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, Missne shares the inspirational story of how she pared down her stuff, and sees her move into a smaller place as “progress” (love it!). If you’d like to connect with her, you can find her on Twitter.
Missne writes:
I decided many years ago that having a TV wasn’t important to me. I’m a gamer, I’m a nerd – if I want to watch something, it’ll be on the computer. Ad-free. On my own time. And If I don’t have a TV, why do I need a couch? I only have a dog, and he’s happy without a couch. He’d be happy without a clock, too, but I’m not there yet.
The term minimalism came into my life through random browsing, searching for inspiration, feeling restless and frustrated with my life. I instantly fell in love with the foundation: Does it add value? No? Get rid of it.
I grabbed a trash bag and went over my desk. Filled the trash bag, grabbed another one, went for the next area. Filled three, grabbed a big plastic bag instead. By the time I had excitedly minimized away five trash bags and three big black bags, I stopped and looked around me, hoping to be impressed with my results – and realized that a) I couldn’t really remember a lot of what I put in the bags at all, and b) my place was still not the spotless, white and chrome perfection I had seen in the inspirational pictures.
Huh. How is that possible? The pile of bags I just filled took up a third of my living room! Where was all the space I had envisioned? Where was the peace and calm? Where was my gosh darn white leather couch with the casual-not-so-casual artsy blanket draped over the edge like in the pictures?
When I last moved house, I decided to go all out. Be callous with your items. If you don’t feel anything about ‘em, ditch ‘em. If you don’t like ‘em, ditch ‘em. If they’re broken, ugly, far into a cupboard, or in a drawer – ditch ‘em. We ended up making two trips to the recycling station, but just one to my new apartment.
“So how big is your new place?” Smaller than the one I left. People get taken aback: why would you move into a smaller place? Can’t you afford progress? This is progress to me. So much better. Closer to work, next to a park, emptier. Cleaner. Calmer.
I have everything I need. If I didn’t, I would have noticed by now. Getting rid of the items I didn’t use also meant noticing the items that still fill a purpose.
I have a beautiful silicone funnel that is designed to look like a lily, which happens to be my favorite flower. Now, I’m sure a lot of people would simply think: why? But I know why. It’s because I need a funnel often enough to own one, and I want one that makes me happy, that adds value to my life beyond simply doing a chore for me.
To me, that is minimalism.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or joining my email list.}
Thank you for sharing your story. Its rather soothing.
Thanks for reading! I’m glad it could give off good vibes! :)
Well, now I want a flower funnel! I use one quite often too, and my current one just developed a split that means it’s going to need replacing soon. Why not something aesthetically pleasing?
Exactly my sentiment! Anytime I even open the drawer it brings a smile to my face, and it’s exactly why I purchased it. In time, I hope I can replace many more everyday items with better looking ones.
You said, “I have everything I need. If I didn’t, I would have noticed by now.” That says it perfectly. I am going to be borrowing that phrase! Thank you!
AGREE!
I love that turn of phrase too!
Thank you! I’m a big fan of bite-sized quotes to keep in mind and motivate myself, so I’m glad I hit the spot! :)
My favorite phrase from this also!!
Thanks for the enjoyable read this morning. I’m not in the same season of my life that you’re in – I live with more people and more pets – but it’s all good.
Thank you for reading and commenting! I hope I’ll sound as content as you once I reach the season you’re in – what a wonderful description of a phase of life, a season :) Just vague enough to encompass many years, and gives it almost a romantic tint.
I learned a new word: funnel. Words, you can never have enough of them ;-)
Thank you for sharing your story. Sending love from the Netherlands
I couldn’t agree more! English isn’t my first language either, so I share your fascination with expanding the vocabulary :) And hey, I’ve only ever met interesting people from Netherlands – seems like a great bunch of people!
Thanks for your post on Miss Minimalist. I liked your humor so much I checked out your tweets. Excellent!
Thanks for dropping by, glad you share my sense of humor! It’s hardly a minimalism-oriented twitter account, but it’s social media in the form I prefer it – little, and non-intrusive ;)
I’m getting ready to move early next year and I was having this same conversation in my head this morning. Just go through the house & be ruthless!
Btw, lilies are my favorite flower as well. I have a tea strainer that looks like a lily. It’s big (like a funnel), you place the stem in the glass and the leaves drape over the top.
That sounds lovely, tea strainers in themselves always means relaxation in my mind, that classic look with the tea and the book, you know? I’ll have to find a perfect one some day.
