How Minimalism Changed My Life
I was first introduced to minimalism by a friend who off-handedly mentioned a documentary she had watched that had inspired her. I watched a small promo clip, and thought it was interesting, but didn’t take it to heart in the moment. I saw Marie Kondo’s decluttering movement take the internet by storm, but the “spark joy” test, and her Pinterest-worthy storage style didn’t really resonate with me. Then, I met someone who was a true minimalist (like only packed a duffel bag every time he moved minimalist), which I could never do, and the concept of minimalism seemed intimidating, unattainable…and somehow, incredibly freeing.
Eventually, after my seasonal closet clear-out one year left me feeling accomplished and happy, as it always did, I decided to learn a bit more about this concept, and finally sat down to watch the documentary Minimalism.
I started to let go of many more things after watching Minimalism -
downsizing from two full-sized bookshelves to one half-sized one
throwing away awful 90s photos that were blurry and cut-off (why did I put those in albums in the first place?!)
getting rid of an entire dresser set full of clothing
I found the experience to be easier than I thought, and also a little addictive! Of course, I got all the benefits of decluttering - more free space in my apartment, an easier time finding and choosing outfits. But more than that, the practice led me to discover an incredibly important truth about myself.
When I looked at what I had held onto, I began to realize that only about 15% of my clothing was used regularly in the life I was living. The rest of the clothing was just wishful thinking - for a life I lived a few weeks out of the year. Clothes that were made for a day at the beach, for dining al fresco, for dancing all night. I was working so hard fifty weeks a year, to use these clothes during two.
This realization ignited something within me to get myself onto a path where the life I was living aligned with the closet I had created.
In August of 2020, I launched my own holistic fitness business,The Notorious ATC, a dream that had been slowly taking shape since January of that year, and one that was accelerated by my layoff during the pandemic. Of course, there were many other factors that enabled me to feel confident launching (discovering the Financial Independence community, being single and knowing no one else was relying on me, the unexpected support of my family and friends). The majority of my work is now virtual, which gives me more location and time freedom to have those beachy days, al fresco dinners, and nights full of dancing when I want them. I’ve been fortunate enough to have found mentors who believe in and support this lifestyle as one of my personal priorities, rather than preaching an all-hustle, all-the-time mindset.
What about all the stuff I chose to remove from my closet? A lot of it found a good home at local donation sites. I also launched a shop on Poshmark, where I can sell clothes and household items that are still in great shape at a fraction of their original price. The money that I earn from this shop is all earmarked for my dream trip to Australia someday soon - another way that choosing to live more minimally is bringing me closer to the life that I want.
I will always be grateful to The Minimalists, and the people who introduced me to this concept, for sparking my desire to live with less, and illuminating a truth about my life that I hadn't been ready to see - or perhaps just didn't have room for - before.
Because of them I’ve been able to let go of the things not meant for me, so that I can create a life that is.
