My Idea of Minimalism

I've started Spring cleaning already.

I absolutely couldn't wait to start tearing into everything and smell the Murphy's Oil Soap. 

I just finished the bathroom, and have moved on to the kitchen.

Christmas all came down the day after Christmas - don't hate.  I know we are still in 'the season' etc - but if you had had (that seriously seems wrong) the kind of year I've had, you'd understand.

I'm quite ready to move on.

As I was taking Christmas down, I done did a lot of pondering.

Do I do all of this decorating for me?  The family?  The friends that stop by?

Would I do it if I were the only one to see it?

I do believe I do the decorating for me, cause I love it so - but I don't believe I need to do so much.

I culled about 1/3 to 1/2 of my decorations and they are ready to load up to the resale shop.

Booyah.

One of the things I needed to do in my journey to minimalism was to watch out for my all or nothing personality.

I will either have 49 mugs or I will have 1.

I will have a house that looks like a gift shop or I will live like a monk.

I had to define what minimalism is to me, just as you do for yourself.

It's not for everyone - and I sure hope I'm not coming across as you should live the way I do.

God forbid.  

It just seems to me that almost everyone I talk to anymore is rather done with 'stuff' - and spends a goodly amount of time complaining about wanting to pare down, clean out - but usually doesn't move on it.

Why?

It's overwhelming, that's why.

Where to start?

What if I need this again?

But 'so and so' got this for me and I'd feel bad to pass it on.

I certainly have a lot of regrets in my almost 52 years, but so far, I've not regretted one single thing I've gotten rid of.

Let's take a peek at my kitchen.  I do not regret whatsoever getting rid of my upper cabinets.  It opened the room up and just makes me feel better mentally.

If you'll notice - most of this is just decoration. And, it's really not that minimal is it?  I still like the cozy feel that 'stuff' offers, and most of these things are pretty sentimental - let me rephrase that - most of this is crap from the thrift store, and some of of it is pretty sentimental. I could get rid of half of this and not care - but then it would look like Cindy Lou Who's living room after the Grinch visited.  My lower cabinets?  Just about empty.

There's not a whole lot there that is really functional.  A toaster, a blender, the coffee pot.  I try to have here the things that are really used.  I have three plates y'all.  Three.  This is the 'everyday area'.  I do have plates and glasses for company tucked away in my buffet.  I don't need to see them everyday.  When I see these pics, I don't like it too much - it looks oh so much better in person.  If I had the time I would have taken more 'blog worthy' photos.  I won't get in any decorating magazines with a kitchen like this, but I don't care.  It's what works for me.  

Where is my food you ask?

Here is it. It's a single shelf in my office/sewing room.  This is all I have.  90% of what I eat is in the fridge.

Food that you should be eating is food that should need to be kept under refrigeration.

Selah.

Change is hard, change is scary, change is wonderful, change is worth it.

It's not really about 'losing', it's about gaining. 

Losing weight = gaining health, vitality, energy.

Losing stuff = less time spent cleaning, moving things, being distracted by thing.  More time focusing on what you really want out of life.

Win win if'n ya ask me.