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, we have a story from Andy. He’s an aspiring minimalist, who’s using his overseas work assignment to re-evaluate the excess stuff in his life.
Andy writes:
I’ve really enjoyed reading your website, so thought I would share my own story – well the story so far!
I’m calling it: Preparing to take the plunge. By “gonna be a” minimalist.
My name is Andy and I am a hoarder. I want to say it out loud and confess to the world. Though anyone that already knows me, already knows that I am a hoarder!
Earlier this year I moved out of my flat (apartment) and packed several bags for a 6-12 month work assignment overseas to South Africa. I also packed up everything else and put it into a storage unit. Put some other things into ‘parental storage’. Yeah, lots of stuff, lots of small bits’n’pieces of the “it will come in handy one day” variety.
But it wasn’t until I started to pack to actually travel overseas that the first glimmers began to surface… hmm maybe I don’t need it all, maybe I can get rid of some of it? So as a very tentative step I deliberately packed things, mostly clothes, that I could leave behind in SA when I returned to Australia. Not much I know, but it’s a start.
Months later I came across your blog as a link from an article I read online, and it just resonated with me. Especially when I saw the post on Mujo. As a practicing Buddhist (at least, I am a Buddhist when I practice, which is some of the time!), it was a great reminder of the Buddha’s Teaching on impermanence and letting go.
Have enjoyed many posts and comments from your readers since then. Inspirational stuff, often I am nodding in agreement or recognise the characteristics, traits and thought patterns described in myself. I especially like the linkage between minimalism and mindfulness. Watching the thoughts that arise (buy buy buy!) and not acting on them, waiting, contemplating whether or not a purchase is necessary. Less acting on impulse, more on reflection. Less attachment to material things –all good and all things that will aid my Practice directly.
But wait, have I actually done anything yet? Decluttered in the slightest? Well… I have a suitcase into which I am slowly putting the things I am no longer using and will not be taking back home with me. So far so good. And after that, I am starting to visualise all the boxes and all the stuff that awaits back home – and that is where the real challenge will begin! I know it is going to be painful, a struggle and that it could quickly become overwhelming. Luckily, I will have a large collection of ideas to prepare with and go to when (not if!) I have trouble letting go…
Yet if you were to ask me, of all that stuff, what did I miss having while overseas? Answer: very little of it, almost nothing… Wish me luck.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
Good luck Andy, it’s amazing how free you can feel when you let stuff go, enjoy!
Great post! It’s so good to hear about somebody who’s just beginning.
I’m in the middle of my road. It seems so much easier to declutter stuff than projects or other non-material things.
It’s great to hear that you are taking steps to change your life. I wish you luck in this, and hope that you find getting rid of stuff as fun as collecting it. When we started purging our stuff I got really exicted about it.
We are now quite a way along our minimalist journey, but we still have a way to go!
I often think travelling gives you the first indication of how little you actually need/use: just think back to all those holidays were you packed suitcases full of clothes, etc., only to come back and ‘fess up to how many of them you actually wore (or didn’t, to be more minimalist)!
Good luck! You can do it. From being on the other side (after getting rid of almost everything) I can tell you that I don’t miss much either. … don’t even remember most of it :)
Congratulations Andrew, starting is the first step. Try not to put to much pressure on yourself, starting out slowly and evolving may help you stick with it. In any event, I trust that you will do it your own way and in your own time. Like most things in life, minimalism is very personal and your worst critic will be yourself. Good luck and thanks for sharing your story.
Andy, this is so exciting!
Here is a tip if (only if) you want to do it quick: instead of going through all your items one by one (which would take a huge amount of time – considering you’re a hoarder, as you said, you might have a lot of items to go through), you can make a list of what you need and donate all the rest without even looking.
Too radical? It depends on who you are. I’m an anxious crazy woman who can’t wait to get things done. If you’re not like that, never mind :-)
The most important is that you do what’s best for you and do not feel guilty about anything. Every person should follow their own path.
Good luck!
Cheers from Brazil :-)
Andy, thank you for sharing your story – I wish you all the best as you take the plunge!
And as a fellow Buddhist in a tradition that emphasizes compassion (not sure what your tradition is), I like to consider that the items I donate are not just gifts of the hands that held the items before me, but gifts from me to future users. If I am not using something, I am freeing it to be of use to someone else. For some, my gently used items will help carry a load, or cook dinner, or furnish a home.
I’m a child of hoarders and I picked up a lot of hoarding habits. It’s hard to break, Andy, but you’re here and that’s a HUGE step. I look to people like you as an example for my mom and myself. If you can do it, so can we. Kudos to you and welcome to the club!
“… at least, I am a Buddhist when I practice, which is some of the time!”
Ha! Me too!
Loved your post and good luck with minimizing when you return. We are in the process of moving internationally at the moment — lots of yard sales and “will I need this” questions. It gets easier, trust me.
Great post! Moving really does make you re-evaluate the number of your possessions.
