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, Jorezza writes about living with less in the Philippines. I love hearing from minimalists from all over the world! Be sure to check out her blog to learn more.
Jorezza writes:
Jorezza
I am a twenty-two-year-old minimalist from Philippines. I discovered minimalism in a forum. It was the first time I heard about such a word. But when I read about that topic, I got interested. I thought, “That’s what I want. That’s what I need in my life.”
You see, I live in a third world country. Not only that. I have four brothers and seven sisters! Whatever we owned, we held on to it even if we didn’t really need it. Our mindset was “We might need it someday.” It was hard for us to throw things away. And so we lived in a cluttered home.
When I was young, I envied my older sisters who owned so many things. I started collecting everything; Books, notebooks, maps, stationeries, just about anything! Before I knew it, I accumulated so much trash. I didn’t really need them all. I just wanted the feeling of “owning”.
Clutter was everywhere. I didn’t like cleaning because I had too much things. I didn’t like doing the laundry because I had too much clothes. My possessions overwhelmed me!
So, when I discovered minimalism, I knew it was what I needed to change and improve my life. I don’t need the extra stress those things had caused me. I don’t need the extra baggage in my life’s journey. I want to feel free and light and happy.
Two months ago, I left my parent’s house to start living independently. Minimalism helped me decide what stuffs I need and what I can live without. I still haven’t purchased a dining table or a couch because I want to make sure it would fit my new apartment. Besides, I love the feeling of lots of space around the house.
I also got a book translator job and it’s a dream come true because I really want to work at home. I want to have a control of my time. I don’t want the hassle of going to the office everyday.
I’m not a hard-core minimalist. My possessions don’t fit in one backpack. But I now know the difference of needs and wants. There’s no better way to start being independent than knowing the values of minimalism.
Blogs like missminimalist.com and zenhabits.net inspire me in this journey. So I decided to also make one so I can share the improvements I make in my life: gogorgeousgreen.blogspot.com.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
“I didn’t really need them all. I just wanted the feeling of “owning”.” I love this phrase! It’s like when people say they go shopping for “the thrill”!!!!
I love when you wrote that you don’t “need the extra baggage.” Great quote! I think so many of us have way too much. And having too much stuff really does suck the life and energy out of you. Good thing you’re starting this journey so young. It’s so much harder to de-clutter when you’ve accumulated unnecessary stuff for half a century! Best wishes to you!
Hey Jorezza! I remember feeling the same way as you about not liking to clean because of all my stuff! Definitely overwhelming. Let’s be real, I still don’t like cleaning, but it’s a lot easier and faster now with less stuff. Congratulations on moving out on your own and getting the job you wanted!
I kind of got stuck at the 4 brothers and 7 sisters…. :-) wow… A family that size would really benefit from minimalism. Maybe you will convince the rest of them one day. Good luck with your new home and your blogging! Was really nice to hear the story from someone with a different background.
Joreeza – love your blog. How I admire young minimalists. To buck the trend of acquiring more at such a young age and write so well about it :)
What a beautiful story to share! I can’t imagine living a minimalist lifestyle with all your siblings. Haha! Thank you, my dear soulsister for introducing me to the minimalist world! I’m proud of your achievements and wishing to spend more time with you!
Knowing the difference between needs and wants is important.
Implementing that knowledge is the challenge.
It seems you are succeeding at that challenge.
Thanks for sharing your story.
I can’t imagine all those siblings and all that stuff. Must have been a huge house. Life is easier with less. Less to clean, less to misplace. Fewer changes of clothes. Especially for us,fewer books and papers. Except for my earring collection,which I do weed out once in a while, there aren’t many of anything.
My daughter had a party at her home to make holiday decorations. I didn’t make one because I don’t need anything. I drew designs for some of the other ladies to paint and did some other drawings, too. I offered to have the group at my house to use up some of my art supplies like my colored pencils and adult coloring books or have the ladies look at my Zentangles books to get ideas of what to draw. I have a lot of paper and drawing supplies even after giving a lot away.
I have given away bags and bags of art supplies. I tell people to get their art and craft supplies second hand except for things like crayons and glue. I have shown people how to make beads out of felt, paper and flour, salt, and water clay.
I have been making tiny succulent gardens in plastic jar lids without the recycling sign. I am giving away about 24 larger plants every week as I move my balcony garden indoors. We have been retired since 2002. Being minimalist means not buying excess, using things up, and passing things on. Friends and neighbors and people where I volunteer give me things and if I can’t use them, I pass them on. I use a 12 oz. bottle of shampoo each year. A dab of conditioner each week. No makeup. A little lotion in the winter, and some Chapstick.
There was a terrible fire in a nearby suburb. Since my daughter left so much here, I donated 8 bottles of shampoo and conditioner and 4 bottles of hand soap and there is still plenty. Other people donated toothpaste, toilet paper, toothbrushes,etc. We all have plenty.
A woman I volunteer with gave me some plants. She had them outside and it is getting cold outside. I put them in a sunny window. Then I made some small rock gardens in some small bowls. I took more plants to the library to give them away. I am going to get rid of more tomorrow. Today’s 25 things were papers I shredded like old electric and insurance papers.