Real Life Minimalists: Sam

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, Sam from Australia tells us how clearing the clutter not only lightened up her home, but also her mind and body (literally!). Please visit her blog to read more of her story.

Sam writes:

I wanted to write to you and tell you that buying your book around 18 months ago was the beginning of my love for minimalistic ways. Although, I must say, I am by no means a minimalist! I spent 12 months going through each room of my house (which includes 4 teenagers as well as my husband and I) with careful consideration, to reduce the amount of stuff we had. When I had finished I felt the house singing to me. It was as if it sang “Thank you for lifting this heavy weight off me!” I also felt like I too was lighter. I felt I had accomplished something great! I had achieved order!

I live in a small village near the south east coast of Australia. My family and I try to grow as many vegetables and fruit that we can, and we also have sheep and cows that we use for our own meat. My husband and I have taught our children to be mindful of where their food comes from. This gives them an awareness and teaches them not to take things for granted. Clearing out our house and garage was a slow process but this meant that there was plenty of time to reflect on what was most important to us all. And, I have found that having less stuff means more time to talk and play as a family, which to me means the world!

2 years down the track:

Through clearing physical stuff from my life that I no longer need, I have naturally progressed to clearing emotional stuff too. I have let go of many emotional attachments, grief and hurt from my past, and I have also let go of 10kg of body weight! After beginning the process of clearing my home, I felt the need to begin a daily writing practice which led to me being better connected with my inner self and therefore in tune with what I needed in my life for me. There is a lot to be said for the clutter that we build up around us in our physical lives. We are, at the same time, and often without realising it, building up a wall of protection (which is clutter) so that we don’t have to deal with the hard issues. I realised that by hiding behind clutter, and extra body weight, that I was stagnant. I was not growing as a person, I was not progressing or developing and this was because I was stuck behind all my stuff. Once I made the decision to be brave and start to let go, I began to notice little changes. And, these little changes soon became big changes!

I am so very grateful that I took that first step!

On my blog wheatleywriter, I write about using writing as a way to connect with your inner wisdom. I know that since I began my daily writing practice, I have learnt so much more about myself, and I am better able to make decisions in all areas of my life. I now know myself so much better than I ever did through developing a simple practice and slowing down my life through letting go.

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{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.}