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Cleaning Up:  Minimalism  |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
 Posted - May 18 2014 : 1:35:35 PM
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I'm not quite sure where this topic goes, but cleaning seems like it fits, so -- apologies to Mods if this isn't it.
Is anyone else here a minimalist, or consider themselves one? I grew up in a home where some minimalist values were preached, though not always practiced. I wasn't introduced to the term or more purposeful versions of minimalism until 2012.
I wondered if anyone would be willing to share their experiences with minimalism, etc.? DH and I have had some difficulties starting off because we were basically nomads our first year. Not just any nomads -- but nomads who were caught between the frustrations of clutter and the guilt of letting it all go.
For more info on Minimalism and what it is, I recommend visiting http://theminimalists.com. Or you could read more about it on my blog, linked below.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2014 : 06:12:05 AM
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Laura,
I just read a book about minimalist living and have decided to pursue this lifestyle. I started with cleaning out my extra bedroom. (Not done yet) Through this process, I have learned that I have alot of junk that I really don't need. I was able to freecycle six bags of clothing that I no longer wear. I'm talking large garbage bags here.......no one should have that many clothes!
I think the most difficult part of this journey will be getting my hunky hubby to join in the idea. He was raised on a ranch and they are savers!
My perfect world would be a very small house on our ranch. I would rather have the freedom to roam than the strain and obligation of a mortgage.
My two cents.................
Sherone
Farmgirl Sister #1682
My Blog
www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com
My Etsy
www.etsy.com/shop/annapearlsattic
Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way! |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2014 : 08:48:46 AM
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Hi!
I was worried about my hubby, too. We are both from the South where certain cobblers "just don't taste right" if they're not in "Great-Grammy's special pie dish"... And don't tell Auntie that Mama has Great-Grammy's pie dish, or there will be a war, lives will be lost, and even Switzerland will suffer casualties just trying to avoid the mayhem.
Upon deciding to be minimalist, I got on the phone, called hubby (we were in seperate states at the time), and opened with, "Hi, hon! So you know all those clothes of yours I brought with me because you don't need them since you're military? Well, you don't mind if I throw all those out except what I know you like best, right?" He was like, "Uhm...sure? Wait...WHAT?! WHY?! What happened?"
We wanted to do the packing party suggested by The Minimalists (link in original post; they have a minimalism game, too, which is interesting). However, it wasn't very easy to do while we were residing with others. At first that really depressed and frustrated me, so we made a decision. We would gradually get rid of things as we no longer had need of them until we were in our own place, then once we had all our stuff in the home, we would have a packing party with the remainder.
Clothing... I know what that's like. I had maybe 4 large bags, but my bags were the black industrial trashbags. We donated what we could of it. When we started traveling, though, I read this post by Leo and Eva Babauta (http://zenhabits.net/evas-list/). It inspired me to try living with even fewer clothing items. One thing I found that I have a favorite brand / style of t-shirt that is my automatic go-to for daily wear. So most of my shirts are simply different colors of that same shirt. I have a few layering things (seasonal sweaters, a jean jacket, some button-down collared shirts for a nicer look). Everything is mix and match, and I don't have to sacrifice my love of certain colors just to make sure I have a varied wardrobe. Everything fits easily into a duffel bag, along with my favorite bath towel, and other flat items (book, tablet).
I think the most challenging things for me have been frustration and guilt. Frustration with the clutter; guilt over letting it get that bad, giving up things that people took the time and money to give me... etc.
I'll hush now. I love talking about this stuff. Very passionate about it.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland |
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mommatracy
True Blue Farmgirl
490 Posts
Tracy
My. Olive
NC
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2014 : 09:16:55 AM
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I understand. We are getting ready to move from the coast back to our other home, inland, Mt. Olive, NC. I am so overwhelmed it is getting to me. I have 2 buildings out back and a house full of everything. I am editing out furniture that I can't take with me and offering to family as well as lots of other things. Still, so much stuff. I promised myself when we do move I will only keep what we use. It is not easy but in the end it will be liberating. The older I get the less stuff I want around me. Gives me anxiety.
www.cottagebythebay.blogspot.com
~Trust in the Lord...but row away from the rocks~ |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2014 : 5:56:51 PM
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Tracy, have you heard of Tiny Houses? I really want one of my own! Maybe not as teensy as many are, but I'd like it to be one large room, housing a kitchen which would be set off / separated from the living room only by a bar to further counter-space, as well as offer up extra seating, and a dining table. The upstairs would be a bedroom, and there would be a bathroom downstairs as well.
And you're in Mt. Olive? I'm in Hickory -- with no sense of NC direction. I'm still in the, "Oh, you're from NC, TOO?!!" phase.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland |
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jeskawest
Farmgirl in Training
14 Posts
Jessica
Long Beach
California
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2014 : 06:20:44 AM
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I love the idea of minimalism. I constantly struggle with having too much because I get lazy. I got rid of so many clothes when we moved last year and packed up a ton when I got too pregnant to wear them. Now that I'm trying to get back to my pre-baby weight, I find myself buying clothes that fit me in my inbetween stage. I'm just going to have to donate them sooner or later (hopefully sooner!), so why do I even bother?? Ugh. My husband is always pointing out to me how our son has too many toys, and how when we moved into this apartment it was nice and clutter-free, but now clutter is encroaching on us once again. How does this happen??
I definitely plan on checking out the site you linked. A minimalist game sounds like fun. Have you checked out into-mind.com? It's a great place for minimalism in your style, which I am all about. Thanks for starting this topic, I'd love to discuss it more!
Jessica
"Whatever you are, be a good one" - Abraham Lincoln |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2014 : 7:55:46 PM
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I want to be a minimalist but I have to do it slowly! I gave away so much when we moved up=north to our farm and then I gave away a lot that still did not fit into our smaller home and this year I gave away a bunch more since I wanted to put some bunk beds into what was my sewing room. Si I think I might get there eventually!! heee I am going to go to your link and really look into it!!
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett
Beverley with an extra E...
https://sites.google.com/site/bevsdoggies/
http://bevsdoggies.blogspot.com/ |
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LaLa
True Blue Farmgirl
233 Posts
Laura
Hickory
North Carolina
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - May 23 2014 : 8:31:02 PM
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Jessica -- When DH and I moved into our first apartment, we didn't have much. But something about the joining of two families made it seem like we should buy a bunch of stuff. DH comes from a family that, compared to mine, was pretty well off. I came from a background where we lived very comfortably, but didn't have much left over. We tried to live the way we were accustomed to living. It didn't work out. And how does stuff accumulate? Is it similar to dust?? I will definitely check out Into-Mind, thank you for sharing! And we should chat and compare notes sometime. Email me anytime.
Beverley -- We have done things slowly, too. Mostly out of necessity. We've had difficulty getting everything in a large enough space that we could spread out to even have a packing party. Lol.
http://lalauland.tumblr.com
http://lalauland.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter: @lalauland |
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Cleaning Up: Minimalism |
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Minimalism
