Minimalism means different things to different people. For some, it is based on what they have or what they want to remove. I have always loved a simple lifestyle, but I had problems navigating my priorities. For me, minimalism helped me to free my mind from unnecessary thoughts.
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I have always worried about everybody but myself. I am the first to jump if my brother is talking in his sleep. I worry myself to death if my mom is sick. I stress myself out if one of my friends is not eating. I worry about everything else and everybody else but myself and my needs. Other people may think that I find happiness in caring for other people, but I was exhausted.
I poured myself into my work, trying to help my family out with bills, whether they asked me or not. I pushed people away a lot and shut down any attempt to be the center stage because I was the first one to be there if anything happened to anybody I cared about. As much as I enjoy being kind, my needs were lacking and I was not truly happy. I needed to be intentional about my happiness to be a better person to other people.
I thought about a personal time-out, but I was inspired by an acquaintance who has now become my friend. I would forever be grateful for my conversation with him on minimalism. He taught me how to navigate my priorities. Here is how my journey started.
One day, I took a walk and I met an acquaintance who is also a minimalist and I decided to sit down with him. That was the first time I came across the word "minimalism." I will never forget what he said to me. He said, "Jay, you have taken the burden of an adult from a young age as you grow, you keep widening the horizon. That is why you don't have a space for 'you'. I also come from a similar background, but I have learned to declutter my mind and free myself from the things that don't matter. I've learned not to do too much and only focus on my best. That is what minimalism stands for."
"Minimalism is not measured by what you have. It is the simple things that make you happy. And I know you like a simple life because you have told me that before."
It's been a minute since someone said something deep to me. So, I went home and thought hard about what he said and I decided something. I had not done anything for me in the last five years.
The next day, I took some money from my savings and got myself a new pair of shoes. I remembered smiling anytime I looked at it, not because it was extravagant or expensive. It was just something that I have done for myself for the first time in five years, instead of worrying about other people.
I called my three closest friends and we just hung out, talked, and licked some ice cream. At that moment, I realized how much my mind was. I was truly happy for the first time in a long time.
I knew I liked the simple things and from that day, I promised myself to always focus on my
happiness and reduce stressing my mind.
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