And yes, be ruthless! As The Minimalists said: most just-in-case items can be replaced in 20 minutes, and with less than $20 – there’s really no need to carry them all with you :) Best of luck in the move!
Now I’d love to see a picture of what your real, not-white-and-chrome-perfection place looks like!
Well, instead of white, I’m a big fan of black and dark colors, and instead of perfection, I’m currently stuck with a mariner’s themed blue-white striped wall with a bunch of drill holes in it. Throw in a very sleepy dalmatian shedding all over the place, and you’ve got my home! I do love it, though – it’s a work in progress, and it keeps me motivated to find new ways to move forward :) Thanks for your comment!
Great share of your story! Sometimes people are so attach to things that are of no use at all. I was in that situation too before where I treasure every little things I have in my bedroom and because of that I felt like my room was full of things that don’t matter at all if I just look at the whole perspective of it. When I get rid of those unwanted items I felt more progressive and I think clearly compare before. Felt like everything is perfect now. If you have time guys feel free to see my post on the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle http://www.baanguru.com/en/blog/benefits-of-living-a-minimalist-life-style/.
Thank you! I can absolutely relate to that calmness of mind that happens when you clear out items. I’m happy to hear there are so many others on a similar journey to mine – thanks for sharing!
“Getting rid of the items I didn’t use also meant noticing the items that still fill a purpose.” Brilliant! Thanks for sharing your story!
Thanks! I’m very happy to know I’ve managed to write some quotable lines, makes me feel like this little piece filled its purpose very well :)
Beautifully written!
Thank you very much!
When people want to unclutter their stuff for moving or just tired of un used junk taking up space, group homes in your area need household stuff of all types. For furniture I ditched, I called one home and they needed a sofa. It is getting harder to sell used furniture so I don’t bother with it. Yard sales are now a waste of time, used to pay off. Retirees, best to downsize now, unload family photos and any heirlooms given to family members and donate other things. I use the Marie Kondo method, but do not agree with all her ideas.
What a great story and what a great writer you are. I also like that you are NOT sharing a link to your blog or website as it can often be the case. Makes it s perfect pure post. Thank you.
Oh thank you! Yeah, I have no aspirations for my own platform, I’m quite happy trying to contribute to others’ places :) I’ve always liked writing, even tried blogging a while, but turns out my life isn’t quite epic enough for my literary tastes. I’m very glad you liked it :)
Thanks for sharing your story! I can so relate to the excitement of getting rid of bags of stuff then turning around with anticipation to see the lovely cleared out spaces….and finding more stuff. I will heed your advice to figure out if I have feelings for something; if not, it’ll be gone! :)
Right? It seems impossible to have so much STUFF, but everywhere you turn, there’s more! I’ve lived in this apartment for almost a year now, and I’m pretty sure there’s still a box in a closet somewhere that has gone un-unpacked. It’s a neverending story, trying to minimize, and it’s just as rewarding every time :) Thank you for commenting, it’s interesting to know others experience the same strange effect :)
A great post! I very much related to your experience with minimalism. A fun perspective too:)
Thank you! It’s always nice to know there are others in similar situations :)
My wife and I started to downsize this past July 2016 in order to give up our lovely 4 Bedroom 3 car garage of 24 years for a 2 BR apartment. I’ll downsize to 2 TVs, but I like how you said you don’t have a TV, so why have a couch. I’m thinking now I don’t really need a couch when we move. My “minimalist goal” when we get to the apartment phase of our lives is to be able to pack and move in 1 hour.
I want to get down to the basics as when my wife and I retire in 4 years we plan to be traveling more than staying in one place. And people ask when they hear about out plans-where will your kids stay when they come to visit. I will always reply with: We are not living to have places for people to visit-we are living to be able to visit people’s places. So yeah no couch for me.
Thanks
That sounds wonderful! What a good response about visitors – it sounds like you’re going to have a very active and social time with your retirement, exactly like I think most of us dream of :) I sure hope you find an equally comfortable seat for yourself – imagine that, the potential of two armrests, just for you!
This is a beautiful post!
Thank you so much!
After all my years of sorting and tossing, my daughter moved back after 20 years away. She is chronically disorganized. So far, she has gotten rid of maybe thirty big boxes of stuff. She has also given away bags and bags of clothes. Yesterday, she threw out old makeup and two bags of recycling. We progress.