Can life with less be more?

January 9, 2013

Can life with less be more?

Gazing at all my stuff, I can’t recall what I was thinking when I bought it all. I certainly would be well-to-do if I hadn’t.

At the moment, purging the things I haven’t used in ages (if at all) is relatively simple. I feel like I am seeing belongings for the first time in ages. They have just been THERE for so long. Like a picture you’ve had on a wall for years that you don’t pay any attention to.

It will get more difficult when I get to the clothes and books. Probably the office supplies, too. I could open up a small school…

The weird thing about it is that I don’t need to do this downsizing! I am not in financial difficulty, not confronted with daily inner turmoil, haven’t experienced a personal crisis. I just started noticing the stuff in my apartment and basement, closing me in. I felt like I couldn’t move with ease. Not as bad as “The Hoarders” but still.

I also thought about dying. But in a crazy way. I don’t want to leave all this stuff for my kids to get rid of. My daughter says not to worry about it. I am not worrying, I am taking action. Big difference.

Wouldn’t it be cool to have a small apartment as a base and live in other countries during the best seasons?! Thailand in December? Bali in January? Alaska or Canada in the summer? New England in October?!

Perhaps being thrifty, if I do it correctly, could be surprisingly liberating, pleasurable as well as rewarding. This might open the gates to happiness lane, who knows.

By downsizing stuff, we learn to upsize our joy.