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.
Today we have an update from Kim, who was featured in this series last September. I think we can all relate to how some clutter falls through the cracks, and how it’s best to remember how far we’ve come!
Kim writes:
A year ago, I waxed lyrical on my journey towards minimising the number of books I own, rapidly decreasing their numbers from 2000 to just a couple of hundred. I hadn’t actually counted, I know that if I go down that road there will be no end to it – items in the cutlery drawer, pairs of socks, hairs on head. So, imagine, if you will, my surprise when I discovered a box, medium in size, cardboard slightly damp to touch, shunted away in a far and distant corner of my loft (or attic depending on where you reside). I may have been tempted to ignore it, assume it wasn’t mine, (I have a good handle on how much I own after all) and merrily get on with my day. The problem was, mine or not, the slate cold of the cardboard led me to be concerned for its contents and so open it I must.
The tape crumbled around my hands, glad I’m sure of a final respite from its failed adhesive mission, and the spongy lids bent open in an unpleasant and guilty manner. Beneath their swollen, corrugated mass lay books, my books. Long forgotten and cast upon the mercy of a damp Victorian loft some had wrinkled, curling in upon themselves as though in protection, like a woodlouse crouching at the back of a rabbit hutch. At the bottom lay my most guilty finds, two hardback first editions, bent in the middle like a spine straining to lift a great weight. I felt pretty stupid in all honesty.
With my tail firmly between my legs, I dutifully hauled them down from the loft, paying penance for my oversight on a hot afternoon, and dried them in the sun. Upon inspection, I decided to keep a couple, for now at least and bagged the rest up for charity, luckily, none were so damaged that a charity wouldn’t be able to make use of them. And so I sat in the sun, next to a pile of books I didn’t know I still owned, and closed my eyes. I let the sun gently turn my eyelids red and warm my skin. I felt silly, guilty and fraudulent. I have delved into the loft to clear things many times over the past two years, how did a fairly sizable, weighty box manage to completely evade me in this way?
I sensed my cat, Molly, before I opened my eyes to find her reclining luxuriantly at my feet. As I sat stoking her white-as-snow tummy, I remembered the length of the road I had travelled these past two years. I reminded myself that the biggest change must come from within and not from counting possessions, but, if I did decide to count, which I don’t, that I had probably come close to halving the amount of stuff in my life and that is no mean feat in a short space of time. The box itself wasn’t really the issue, I realised that I should push away all thoughts of guilt and failure and concentrate on how easy it was to decide to part with what I had found. Maybe it was worth finding that box so that I could be reminded of this.
Whether you are new to this path or have been walking so long your soles are grazing the earth, there will always be moments, hiccups in time that challenge your concept of progress. During these small ruptures in the fabric of your thinking, please, take a moment to sit quietly and remember all that you have accomplished so far.
{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.}
Lovely story and good for the soul. Thanks
I think everyone who started their journey towards minimalism encountered moments like these. I’ve lost track of all the times I thought I couldn’t possibly part with any more stuff only to look back a few weeks later to wonder at my own attatchment to random stuff back then. (I declutter 1 item per day)
I used to collect manga, figurines and fashionable clothes for more than 10 years only to realize that my interest in them had completely vanished. Imagine the struggle of donating, selling and giving away these objects which had been part of my identity for so long. The number of times I’ve organized, reorganized, boxed and unboxed all of them exceed words. All the precious time and energy invested in what was ultimately an escape from reality.
I’m positive we’ve improved our everyday lives considerably by letting go of our security blankets.
Kim that’s AWESOME, pure poetry.
thanks! sometimes it’s OK to give ourselves a pat in the back. I have quite a long ways to go, but at least I am moving towards the right direction. I collect chairs, I need to get rid off about 30 of them and keep 4!
Wow! Imagine the space you’ll have where 30 chairs used to be!
Kim, this is lovely, well and amusingly written, and a good thing to remember.
Kim, a great reminder of how we tend to forget about things we look at on a consistent basis. I’m a huge fan of the idea that even if we take steps that seem to be backwards, they are better than no steps at all!
What a joyful post! I love that you are reflecting on how far you’ve come, especially noticing that it was so much easier this time to part with most of the books. I have noticed that change in myself, and your post reminded me how grateful I am for that.
Quite lovely, and very true – sometimes you’ve got to get perspective on just how far you’ve come.
thanks for sharing! I’ve had this happen to me before. I’m initially devastated by the loss of my books then I start to see it as a blessing because if I truly loved them I shouldn’t have them boxed up in my basement. It helps me purge more because I’d rather have someone reading them then have more ruined and neglected.
I really love your writing style, very nice! Your story is a good reminder for us all, and I have definitely noticed the change in myself as well.
I love your writing style. You’re very inspired. I’m sure your passion for books has something to do with it! :-) Thanks for sharing.
Kim, you should write a book! I love the way you write and express yourself.
Very powerful and insightful post you have written. Thank you.
Thanks for the inspiring and beautiful words..
Beautifully written, you turned the discovery of a long forgotten box into thought provoking beauty.
My brother and I had to recycle about 40 boxes of books that had gotten wet and were paperbacks my mom had. That made me look at what I had at home. I got rid of a dozen books I was saving to read someday but always read something else instead. I have more books to give away. In fact, I didn’t go to the library sale this year. I have my usual 2 bags of stuff to give away this week. It’s just different stuff.
I kept only a hundred of my Mom’s books. We alphabetized them so there would be no duplicates. Every week or so, I bring some and when I take some home, I write the date inside. I’ve also been bringing her magazines, newspapers, and puzzles. There are books I look for when I go to Goodwill or library sales that will replace some of Mom’s books we threw out. I have given away 2 boxes of jewelry so far. I have more to give away.
I usually take books out of the library when I want to read something. I also take a pile of magazines out every few weeks. There are some articles I want to keep so I make a copy and put them in a notebook. I suggested this to my mother so she would not have piles and piles of magazines and books all over the place but as usual, I got nowhere. I like my home to be clean and uncluttered.
There are so many uses for old, ruined clothing. Making yarn, ribbon, tassels, quilting, puppets, etc. It troubles me how much goes to the landfills each year.
I thought of buying some ribbon at Goodwill. But I have string and yarn already. I filled a bag of craft items for my grandsons’ art teacher. Someone gave me broken seashells so I broke them smaller and mixed them into the potting soil for my plants. I try to be zero waste and a minimalist.
My hoarder friend called to ask if I wanted her tea bag envelopes. I told her it I came over I was going to bring garbage bags. I just cut up an old book, painted the pages, and I am using it as a journal. The paint was given to me, and the book was going to be recycled. I use scraps to make art. Using your modules idea, I have one shoebox for each craft supply. I have a tool box for my jewelry tools, my paper tools, etc. I am emptying a dresser so I can give it away. I gave away another big bag of clothing. I was down to two pairs of slacks so I bought two more pairs. First new clothes in a very long time.