I stop dead in my tracks when I see books with simplicity in the title. Mike can tell you it's one of my buzzwords. The past couple of years have been about simplifying and decluttering around my home and throughout my life. I started with my closet (I think) and pulled out everything I didn't wear regularly, didn't like the way it looked on me, or just didn't have any real relationship to (you know that stuff you keep because it's "still good" but never seem to put on your body.) So much stuff was hauled to GoodWill. And my closet and drawers shrank tremendously.
I found it to be an incredibly freeing process. It was really like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I thought I would miss things and regret having to buy something to replace that one item I'd donated. But that never happened. The stuff I really liked all stayed. And the stuff that went away was just filler. Like crumpled tissue paper that I never got around to using again. It just sat there.
I actually enjoy now opening my drawers and seeing things folded --With empty space around them. In fact, I recently purchased some things at the outlet mall while on vacation in the Lake of the Ozarks and when I got home and put it all away I thought to myself... man, I am getting too many clothes again. It's like I could feel the claustrophobia closing in again.
Here's the funny thing. I purchased two pairs of jeans and probably 4 summer type shirts and a maxi dress and a skirt during the vacation. This was the most shopping I'd done in ages. The jeans were replacing two pairs that I'd ripped and/or, ahem, "outgrown." And the shirts were replacing a couple of things that had stains or holes. It's not like it all went on top of stuff in my closets. But still my awareness and my perspective had completely changed. When I looked at the items in the store I tried to think... what would this replace? Do I really want to deal with cleaning and storing this? I already regret buying the skirt. But that's a good lesson that my instincts are right. If you're wavering, then put it down.
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| The view from my writing desk |
Simplifying feels good to me. It's really like getting a taste of freedom from the chains you never knew existed. Can simplifying be a love language? If so, it's totally my love language. (p.s. I'm not sure I know what a love language is so just nod your head in agreement and pretend like I'm making sense :-)
So I thought I'd kick this topic around a little. If you don't like it, well just tune back in for the photos of my kids every once in awhile. But if you do, send me a comment. Or write about it yourself!!
Simplicity is so relative. Is it about denying yourself things? That's not how I would characterize my approach, in fact, I enjoy clothes and interiors, but it might be for others. How do you simplify? What's the stuff that's cluttering your life (physical or mental)?
Before I sign off, I'm going to plug my favorite blog: www.simplemom.net Yes, it's got mom in the title, but don't let that fool you. It's about simplifying life in so many ways and I look forward to reading it every single morning. Maybe you would?
4 comments:
Agreed that it is so freeing to not have so much. I did a major clothes clean out about a year ago and it was a huge stress reliever. It's nice to be able to walk into your closet and be okay with anything you pick out because you're only left with items that fit and that you like. I pretty much have three tops that you'll seen in every photo but it's nice not having a ton of choices. Now that my job has changed a bit though and my boss won't be allowing jeans (that'll be fun working with preschoolers), I do have to basically buy a new work wardrobe. Ugh. My major challenges are t-shirts and fluctuating sizes. I tend to get more attached to t-shirts and have a hard time letting go of them. I need to make more t-shirt edits. I have 2 to 3 jeans/pants wardrobes. I tried having one and told myself I'd just have to stay that size but I really do tend to fluctuate between two sizes so right now my solution is to keep "the other size" in the guest closet so it doesn't overwhelm my every day closet. Anyway, yes, I love simplicity and organization. My next project will be to organize our kitchen cabinets...yikes.
Funny, I was just thinking to myself the other day that I am drawn to simplicity - the idea, the word - I'm a sponge ready to soak it up.
I like Simple Mom a lot, but not all of it. I can't quite put my finger on why.
Sometimes I think you and I are really a lot alike, you know that? I also share an inner drive to simplify, and have been working on that these past few years, though I feel moving has gotten in the way. Yes, it is a chance to purge, so that simplifies in a way. But it's also just a giant topsy turvy upheaval that has me feeling particularly disorganized. I need to do a serious clothing weed out, maybe you can even come over and help me someday. I am NOT a shopper. In fact, I should probably shop a little more. But I think I am still holding on to too many things "just in case" that are cluttering up the works.
I have too much to say, so I want to have a simplicity discussion coffee or dinner date. : ) Like a book club where instead of discussing books we discuss this stuff.
I think this is awesome! And find it interesting that we all seem to gravitate towards simplicity and see the benefits of it even while living very different lifestyles at varying life stages. Living in NYC, you're kind of forced to live simply (in a lot of ways...others are more challenging there). I LOVED this. I'm not gonna lie...I still love to shop (although, not so much for clothes as gift stores or kitchen stores). But, I've learned that I like to shop and not buy things more than adding more stuff to my life that I really don't need. I can appreciate pretty things, but also have become much better at determining what I really need (or in some cases, just really, really want) and what's just "extra".
On a side note, there is a book called 5 Love Languages that I read years ago and would highly, highly recommend. I think it would be especially interesting as a wife and mother, but I think you can apply the love languages to any relationship (like learning how to love my sister better). (P.S. I know the author has come out with a lot of other books & resources related to his original book. Kind of the opposite of simplicity. And I cannot vouch for any of the other stuff...just the good old original book.)
Agreed. The closets, the kids' play spaces, the ridiculous inventory of "products" that never get used, the pantry... Thank goodness for Goodwill and other places that take these things because they also help reduce the guilt associated with waste. You can feel even better about getting rid of it! It's probably time for me to reinventory the closets, now that you mention it. Thanks for reminding me!
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