The Beauty of Simplicity

I have had a realization lately: I have a lot of stuff.

Although Quinton and I have been married less than three years, we have somehow accumulated boxes and boxes of stuff we do not use on a regular basis, if ever.

 With this realization came a second epiphany: I don't have to have a lot of stuff.

I have a neighbor who is really my hero in this regard. She is all about simplicity. Once she mentioned to a group of friends that her dream home is a tiny house...something like 100 sq feet or less. At first, I thought she was crazy. I thought she was joking. In fact, a few weeks later, we were hanging out, and I said something like "I've been looking at those tiny houses you like...they're cute and all, but I don't see where you'd put all your stuff"

She said, "That's the whole idea! You get rid of everything you don't absolutely need. It's called simplicity."

Oh.

Then I started to think: Do I really need everything I have? Everything I hang on to? Everything I want?

What about all those clothes in my drawers and closet that I don't love, and rarely wear, but keep anyway? What about that gift that I never use, that just takes up space? What about the sentimental stuff we all hold on to?

People get attached to stuff. It's like we develop some sort of emotional connection or relationship with an object, and thus cannot imagine life without it.

What if there is something to this whole simplicity thing?

I am not saying you have to live in a tiny home, or sell all your possessions or never keep anything of sentimental value, but I think if we make an effort to 'declutter' our lives, we may be happier and healthier. We'll have more money and thus possibly a happier marriage and family life. We'll have more time to spend doing what matters most, and we'll, obviously, have more space.

There may be more to this simplicity thing too.

In the New Testament, a young rich man approaches Jesus Christ, and asks him what he can do to inherit eternal life. Christ lists the commandments, and he explains he has kept them all his life. Christ then asks him to do something tougher. He asks him to simplify and refocus. He says: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matthew 19:21 KJV)

Unfortunately for this young man this was too hard. He "went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions" (verse 22)

I don't want to be like that young man. I wonder what incredible, life changing experiences he could have had if he was only willing to forsake his worldly "stuff".  Does our stuff hold us back? What opportunities are we missing? Who could we become if we weren't so focused on what we don't have, but think we need?

I have decided to simplify. To declutter and to refocus.

Here are somethings I am committing to do:
-Get rid of everything I don't need (or really, really want..I'm keeping my mac, running shoes, favorite jewelry..etc)
-Don't buy what I don't need or what I won't use
-Make more of an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle.
-Only buy gifts for Quinton and Max they really need or want and will use, or put the money we would have spent on gifts towards a family trip or special outing (and encourage those who give me gifts to do the same for me). SO much money is spent on birthdays and holidays. Imagine if you cut your holiday budget in, say, half and then spend a weekend at the beach with your family?

It's all just stuff anyway, right?