I think life has brought me to this point, and I intend to start an experiment. As I look back, I see so many points in life that have carried me to want to minimize what I have and take on a new outlook in life. I want less, but I not only want less, I want to want less.

I’m one of those who has quite a few children. I don’t want to force this on them, but I want to set the example and show them the difference between needs and wants, so I am starting today. I’m hoping this turns into a joyful journey and changes some things about how I see life.

Thanks for all you share here. I will be back again and again.
~Julie

(there might be some mistakes in my comments, as I’m Dutch, corrections from native speakers are very welcome!)

Reading your blog feels like a nutritious meal, a refreshing swim in a green lagoon, a cleansing shower.
For years and years I have tried to combat my things, my clutter. Growing up in a semi-hoarder’s home I do not really have built-in decluttering skills; I have been trying to maintain a tidy house since I was an adult. Sometimes I almost made it; but it was never entirely completed and never permanent.

Earlier this year I decided to re-do my bedroom and dressing room/office, partly motivated by reading Karen Kingston’s books. It took me several months, due to lack of money, but I will get there. However, the result is less storage because I didn’t want my home to be full of (stuffed) closets anymore. After months of stuff-in-crates-in-corners I started a major decluttering operation last weekend. Thanks to your blog, I must say.

I have come to the point that I really don’t want the stuff around anymore. And I certainly don’t want any new stuff coming in.

The decluttering isn’t finished yet; it will take another week to finisch round 1. Then, I think, I will have achieved 50% of the final result.

I am planning to start round 2 in a month or two, I think. Maybe then I can halve what’s left. In the meantime I might start decluttering my “garage” so I can use it as temporary storage for things I’m not really ready to part with – YET.

Final task will be electronic clutter. A daunting prospect. But as it doesn’t take up physical space, it is the lowest on my priority list – at least for now.
I can feel the energy draining because of its existence, though, so it will have to be done. And it will be.

Thank you for the inspiring thoughts and bubbling energy I gained.

My challenge has always been expressing my natural minimalism (yes, some of us are BORN minimalists!) while raising children. Sometimes I have had to let go of my ideals, or at least relax them a bit. Now that my youngest child is 18, my husband and I are talking about downsizing our home in a year or so, and I’m really excited about that! My oldest child is going to be married in January 2011, and it is amazing to see her and her fiance planning their new home by considering only what they NEED. This is not necessarily the same list I might come up with, but the point is that my daughter and her sweetie are not on the “buy-buy-buy-now-now-now” bandwagon. Only a few years ago I would not have believed my daughter would make these kinds of choices, but she seems very content to focus only on what she considers essential, and to let most other stuff go. Even the wedding we are planning will be simple and lovely, and so far we are within our (moderate) budget!

Wishing you the best, and looking forward to your continued blogging!

I think you’ll find that you’re much more productive in your decluttered office (it’s like a mental cleaning, as well as a physical one!). And you’re absolutely right: it feels so good to declutter one room, that you’re energized to tackle the rest of the house!

So glad to have you as a reader!