, to me isn’t about having nothing; it’s about appreciating what you have. For some people, home decor and clothes aren’t important. For others, they are. You can be a minimalist either way.
I’m working on building a functional minimalist wardrobe, as well as ripping CDs and DVDs to my computer, and scanning paperwork. None of this is easy, but maybe one day, I will achieve it. Ten years worth of receipts is a lot! To learn more, check out my blog: http://blindgoth.blogspot.com/.
{If you’d like to read more about minimalist living, please consider buying my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
Your statement that you didn’t know “stuff could be gotten rid of” rang so true for me. Growing up I never saw anyone consciously getting rid of any of their possessions. When I did finally get the courage to get rid of things I always felt guilty so my tactic became trying NOT to accumulate things. Fast forward 30 years and I don’t have a problem moving possessions out of my life.
I took a quick peek at your blog, hey! you are not a boring person and your dog is terrific! Thanks for sharing your story.
Great story Laurel. I too felt trapped by all the stuff I had growing up so i can relate! And you’re right about minimalism not being about having nothing but it being about appreciating what you have.
Your blog looks like a lot of fun and Patricia is a beautiful dog!
Thanks for sharing your story Laurel! I know what you mean about those receipts! I’m still going through mine. You’ll get there! I checked out your blog–very interesting!
I always love reading these articles! It is a funny thing how we can suddenly realise that we can just get rid of stuff instead of being pre-conditioned to keep everything.
I am especially happy to read this week’s article and find a fellow blind/vision impaired female blogger! Looking forward to visiting Laurel’s blog!
I love it when I read, “Minimalism, to me isn’t about having nothing; it’s about appreciating what you have.” I don’t like having a lot of things, and I do love appreciating each and every one of them.
One of my goals is to work on building a functional minimalist wardrobe! I’m very excited about it. I already live paperless. I keep everything electronic. I don’t even have a printer.
“Growing up, I always liked stuff, but I also felt trapped by it.”
I know exactly how you feel. In fact, I still feel overwhelmed by all the “stuff” in my house. I’m slowly working on getting rid of a lot of it, but it’s a long process!
OMG! I adore the FlyLady system! :) And I just wanted to tell you that according to her (I have no other thing to go on when it comes to what to keep and what to toss in regards to important papers) you only need to keep receipts for the last 6 years. You have 4 years worth you can get rid of right now, Laurel! :) So happy to find someone else living a lifestyle her mom thinks is a bit kooky. lol.
“Minimalism, to me isn’t about having nothing; it’s about appreciating what you have.”
Laurel..That’s it in a nutshell! :)
Another post I had never read. I just took a big stack of CD’s and DVD’s and books and magazines to the library. I have more books to get rid of, too. For every one thing that comes in I try to get rid of 2 things I don’t need. Slowly, my apt. Is turning out the way I want it to be. Serene.
Every week we take bags of stuff to Goodwill. I give things to friends. Take books and magazines to the library. Then I see are for custom closets on tv and in magazines and newspapers. Those people must own 50 pairs of shoes. Are we on the same planet?