Why this baby boomer is going minimal.

Photo by Louis

What minimalism is really all about is reassessment of your priorities so that you can strip away the excess stuff- the possessions and ideas and relationships and activities that don’t bring value to your life. – Colin Wright

Over the past several years, I’ve been slowly getting rid of excess stuff and clearing off counters.  I’ve never been a fan of clutter, but this new found love of clear spaces has been life changing.

I did another de-clutter over the long weekend.  It’s been easier knowing I could actually sell some of the stuff.  There is always that guilt when you know you’ve spent good money on an item you are de-cluttering.  However, after playing the minimalism ‘game’ twice this year, it’s getting a bit harder to find things to get rid of and I’m finally getting to that place of enough.

However, as Colin Wright points out, minimalism is much more than just de-cluttering stuff.  It’s about keeping those things, experiences, and people in your life that add value.

Photo by Asad Photo Maldives

As a late baby boomer, I’ve experienced the height of consumerism both in 80’s and 90’s.  I spent more time and money on buying bigger and better everything. And I had the credit card debt and loans to prove it.  It had locked us in to the 9-5, leaving no choice to do anything else.

It’s taken me a couple of decades to figure out that having bigger and better doesn’t equate to happiness.  Besides stuff, I’ve been able to let go of toxic relationships, activities that do not bring joy and the fear of missing out. (FOMO, yes, it’s a thing).  What I’ve come to realize is that the time and experiences spent with the ones I love bring me the most joy.

And, as I say goodbye to my excess stuff, I realize that the only regret I have is that it has taken me this long to realize that less really is more.