If we want to simplify our lives, we should begin by purging our material overload; free from tangibles that obviously distract us from a clear mind. In our case however, the major declutter came later.
We've always wanted a simple life, but early on when this simple life movement was borne before the turn of the century, this would have been impossible to pursue. My husband and I were very deep in our commitments at work that we couldn't just drop everything. Simplifying our lives was too far-fetched and I also couldn't have found time to declutter. When our stuff didn't fit, we just added storage spaces or gave away a few.
But purging of material things is not the only issue here; it's also about eliminating activities that give us stress or occasions that rob us of time better spent to enhance our well-being and add to our enjoyment.
When we retired we welcomed the slower pace and the time available to pursue more relaxing activities. Eager to start, we thought gardening would be an ideal activity, so we bought ourselves a new set each of gardening tools. But we just had a pocket garden, how much work was needed there? True, we had a farm at the south of the metro but it is a two-hour drive to get there and we thought we couldn't be driving that far on a regular basis just to garden. We couldn't move there either, I still have a store in town to manage.
Sans the garden we started to focus on ourselves, we started addressing our inner issues while we spend more time for leisure, creativity and exercise as well as planning more healthy meals. We engaged in pleasant discussions and mastered navigating the net, because we know that this digital world is here to stay.
I am aware that we all work to have it all, to acquire our basic needs first: a home, a car, send our children to the best schools, good clothes; then if at all possible we also want to shop frequently, get the state-of-the-art appliances and other luxuries and to travel regularly. Because of the hard work we put in to acquire all that, giving up a lot may not be easy.
Obviously simple living is different between you and me because of our individual values, priorities and needs. We have different ambitions, dreams and passions. Buying a sub-zero refrigerator and a convection oven just to have an enviable kitchen may not be good unless we want to pursue our passion for cooking.
Some do the extreme by leaving the city to live in the middle of nowhere and literally unplug everything. Some move to a tiny house after living in a mansion. All the alternatives are there but how we choose to live depends on what makes us happy.
Our major declutter finally came when we moved to another home a year ago. In the process of packing, we were able to give up at least a third of our material possessions. After this experience, I believe that this process should continue so as not to accumulate again. As they say, one in, one out.
After purging quite a lot, I learned to be conscious when shopping, not on impulse. I keep in mind what the advocates of simple living suggest that just like living, buying should be intentional, buy only what we need and only if this will enhance the quality of our lives. Any addition should not give us more work or more stress.
Today, we are happily working on our edible backyard garden. Recently, we bought garden items because that's our current passion and that makes us happy. We got a table, chairs and garden umbrella. Of course we also spent on bricks and stones.
This past year we only bought a few clothes, grocery shopping is pegged to a minimum nowadays and I only shop when we run out, not anymore weekly. I'm also mastering the art of cooking for two to avoid left-overs.
Regards decluttering, I continue weeding out items from the stuff we kept. At the same time we strive to make every nook and cranny of our home inspiring and relaxing.
Nowadays we have more time to enjoy a cup of coffee in the garden, oftentimes even breakfast while we talk about our schedule, our plans and exchange opinions on current issues; in other words, we are talking more. We meet with friends occasionally and when the weather allows, we entertain in the garden.
More importantly we are taking better care of ourselves, emotionally, physically and mentally. We read a lot and we challenge our minds to remember things; next to gardening, reading is our other pastime. We heed what our bodies tell us and we don't overwork. Our hearts tell us that there's contentment. We are always in close contact with our children who touch home base everyday or every week depending on how busy they are.
So yes! We are living the simple life and we are enjoying it.
,
No comments:
Post a Comment