Minimizing My Stuff ... How I Send Out the Old, And Say 'No' to the New!

I have been on a minimizing mission for the past few years.

My biggest reason was that  I hate that when something doesn't work exactly how we want it, we just replace it instead of trying to be creative to get what we need or gosh forbid, experience a little discomfort.  

So I set out on the mission to not bring anything new into our house unless it was something to be consumed or something we really, really needed and could not get from being creative with what we already have.  And I set out on a mission to pass a lot of the stuff that we no longer need on to others who do.  Here are some of my tips....

Books

I have stopped buying books unless it is a book that I want to have as a lifetime reference or it is a workbook that I am going to write in.  

I use the online book catalog for our library to order almost any book I like.  So easy!

I let my kids enjoy the Scholastic leaflets that come out at school and circle every book they fancy and then they pick one to buy with their allowance money and I get them the rest from the library.

I use Bookmooch to try to get books I really want to have a paper copy of (like cookbooks).  

I also use Bookmooch to pass on the tons of books we have collected over the years and are never going to glance at again. 

Gifts

I have asked the grandparents to give experiences to the kids instead of stuff.   The kids get to see Broadway shows or go to museums or take a class or even just enjoy a movie.   

My husband and I celebrate Christmas by giving each other a $25 limit.  It is the most fun gift selecting and opening we have ever had!  (Last year I got rainbow striped socks, a rainbow of oil pastels, a plastic bead rainbow wind chime and rainbow colored Oreos!)

Where I can, I try to make gifts instead of buy them.    

Clothes

I still buy plenty of new clothes.  Probably less than the average person but I still enjoy having some new things each season and I feel best when my clothes are in good condition and fit well.

For clothes that are in good condition but just don't fit or feel loved anymore, they go in the hand-me-down bag.  Not only do I hand down the kids clothes, but I have a group of girlfriends who I pass around a bag of hand-me-downs with.  I have gotten some really beautiful stuff that way!  

I have also been doing quite a bit of refashioning to give a second life to things that don't make me feel quite so wonderful anymore or for things that my kids have outgrown.  

And for items that are in bad shape, they go into my fabric bin.

Toys, Games and Household Items

I have been selling tons of stuff we no longer use on eBay.  It is really easy once you get the hang of it and it makes me really happy to know that someone is using the stuff I no longer need.

I have to say that I am a much happier person when I have less stuff and I love that I am teaching my kids that there are far better ways to get what you want or need than handing over your credit card!

To Be Said Often .... Words to Bring More Peace to Your Journey

TO BE SAID OFTEN …..

“Every moment is perfect.” …. Set the intention but let go of control of the path.

“Choose love, not fear” … Choose the path of love not fear.  

“How can I make this moment better?”  …… My job is to create more joy and positive energy.  Give more, love more.

“    “ ….. Listen from your soul instead of speaking from your ego.  

“What is my intention?”   … Do not speak or act  to achieve a particular outcome, but instead to learn or create or respond.

“Let me think about that.” ….  React with forgiveness, peace, love and understanding.

“I am grateful.” …. Especially for the people who are part of your lessons.

It All Comes Down to Being the Most Loving You Can Be

I am reading a book right now.  I am not particularly enjoying it but I know I need to finish reading it.  Because even though it is written in a style that I find confusing and hard to follow, I know that there are little bits of information in that that will change my life.

This morning I was thinking about the book and realized that my big take-away has been the idea that the way to find more peace and joy is to be more loving in every moment.  To ask myself "Is this the most loving I can be?"  

Yesterday my daughter had a splinter and after an hour of drama I started to get annoyed.  I was judging her for not being as strong as the other kids.  I was judging her for being so overly dramatic.  Those judgments were not the most loving I could be.  Those judgments were not helping the situation.  Those judgments were in the voice of my mother.  And an old friend.  And a neighbor across the street.  Those judgments were not what I felt in my heart but what I had learned to accept as my own over the years.  

So I stopped judging her and I was the most loving I could be.  I got her through getting the splinter and out and I appreciated that this was very scary for her and I appreciated that this was high on her pain scale.  Then I hugged her and kissed her and got us about our day.  And later on we talked about better ways to handle scary or painful situations.  And I felt great and peaceful and joyful and I bet she did to.

I tried it again this morning without a child raincoat drama and when I wanted a second helping at dinner last night and when a friend asked me to get together and when I was behind a very rude person at the grocery store and when a parent was disregarding all of the rules of the school drop off line.  In every moment I asked myself if I was being the most loving I could be.  

If my answer was "no" then I thought about what I was judging.  I thought about the fact that every moment is perfect and therefore deserves all of my love.  And those moments that feel uncomfortable are still perfect and are holding a lesson for me to help me let go of my judgments and fill that space with love instead.  

I hope this is something I can incorporate into my life in each in every perfect moment.