Hiya guys!

Just want to start off by saying how awesome you are. I do not take your time or attention lightly and only want to show up in your inbox when I have something I think will benefit you.

Today I want to jump into Minimalism.

A few years ago my college friend, Barbara, introduced to minimalism.

“Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps people question what things add value to their lives. By clearing the clutter from life’s path, we can all make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.” – The Minimalists

In a nutshell, it means – have less stuff, and make sure the stuff you have brings you joy.

I don’t know about you, but when my physical space is clean and decluttered, I do my best work. It’s like my brain and eyes can slow down and focus on what’s important.

Pretty simple, right? Yes, it is!

Each of us have a hot button issue that we run to when we have discomfort inside. Some of us drink, some of us have sex, some of us go on social media binges, and some of us shop. But most of us engage a little bit in each vice. EEEEKKKKKK.

For some reason when I get stressed, I head straight to Amazon and buy things. Usually, it’s just extra stuff I could do without – but it’s always a waste of money and inevitably, the things I buy PILE UP.

And what happens then? We have to organize it. And then we are buying ways to organize the stuff we don’t really want or need. This could be as innocent as a storage bin and as insane as a storage unit! Did you know that storage units are a $38 Billion dollar business? That is how much stuff we have that we don’t even use!

Over time we can let things pile up. Old cards, photos, clothes, towels, ratty bed sheets --- so many things! And we keep them around because, “we paid good money for it,” or because, “maybe one day we’ll need it,” or because, “we are going to fit into it again one day!” And as the excuses pile up, so do the things.

And then one day we wake up with 7 pairs of black tights because we didn’t even know we had 6 pairs stuffed in a cubby in the closet.

So as I started to read more about Minimalism, I started to look at my STUFF with a different eye. Why was I holding onto certain things? Why did I need to hold onto ALL of my dingy towels? Why was I holding onto suits I hadn’t worn in more than 5 years? And as I started to question WHY I started to realize all the emotional attachments (some good, some bad.)

And slowly, I started to release.

Room by room, drawer by drawer – I donated, gave away or trashed things. The donated and giving away feels amazing, I highly recommend it. There are so many worthy organizations in your town that would LOVE to have extra school supplies, gently used toys, gently used clothing, and even decorations!

Moving to Panama provided me with a special opportunity to be extra intentional about what I brought.

And now I try to keep our space as decluttered as possible.

Here are the benefits of minimalism as I see them:

I have more time, because I don’t have to organize/find/maintain/pay for a STUFF.
I have a cleaner house. Everything has a ‘place.’ No weird stuff in weird corners.
My eyes can rest.
I spend less because before I buy something I ask myself, do I really need this? Will this bring me joy?
I use ALL of what I have – shoes, shorts, everything gets used multiple times per week.
I have more empty space in my house (no closets full of stuff.)
A lot of what we own is multi-purpose. (Last night we had friends over and I used a plastic jar as a flower vase – but before – I would have bought a vase.)
Almost (not quite) everything I own means something to me and brings me joy. Pens, notebooks, caps, coffee mugs – all elicit a good feeling.
I spend less time shopping at stores because I know I’m not going to bring anything home with me. I still shop but now I shop consciously.
I don’t have ONE thing in my house that brings up a bad memory, trauma, regret – and that is so peaceful.
I have also learned that my worthy isn’t tied up in my possessions. Cars, art, furniture, clothes, handbags, name brand things – none of those things make me better. Fully practicing this is so freeing.

If you’ve got a lot of things in your house or your office and you’re ready to lean into minimalism here are some tips.

Be easy on yourself. This is a process, releasing of things will take time because you are releasing emotions along with it.
This can be adopted as a way of life, not just a quick fix.
Start small.
Start with one drawer and then progress to bigger parts of your home/office.
You will probably run into feelings of guilt for having things that you don’t use. That’s normal. Be grateful for such fortune and give it away or donate it. Then steamroll that guilt. When you know better, you do better. Let’s move on in grace.

Some resources that have been helpful to me are: The Minimalists , The Minimalist Documentary, Emily Ley

Our homes, bedrooms, bathrooms – our surroundings matter. You deserve a space where you feel peaceful and joyful. This isn't about redesigning your space. It’s about removing the things you don’t want so you can enjoy the things you do want.

I’d love to hear how you’re doing with this! Feel free to email me or send photos. Here’s to feeling joyful from the inside out.