Photo courtesy of Benjamin.
Time and time again I have culled through our possessions. Each time it got a little easier to let things go. It’s like ripples in a pond created by a tossed stone. The items far away from me (the outer rings) were easier to let go because there was less emotional attachment. But the closer I got to the inner rings of possessions, the ones closer to my heart, the more difficult it became. Thankfully, with practice, I kept getting better at letting things go. Even though I kept getting closer to my heart with each examination of our things, I was growing into the ability to make those decisions with each small step.
That’s why it took us 7 years to get to where we are today. I took the slow route. Any other route would have been way outside of my comfort zone and not at all in accordance with my nature. Taking it at this slow and deliberate pace is what allowed me to succeed. The thing that I love about simple, intentional living [aka: minimalism] is that it’s not about the number of things we own, or even what we own. It’s also not about the pace at which we progress. Some cull their possessions seemingly overnight. Others, like me, take years. Regardless, it works... because it’s not actually about the items at all.
This lifestyle is about mindful, purposeful living, questioning the status quo, and knowing ourselves. It’s the heart-work, the changes that happen inside of us by engaging in these practices (and it does take practice) that makes the difference. In doing so, we remove the non-essential and replace it with the essential. It looks different for everyone. For me, the non-essential includes any item that I don’t use regularly or really love. It also includes a lot of media: like an excess of television, movies or internet. The essential includes enough personal time to pursue health and hobbies like reading and writing as well as enough relational time to connect with those I treasure most.
In the end, what matters is that we begin. The first step towards a fullness of life outside of the work-consume cycle of the American Dream may be big or it may be small, but what counts is the movement. By initiating the movement, the momentum and rhythm will come. And with practice, each step becomes easier as the heart fills with excitement and hope.