Nothing like an amazing turnaround and change of life to really change your thinking and outlook. Keep up the great work mate !
Way to go Andy! Clearing the mental hurdle is a gigantic first step!
My leap to minimalism came when I became responsible for someone else’s stuff – my deceased father’s. If you dislike the idea of having so much stuff in storage right now, just imagine the work it would create if something happened to you. Morbid, perhaps, but motivating.
Traveling is a great way to discover how very little you need. I traveled for work for about 3 yrs and the difference between how I packed my bags in the beginning and toward the end was drastic. It quickly became clear how little I actually needed on a daily basis. I’m in the process of downsizing my possessions so that I can move into a much smaller space. Good luck on your journey! The first step is the hardest. You’ll likely reach a few hurdles along the way, but keep you end goal in mind and you’ll do just fine. =)
Travelling is a fantastic way of realising how most of our stuff we have in our homes is completely useless. I promise you that you will not miss a single thing that you decide to get rid of (providing you don’t rush the process). I’m down to something like 70 items and I don’t miss a single thing!
Good luck to you, Andy :)
Thanks for your story Andy, it’s great to read about someone beginning the minimalist journey. All the best!
Hi,
Thanks for all the supportive messages people! I’m back home in Oz now and in a lot of ways have slipped back into my old life.
Haven’t lost sight of minimalist goals, but it will take time. And as many will know, there are some tough nuts to crack along the way.
Decided to tackle what i consider the easiest things first, by going through the wardrobe and donating clothes that i don’t wear, don’t fit, don’t like or all of the above.
Just slowly chipping away at the rest…
Hi Andy – thanks for sharing your story!
My mother is a hoarder and it’s tough to change. All that stuff represents kind of a security blanket. Clearing out my mom’s house prior to moving her to a retirement community was a real eye-opener. I think that your making the decision to reduce the amount of stuff you have is a great beginning already. Putting things in storage is a good way to find out that you don’t need it after all. I’m always amazed by how little I need when I am traveling.
Minimalism is an individual journey, and different for everyone. I wish you lots of luck on your journey. Miss Minimalist is a great website and really helped me get organized.
I can tell you that it gets easier as you go on. Your eye kind of adjusts to having less things and it gets easier to give up more. Good for you taking the first step! I think that having a blog really helps with getting accountability and encouragement to stay on track also. Best of luck to you on your ongoing journey!
On 21 th march is the winter over. Did you still have an winter sabbatical? Wake up, it is spring now! So go and write again some good article on your blog. We will enjoy it!
Andy I love the point you make about the link between minimalism and mindfulness.
In my quest to be more minimalist instead of fighting to resist consumerist thought and impulse mindfulness makes minimalism an easy ,natural and gentle thing to do
Since practicing mindfulness meditation and shifting my focus from thinking to reengaging with the senses, compulsive thoughts about buying or having to keep things either disappear or come and go quickly. As a result no interest in shopping or aquisitions and a steady trickle of things being passed onto others. Easy!!
Go Andy! You can do it…and I’ll do it with you.
But how do you say I’ll never use those power tools or stuff again? Hmm…
One idea I have for all that stuff that can’t be thrown away is put it all together in a big “scavenger’s delight” bundle on eBay for someone else who is anti-minimalism ;-)
H.
I read the older items to see how far I’ve come. So much more empty space. Love the minsumer ideas. Cabinets are empty because we don’t stock up. Buy only small sizes of the things we use. Don’t replace things as fast. Still traveling with just a carry -on even when we go on a cruise. Can’t imagine what’s in the huge suitcases other people bring.
Still giving away at least one big bag of clothing and household goods every week. We also take a large pile of books and magazines to the library each week. I would have thought our home would be empty by now, but there is still more. Since I collect earrings, I’ve been donating pins and necklaces to thrift shops. Since we’ve never hoarded, I can’t ImagIne how much we’d have to give away if we really had a lot of stuff.
My husband can’t reach into the lower shelves where he has all his family photos. I want him to scan them so he can identify who the people are. My son scanned all the old pictures of my family already. He hasn’t bought a sport coat, suit, or dress pants in 2 years because he only wears them once a week or so. I have 5 nice sweaters and 2 pairs of dress pants and 6 tops that I mix and match and one black dress and dressy shoes for weddings and really fancy occasions. My friends get their nails and hair done every week but I could never stand that. I finally broke down and bought a lipstick and concealer for when I get dressed up.
There is so little we need. We buy toilet paper once a month—4 rolls. A bar of soap lasts a month. I have a bottle of shampoo that is 2 yrs old and one of conditioner that is even older. I can’t imagine who is shopping for the huge bottles of hand lotion or the giant tubes of toothpaste.
Years ago a beauty school owner told me a dab of shampoo the size of a dime was enough to wash my hair. I use very little of most things so I buy small sizes. I keep an extra bag of cat food and cat litter in the house.