starting easy
this past weekend, burlington, vermont (where i live) held its 20th annual marathon. i think it is timely that the marathon was beginning just as we were beginning our marathon of becoming minimalist. living as a minimalist is a lifestyle (i don’t argue with that), but the process of decluttering our home and reprogramming our minds is definitely a marathon. i can picture regret at the end if the journey is a sprint – just going room by room and throwing everything away – that would be foolishness.
i have a good friend who is trying to get out of debt. he was given some interesting advice by his counselor. his counselor didn’t tell him to “pay off the highest percentage loans right away,” instead he told him “to pay off the smallest debts first.” i thought that was a bit odd until my friend told me the rationale. paying off the smallest debts first results in victory – one less monthly payment. even though it wasn’t the biggest burden, it is still one less burden – one victory. and victory breeds more victory.
with that in mind, my wife have begun our marathon. we specifically chose not to start with the biggest burdens (basement, kitchen, toy room, we decided to start simple and gain some quick victories. after one weekend, here is what we have done so far: minimalized a bathroom cabinet, minimalized a desk, starting selling items on ebay, began organizing for a garage sale, removed a few hangings on my son’s room that needed to go anyway, cleaned out the refrigerator magnets, and minimalized one-half of the living room (yeah, one-half). even though the victories are small, every time i open the bathroom cabinet or look at the fridge, i am reminded that this is something that we really want to do.
victory breeds victory. but right now, i’m going to watch the laker’s game.
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This is all very inspiring…I found your site through Organizing Your Way. I’ve been on a “kick” to declutter, simplify, etc. and I’m finding new inspiration in your ideas. It’s even better that you live in Essex, VT….we lived in VT (Williston and Richmond) for 5 years and miss it terribly!
Since leaving Vermont a little over 2 years ago, we have moved twice and are now preparing to move a third time. With every move I purge more and more stuff, but I still feel overwhelmed.
I will start small, as this post suggests, and I’ll keep at it!
Thanks…
I really want to become a minimalist! I have done a little in the past, but I never have called myself a minimalist. It was so much easier when we lived in a 700 square foot house! We now live in a 2000 square foot house. We are about to split it into a duplex and I am strangely (in this day and age) relieved to have less room! I just started reading your blog and am reading from oldest to newest posts. Wish me luck, I just started on the kitchen drawers!