I grew-up wearing the same pair of shoes until I saw a hole on the sole, which I covered inserting a piece of cardboard inside my shoe so that I did not touch the dirt with my toe where the hole in my shoe was. I placed rubber bands under my long school socks so that they did not collapse to my ankles.
As a child, it never occurred to me to count how many items I had or collected. The idea of having a collection of something meant having the money to purchase it and I could not afford the hobbie. Food and shelter were priorities. I knew I had what I had--the basics my mom could afford. My father had died when I was born and my mom was the only one making money.
At home my mom was the only provider for 5 children. This took her to divide food among the 6 of us, most of the time. A habit that I tend to do some times until my husband reminds me that there is no need to do that, there is more than plenty in America. In Mexico, we had the same sofa, kitchen table and most of our furniture since my childhood all the way to college. I slept in the same twin bed since I was a girl to the day I married. I did not see it right or wrong, it was what it was.
I went to school with kids that had money, owned a home, businesses, cars, books, toys, plenty of everything. Although I noticed, it did not bothered me. I had my things, too. I had barbies, dolls, a bike. I was not poor, poor, but in between. Somehow, material belongings were not my focus. I had grandparents, friends, uncles, aunts. I do not know why but for some reason my dream was to go to college not to buy things.
My grandparents never owe a house in spite my grandfather working a lot all the way to the day he died. Unfortunately, he also drank a lot. My maternal grandmother was not supposed to work. She was in charge of the house. She also worked for Avon and at the end of her life, she had her own small candy store and supplied food to blue collar workers. My mom almost finished building a home in a neighborhood we were too scared to live in. She sold it and we kept renting.
In the past few years, I have been hearing about the term minimalistic, living more with less, living a minimalist life, living simply so that others can simply live. It was almost strange to me that people who had the opportunity to buy things and had a lot or more than enough; will give it all up. The very things that many wish to have if only they could afford it.
Some men and woman working in Corporate America decided to reduce their belongings, some of them started challenges of counting their items and living with just 99 items, 45 things, 248 things and focus on doing what they love instead of working for things.
Learning about the minimalists, took me to my childhood and college years. I was a minimalistic by default. I grew-up in what society calls a third world country. Where some people still live in extreme poverty, in cardboard boxes homes. Where people work and work and many still barely have basics.
Things have changed in my life since I came to America 22 years ago. I arrived with a suitcase and now I own things; mostly books, thousands of them. As a child, I could not afford them. Books were for people with extra money and we were not one of them.
Since I became a mom, 15 years ago, I started purchasing books for my son. Although I argue it is one of those healthy addictions. I confess, I feel that I am addicted to books. Books have been a very important part of my life. I wonder what my life would have been if I just checked them out from the library instead of owning them. Now, I carry them wherever I go because I do not own a home yet. I have relocated 17 times, 3 different countries, 3 different states, too many cities and apartments. Every time I move, my books and things go with me and recently I have been pondering more and more about what if I did not posses anything? Certainly it will be easier to move just with a luggage in hand but can I give all things up, especially my dearly treasured books?
Obviously the goal was to have a house so my books will have a permanent home but it has not happened yet and the anxiety gets me when daily I seem to be organizing something. I have more cups and dishes that I need. I wash dishes as if I have a bigger family and it is just the 3 of us. I have counted more than 20 towels, hundreds and hundreds of clothes that I keep donating and somewhat multiply. I counted over 20 pairs of shoes, plus my son owns 15 pairs, my husband owns 10 pairs and I thought we only have 2 feet how can we wear all of them?
Arranging items in the closet, reminded me that I have to stop consuming in order to not have to continue in this loop of buying, donating, organizing. Buying, donating, organizing, repeat task for 22 years! Insane, how did I get here? Does Spark Joy to be constantly organizing, nope. Marie Kondo's words are in my mind asking constantly if what we do or buy sparks joy or not. A very profound way of realizing that if an item or activity we do is not illuminating our lives, it is time to let it go.
For the past 22 years, I have been donating toys, clothes, books and everything in between. I have reduced, reused, recycled. When I was able to afford it, for many years, I have bought organic produce. I buy beauty and household products that will not endangered me or the planet, I am very conscious of my footprint. Still, I consume.
We as family, I thought, have been living a minimalistic life. We own one car which for the past 15 years, we have carpooled everywhere from school to work. We live in a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment. But somehow, I have been feeling overwhelmed by the constant organizing of things, dishes or clothes. Grateful; yes, Infinitely.... daily grateful for the amazing opportunity of having and being able to share. Regardless, something feels off balance.
So the resolution I made for 2022, has made me lighter and happier. The idea of going back to the life of basics I was very familiar with growing up appeals to me. Living with the material we need, and not falling into consumption after reducing my belongings will be ideal. I have been donating books to the library, stuff to the Goodwill, giving away the excess of things I believe will make our life easier in case of moving.
Having time to focus on what we knew matters most is crucial to us. We will be able to spend less time organizing, more time enjoying walks, friends and family, road-trips, reading, having conversations. In all, what we truly love to do as family. In resume, living a life of purpose and meaning.
Is your life overwhelming you with stuff? Is your garage full? Would you like to start giving things away but do not know how? Perhaps one room at the time, a closet at the time, a drawer at the time, eventually living with less stuff will bring the peace of mind that cannot be found in hoarding, collecting, holding on. I ensure you, as per me, I will be sharing with you my journey back to myself, and the lessons that living more with less has thought us.
