I am making an effort to have less clutter, less material possessions, and just less 'stuff' in general. Although, I am grateful for the blessings and abundance that surrounds me, my goal is to make better choices about what I bring into my home and life. My hope is that by having LESS, I can cherish what I have and have my day-to-day routine be a bit simpler.
Last year I began the process of being aware of what I was purchasing. I would judge my emotional response to an item, and I only let myself buy or collect clothing and things that "I love", based on the advice of Tim Gunn, (someone of whom I admire and share a birthday). Tim encourages people to judge a purchase on whether it 'stirs the soul'. I decided that things had to be either functional or something I could rank high enough to fall under the category of 'soul stirring'. Over time, I had only the things around me that really meant something to me.
Now, I am taking it a step further, and I am trying to be aware and recognize the excesses all around me. I reached a point and said 'enough is enough'. I am currently trying to pare down the extraneous 'stuff' and make living with LESS attainable.
To me, living with less means:
Fewer clothes in my closet
Fewer household products
Fewer processed food in my pantry
Fewer boxes in my basement
This is a challenge to me. Especially since the clothes and things around me have all passed the rank of 'soul stirring'. But if I look at objects objectively, I can admit there are things I could deem unnecessary. It is true I may 'love' it, but do I 'need' it'? I decided I needed to change how I think about it.
Jennifer L Scott, the author of Lessons from Madame Chic - 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris, explains it well when she described her 'tipping point' (More on how her words inspire and support my goal in a later post). I reached my tipping point, and am doing something about it! Thank you, Jennifer.
It may be difficult, and I may backslide, but it is a journey. I am determined to make progress. If you feel so inspired, join me in the process to make LESS work!
Last year I began the process of being aware of what I was purchasing. I would judge my emotional response to an item, and I only let myself buy or collect clothing and things that "I love", based on the advice of Tim Gunn, (someone of whom I admire and share a birthday). Tim encourages people to judge a purchase on whether it 'stirs the soul'. I decided that things had to be either functional or something I could rank high enough to fall under the category of 'soul stirring'. Over time, I had only the things around me that really meant something to me.
Now, I am taking it a step further, and I am trying to be aware and recognize the excesses all around me. I reached a point and said 'enough is enough'. I am currently trying to pare down the extraneous 'stuff' and make living with LESS attainable.
To me, living with less means:
Fewer clothes in my closet
Fewer household products
Fewer processed food in my pantry
Fewer boxes in my basement
This is a challenge to me. Especially since the clothes and things around me have all passed the rank of 'soul stirring'. But if I look at objects objectively, I can admit there are things I could deem unnecessary. It is true I may 'love' it, but do I 'need' it'? I decided I needed to change how I think about it.
Jennifer L Scott, the author of Lessons from Madame Chic - 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris, explains it well when she described her 'tipping point' (More on how her words inspire and support my goal in a later post). I reached my tipping point, and am doing something about it! Thank you, Jennifer.
It may be difficult, and I may backslide, but it is a journey. I am determined to make progress. If you feel so inspired, join me in the process to make LESS work!
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