Slow Down

This story is from zen habits by Leo Babauta. I don't know how it relates to Minimalism exactly...but I like this idea. Thinking about others. Minimising stress and constant hurried-ness, I guess...

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn’t say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, “Do you have a fixed parking space? I’ve noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot.” To which he replied, “Since we’re here early we’ll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don’t you think? Imagine my face.

My Husband does not want me to talk to you!

...is what a friend told me this morning at church!!! HAHAHAHA

Ladies, PLEASE ask your husband's permission first before you throw/recycle/donate anything! I understand that his gross, disgusting, holey shirt back from uni days needs to go (not even worth using as a rag) but still, it's his property! :)

Some tips if you are married to a non-minimalist:

1. Give him a one in one out rule. My wise mother-in-law applies this with boats. My Good Husband has applied this to himself. Now he is donating his spare bike to his dad. And just keeping one. (A very good, expensive, good-looking one).

2. Designate a room/corner/garage where he can keep his mess. I'm not going to bother you there!

3. Kindly offer to declutter for him :)

4. Space is limited. Explain the logic - you can't just keep adding to your socks drawer, the space doesn't magically expand with more purchasing - again Rule #1 applies here. You've got some new socks, throw some old ones out!

5. Give him a limit and ask him to stick to it. He likes jeans? Please keep it to 8 pairs. (Really, 1 is good, but I guess you can't expect him to become a Minimalist overnight). He likes suits? He can probably get by with 6. My husband has a growing t shirt collection. He has about 28. But he only wears his favourite four or five. Now how do I encourage him to ditch the rest?!

6. Practise what you preach - I'm talking to myself here. I can't nag Husband about his clutter if I haven't done anything about my piles of books and papers. Get sorted, Glorya!

Cleaning out your undies drawer

I cleaned out my Bedside table. Boy, it was good!!!!

I threw out all the socks with holes in them. And the too-stretched ones. I threw out all the undies that I no longer wear (uncomfortable, hole-y). Now I only own big, cotton, very attractive, granny undies. 8.

My bedside table is now very Neat and Tidy. It definitely appeals to my slight OCD streak... everything is folded and in their little corner. I love it.

I do however own about 88 hankies. But I think at this stage of my life (little kiddies), I need every single one of them. I tell myself, this is instead of buying boxes of tissues (wasteful and un-green).

So I will make room in my heart to store the 88 hankies for now.

The more you throw out, the easier it gets...

I am finding that it is getting easier to Let Go of Stuff.

The pair of jeans I've been holding on just in case I get down a size...the silk pjs I got for Mother's Day but never wore...

It's hard to throw it out when you start thinking too much about it. I bought those jeans on ebay for $$, the pjs were a present for me...etc etc

I can think up all sorts of reasons why I should hold onto them. But the reality is, if I am not using them, I'm just storing them! And...someone else can use them.

The more I throw out, the easier it gets.

And after a few weeks, I can't remember them or think to miss them! All I'm enjoying now, is the extra clean space in my wardrobe. Clutter free!

You do get better at it - try it, and become ruthless :)

Most Precious Item

Besides grabbing the kids and the cat* if there's a fire in the house, I would grab these: my moleskins.

I have written in these since E was born (five years ago), all the funny things he has said, all the different stages of growing up, all the things we have done together as a Family. I have continued the tradition with M, now two.

These are precious. And what I would save from the fire.

All the other things, I can walk away from. Sure I will miss my shoes...and my books...and my 1950s furniture. But those can be replaced.

This is, I feel, one big benefit of Minimalism: I don't have huge dilemmas about Stuff. I don't feel like I have a big attachment to Things.

This is part of my Christian worldview too - I look forward to a new Heaven and a new earth. I don't want to live for Stuff. And spend time worrying about Stuff.

Jesus says, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

From the book of Matthew. Chapter 6.

*This is assuming Husband is either at work, or can save himself! I would grab him too if I needed to :)

What do I do with the Wedding dress?

Image from firstqueen.net

Do I sell?
Do I donate?
Do I give to a friend getting married?
Do I dye it black and wear it again?
Do I keep for my daughter?

Currently, it's in a box, taking up a huge amount of space in my wardrobe.

Gift Box

I have a gift box up on my wardrobe shelf that houses gifts for most occasions.

A friend I used to meet up one-on-one to read the bible with told me that her mother had a Gift Box and she had got her current wallet from there (She had to put $20 back in). I thought, "WOW! so organised" But now I realise you have No Choice when you have kids, because gone are the days when you just "Pop In" to the shops. This is good in many ways - you don't waste as much money! But it also means you have to be organised because you can't just duck out every time you need a present for an occasion.

When I have the opportunity, I jump on it and spend $$$ to stock up.

While it is not "Minimal" in that there are many things in there...it IS minimal in that it minimises Stress, Time and Hassle! Plus I try stocking up when sales are on.

What's in there:

1. Baby gifts - when people have babies. So there are bonds suits (about 20), plus books & crayons for the older siblings.

2. Lego - about 5 or 6 boxes. This sets up my 5 yr old son for friends' birthday parties for a couple of months.

3. Olive soap - beautiful, soft, non-toxic stuff. You can even wash your hair with it.

4. Books - mostly kids' books.

5. Art prints - from the Art Gallery of NSW. About $30.

6. Jewellery (not re-gifted!) - bangles, necklace, earrings. I recently took one out to keep for myself (oops!)

7. Stuff from the Art Scene in West Ryde - a lovely little art/framing shop with really cool things for kids e.g. fat crayons, vintage paper boats, water paints, colouring in books.
Here's a link to their website: Art Scene

8. Perfume - for men.