I am at the point where I understand the fact that minimalism isn't about deprivation, it's a form of liberation that put you on the path of not just freedom but clarity and a clear sense of purpose. It's not about lacking but choosing contentment and prioritizing what truly matters.
My journey through life has been from less to more and vice-versa. Those experiences left me with a perfect perspective and understanding that has shaped me into who I am today, someone who enjoys simplicity.
Early Life and Clutter
Living with less is an habit I cultivated long ago but somehow, my life do not permit it. Growing up, we had a very small space filled with too many properties, things that were relevant to our daily life and vice versa. I don’t have an authority over those things and it made me uncomfortable in different ways. I wished for a personal room but just had to settle with what have got.
Fast forward to my time in the higher institution when I had a perfect space to my self. It was a room and parlor self contained apartment and everything was beautiful until I started taking my coursemates in.
The bedroom which was the initial place I occupied got filled with excess luggages so I had to move to the living room which was empty compared to bedroom that was furnished by my boss who blessed me with the space. I fixed the living room, got a small bed and made it personal- it was out of bound for everyone and despite the physical emptiness, it was perfect for me.
I went from that to owning more possession which wasn’t something I could do much about since I had to live with family again. Currently, I am back to living with fewer possessions in the size of space I particularly wanted.
Among the guests we had when our baby arrived told me that I didn’t prepare my apartment for more than my family and even if she felt it wasn’t good, I took it as a compliment because that’s what I love, keeping not just my space but everything about me as simple as possible.
The Joy of Chores with Less.
As a man who enjoys doing chores, I find living with fewer possessions very beneficial. I go about my house chores with ease because there isn’t much to do and it’s one of the reasons I clean everyday.
Tending to my space is less stressful and doesn’t take my time at all. This is opposite my story when I had so many possession. My siblings cleaning the house doesn’t meet my requirements so I do a lot of cleaning everyday and it actually affects me later.
I get too tired to carry on with other things and my day automatically becomes less productive but with fewer possessions, I am even happy to clean because it’s not stressful. I even consider it an exercise so it’s cool with me.
Emotional and Practical Rewards.
I am connected to my space and it influences my mood, inspiration and even productivity. Having fewer possessions would automatically be a blessing to me.
Living with less paves the way for freedom and clarity which are two things that shouldn’t be exempted from my daily life. With fewer possessions, I can enjoy freedom as there wouldn’t be too much physical or emotional attachment to items that can force me to hoard and with clarity, my thoughts would be free from clutters just like my space.
Financial Benefits of Simplicity.
I have enjoyed living on a smaller budget with fewer possessions and one typical example is my electricity bill. At my previous place, I spend a lot on electricity despite using a prepaid meter.
At my new space, I spend less and that’s a win for me. The same can be said about the cost of my rent space because since I have fewer possessions, I don’t need a bigger space meaning my rent reduced. I get an automatic reduction in my cost of living which is awesome.
Simplicity comes with great reward and only those who have enjoyed it can tell exactly how it feels. It’s the lifestyle I will always choose over and over because it makes life not just peaceful but beautiful as well. My sense of appreciation for experiences and relationships over materials have mooned effortlessly.
All Image Are Mine.