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Less Truly is More

We've all read articles on the benefits of minimalism or controlling the number of material possessions we own.  Obviously, opinions vary regarding how far to take all of it and which areas of life to apply it to.  I do not claim to be an expert on this topic, but I feel like I'm gaining a better appreciation of living with less.  I will freely admit that there are certain areas in which I tend to accumulate more material goods than others:  clothing, sewing and craft supplies, books, and collectibles.

Since the wedding, J and I have been living in his house, which has considerably less square footage than mine but also has a much cheaper mortgage.  Currently, we are doing some repairs and updates to my house and plan to sell it.  Our intent is to buy land that serves our needs and helps us with our Farm Dream.  Whether or not we buy land with an existing house or build a new home will be determined by what we find, but we cannot really pursue any of that until we sell my house.  Most of my possessions are in storage right now, except for large pieces of furniture still being used for staging purposes.  Sewing and craft supplies are boxed away and not easily accessible.  Home decor and collections, dishes, books... all packed away.  Clothing, shoes and accessories had already been dramatically reduced after my draping, but I still donated more when faced with the reality of packing and moving all of it.

Right now, I have two knitting projects and one cross stitch project available.  I only have two books to read, one I bought at a flea market (and have already finished) and one I borrowed from my dad (the first in a series).  I plan to work my way through the series by borrowing the books from him.

I only have a relatively small amount of clothing from which to choose.  I am working with a pretty limited color palette in my wardrobe right now for maximum versatility.  When I do buy a piece of clothing, I really try to make sure it goes with existing garments.  I am also fortunate that a job change earlier in the year has helped eliminate the need for a lot of "business" work attire.

So, what am I learning from all of this?  I think I expected to feel constrained or lacking in some way.  But, here's the funny thing...  I am developing a greater appreciation for the things I do have available to me at present.  I am more attuned to my likes and needs.  For example, when I find myself passing over one of my few shirts repeatedly in the mornings, it forces me to examine why.  What is it about it that I don't like?  Fit, color, or the fact that it needs to be ironed?  Closet space is at a premium right now, so I don't need something taking up space that isn't serving me well.  Concentrating on a particular color palette really does help make a wardrobe more cohesive.  In addition, having a limited number of pieces encourages creativity when building outfits and helps me hone in on specific pieces that I actually do need.  Having a limited selection of reading and hobby material available forces me to focus in on finishing projects.  Sure, maybe they aren't exactly what I was in the mood to work on at the moment, but they do need to be completed.  And there is a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from completing things.

I am realizing that there was an undercurrent of stress that I had all the time before.  Stress over remodeling projects not started or completed.  The same for knitting and sewing projects, books I hadn't read yet, a closet full of clothing and nothing to wear, etc.  In general, I was doing a great job in overloading myself rather than focusing on completing what I had.  I was overwhelmed in so many areas of my life.  Part of that was trying to keep up with both the housework and yardwork all on my own, but I was exacerbating the problem when I sought out new projects to spend my free time on instead of finishing the ones I had.  Furthermore, I'm realizing that just because I have the ability to do something does not mean I necessarily should take on that task.  Yes, I do know how to refinish furniture, but maybe I would be happier buying a piece already in the finish or condition I like, so that I can spend my free time on another task.  Many pieces of furniture I decided not to keep were "projects."

The reality is that our time is limited and we have to prioritize and guard against things that threaten to steal it away.  Whether it is our clothing, collections, or hobbies, we should not overaccumulate.  We should feel some degree of passion about each thing, and if not, it has no place in our lives.  Life is too short to wear a shirt you hate or work on a hobby project you feel lukewarm about.