Just be.

So taking this on is a big deal for me. With living in a house of three with one on the way, I really have to prioritize. I have to think about the other people I live with, which makes the task even more daunting. First is respecting the others peoples way of living. I choose to be a minimalist, so therefore, just the things that are titled mine, and that I use (like kitchen things) will be on my main list of de-clutter. Of course there are plenty of toys that need decluttering, but I have to go about it the right way. Letting her let go of it, and for a 3 year old can be very traumatizing. All these kids have ever known is stuff and how to treat it good, and not to ruin it or it will be thrown away. I see my daughter becoming attached to things that I would not expect, like a sticker, or even a little magazine she found. So as you can see, having kids who are acustomed to things and stuff, and being sentimentally attached to them, adds on a big factor!!!

So my head was spinning all day, all I could feel all day was how much I want to change our lifestyle, and how much stuff was just there that didn't need to be. And kinda wishing I had a car, so I could load it up without having to put that task on my husband!!

So my first lesson in becoming minimalist was to just be. Why? You may ask.

The answer is this. You have to learn to just be with what you have. Yes you know a lot needs to go, but you can't let it overwhelm you. So today after much thought, tears and fustration, I was able to just be. Without feeling like I needed to run away.

To just be is something that deems difficult, as in the world today we are all taught to go go go. We have been taught that by not being on the go means that we aren't being productive with our lives. But really "going" to much is hindering us. We never give ourselves time to just be. When we just be, our thoughts help us sort things out, they help us unwind and de stress. Also to give our body a break without being in bed. This is also not an easy task, the de programming we have to endure is hard for us. So give it a try, just sit there, don't think about what needs to be done or what you "should" be doing. Just relish the moment. It might help to sip on a cup of tea, and look at the snow falling, or whatever is just there.

Next lesson: Stop buying, and stop recieving.

Where my inspiration came from...

Here are the places of which my inspiration has come from. I feel it is important to share my list with all of you, so that they may inspire you too!

farbeyondthestars.com
theminimalists.com
zenhabits.net
mnmlist.com
minimalistmoms.com
theminimalistmom.com
missminimalist.com

A big thank you to all these writers who have shown me that we can change our lives and that we are not stuck where we are!

Where I belive it all began.

I have often thought back in my life to when I was the happiest. I have tried to figure out what it was that made me so enlightened. I have been thinking about all this for several years, with no conclusion, nothing but a dead end. So recently with reading so many different things about minimalism, and also wanting to have that sort of life for my family, I realized what it was about that part of my life that was so exilerating.

At that time, all of our stuff was packed away, except that of what we would need. Clothes mostly. I was living with my boyfriend and I kept my little amount of things in his bottom dresser drawer. I had a few things in my car mostly books.  I was so happy, just to be. I took yoga, and worked and then spend lots of time with people that I enjoyed.

Thats what it all came down to. STUFF. And only till now have I realized that, that is, what it was!!!

Now that I have figured this out I can strive for that free feeling lifestyle again.

So as a conclusion for my first blog about minimalism:

We really don't need all the material possesions that we have!