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Mimimalist Me

June 29, 2017 By Christine Field

This post may contain affiliate links.

I am considering minimalism. Why?

I’ve observed that, as people age, they either become packrats, or they detach from their material possessions to free themselves.

Nothing wrong with pack ratting. I’ve done plenty myself. But I’m at a point in my life when it just seems so unnecessary.

Truly, all I need to function and be happy are these items: My papers (I’m a writer. They are mostly digitized now.) Some of my books (even they are being whittled down pretty well). My electronics. Some personal items. Some memorabilia from the kids’ childhoods.

That’s about it.  Oh, and maybe a few crafting items. (My sister is teaching me to make jewelry and I enjoy some art journaling.)(And I confess an unrelenting lust for a MacBook Pro.)

There was a time when the house was filled with lots of kids that it was also JAMMED with toys, clothes and family life stuff. It was often oppressive to manage all that STUFF, even though I pretty regularly sifted and sorted.

So I am in the process of freeing myself from stuff.  Is that minimalist?

 

What Minimalism is and What it is Not!

At the heart, perhaps minimalism is about stopping comparing yourself to others and stopping lusting after all the things you see in stores and magazines.

Instead, it’s about knowing what you want out of life and knowing how to get there. Simply. It’s about cutting back the ‘noise’ so that you can concentrate on what’s important.

In our family, we believed that spending time with family was the most important thing. We were careful to not get overextended such that we had to work too much.  While many families around us moved into bigger houses and took fancy vacations, we aspired to live within our means.

In some families’ bids for ‘more’, they have forgotten what was important to begin with!

I aspired to live simply with my kids. We never chased after the bigger and better. We took simple vacations that involved spending time together.

 

Minimalism is What You Make It

Minimalism for some people might look completely different for other people.  Minimalism is what you choose to make it. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer here – there is only you doing more of what matters to you.

And it’s about realizing what the fastest and most efficient way to achieve that is, while removing all those unnecessary distractions that get in the way. It’s about choosing what really matters to you, rather than being told by the media. The rest is up to you!

 

Chasing Squirrels

I am incredibly distractible. If the wind blows, I want to go chase it. It’s a problem. Clutter and having just too much interferes with my ability to concentrate. If I can’t concentrate, I’m not creating.

For me, minimalist me is going to downsize, get rid of things that no longer bring me joy or serve me. So my summer includes a garage sale and some massive downsizing.

It feels good.  Just as I am emptying the nest and filling the life in this season, I am shoveling out the unnecessary to make room for what I truly want or need.

How about you? Are there things in life you no longer need?

Better yet, are there attitudes, beliefs, behavior patterns that no longer fit?

Let’s talk about it over on Facebook.
 


Facebook.

Filed Under: Declutter, Home and finances, Simplify Tagged With: minimalism, minimalist

Previous Post: « Mom, get out of your frumpy clothes!
Next Post: How to deal with having an estranged adult child »

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
Read More…

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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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