I really admire the minimalistic lifestyle. I’m drawn to it. I think there is so much beauty in the simplistic. But in my life, minimal is not a common way of life. When traveling for long bouts of time and coming back to a “reality” again, I often times have the opportunity to start fresh. I have far less clothes, I have far less furniture(if any at all) and everything still looks clean and uncluttered. I may have a random keepsake here and there but it’s minimal, it’s peaceful, it’s calm. This is my favorite feeling. Fast forward to 6 months and I have tripled my furniture, pictures on walls, vintage vases, and the list goes on. I seem to always find myself back to where I was. In the "More" zone.
Currently, my husband and I are at opposite ends. He would tell you otherwise, but he is in the "more" phase. I think because he has lived the minimalist lifestyle for so long and he's finally at a place to be standing still. Marriage does that to you. He now wants more. He has actually started hoarding furniture. He comes home with something he's stumbled upon and I have to look at him and tell him, "put it back where you found it." It actually stresses me out a bit. We don't have a lot of space to be adding non-functional furniture pieces or random lamps that aren't anything i'd ever have dreamed of having in my dream home.
Then there is my mother. My mother (out of the goodness of her heart) sends us care packages. She usually sends us one-two a month. They are filled with randoms she finds from goodwill. My mom is a goodwill master. But sometimes it's too much. After her boxes, i end up having to buy more hangers or clear our drawers to store what she's send. We only have so much space and in the back of my mind, I keep thinking that it's going to be a pain to move. Moving is something we'd like to do sooner rather than later. The more stresses me out. Especially during the holiday season.
I remember working retail around this time and the goal was to sell as much as possible. The other goal was for me to not purchase anything. Then I'd do it anyways. Then the goal was let's see if I can not purchase anything this week or this day. But it never worked. I fall into the trap too. Then I get frustrated from the holiday corporation. That makes us believe that we need to buy more. We need those special edition christmas collection ornaments that looked almost identical from last years collection. What happened to breaking down what it means to be in the holidays. Family traditions. spending time together. being thankful for what we have. knowing that we are not alone and there are thousands of people who have far less than we do. hug your loved ones and send them more blessings this year. not more of something that will be out of season next year.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6