Each person’s goal when it come to minimalism is very individual. I, for one, cannot ever see myself living with only 100 things as some minimalists suggest. In fact at this point in my journey I have no idea how many more items will leave my home before I am satisfied with the end result. It may be that as time goes by my embrace on this lifestyle could strengthen and I may detach myself from even more of my belongings than I ever considered when I started. Who knows?
Being comfortable in the here and now with what is too many and what is too few is all I concern myself with. I want to keep working on weeding out the things in the too many category while not getting carried away and ending up with too few for my needs.
Find you own balance
Just as we may have ended up with too much stuff while trying to keep up with the “Have all” Joneses. We could now take it to the opposite extreme by trying to outdo the minimalist Joneses. My advice is to gather all the wisdom you can from all the sources you subscribe to on the subject of minimalism, simplicity and decluttering but keep true to yourself. Don’t look at it as some kind of competition or feel obliged to get rid of your treasured possessions. Just learn as you go and evolve naturally to the level you are comfortable with. No one is keeping score.
Item 327 of 365 less things
“If in doubt read the instructions” is not so smart. Had I noticed the sticker that said wind up every 3 month maybe the batteries would not have died and these would still be usable. Lesson learned.
5 Things I am grateful for today
- Artistic ability – Even if I am not using it much lately.
- I think I have found a good dentist – It only took me three years. The last one we used looked more like a dental museum.
- Being financially secure – That is even more important in times of crisis.
- Chicken – How many ways can you cook chicken? Tonight we are having roast chicken and veggies. Mmm mmm? Liam however is having pureed veggies and gravy. Not so mmmmm.
- A nice message from a precious friend
willow says
I love to move to new places except that I have to find a new dr and new dentist. I’m glad you finally found one you’re pleased with.
The short essay is right on. ‘Enough’ is a very personal term. We’re not in this as a competition; we’re looking for comfortable.
Colleen says
Hi Willow,
I like to move to new places I just don’t like the moving part and all the getting set up once you get there but I like the variety of living in different places.
Cathryn says
Balance is a good way to think about clutter. When I get to the one in one out stage in my life I think I will know I have achieved balance. at the moment I am trying one in two out….so far so good!
Colleen says
Hi Cathryn,
I am not sure what my ratio is at the moment but I do know that when something does come in that isn’t consumable then something goes out in it’s place. There isn’t a whole lot coming in though but there is still something going out every day.
Isabella says
I have been trying to keep to the one in, one out rule (in addition to decluttering), but I like your idea of a one in, two out rule. Its decluttering without trying.
Cindy says
I like this one. I was telling my Mom about the 100 things folks the other day, and we were mystified. In my kitchen, I counted 30 things that I could see, are durable, and that I would not get rid of. My list included 2 plates, 2 forks, 1 knife, salt and pepper shakers, the fruit bowl, the butter dish, my laptop, the power cord, my coffee maker, the toaster oven, etc. That covered only a portion of my kitchen goods. How could I possibly reduce to 100?
Colleen says
Hi Cindy,
my point exactly. I think you would have to eat out for every meal or eat raw with your hands. And that is just taking the kitchen into account.
willow says
People who are counting 100 items usually don’t include possessions that they own ‘with another person’, such as kitchen items and sometimes furniture if other people use them.
Jo says
Or they will count “dishes” as one thing, etc.
Colleen says
Hi Jo,
that is possibly how they count -1 set of crockery, 1 set of cutlery etc. I really don’t care because either way as it isn’t a goal I am going to set for myself. I am happy doing what I am doing and will set my own limits.
Colleen says
Hi Willow,
I did wonder about that because 100 is a very small number indeed if it actually included everything.
Ginger says
Good post! Drawing the line of where to stop decluttering is one of the hardests things to determine. I certainly can’t follow the “100 things” suggestion either. I think my wardrobe alone breaks that limit! Instead I just make sure that the items have a purpose to me. If I use it often or if it’s worthy of my sentimental box, it is usually deemed a keeper. Otherwise-out the door it goes! I just can’t put a number on stuff.
Colleen says
Hi Ginger,
all I know is that I now have a whole lot less stuff than before and I am pretty happy with that. You seem to have a good handle on what is important to you too and that is good. We can both say “I did it my way”.
Jo says
Wonderful explanation of this concept – which is easy to miss when you are gung-ho and starting out on the journey.
Colleen, in all likelihood you know this already, but you can puree meat as well as veggies, just add broth or gravy to allow the blender to work without straining. You can flavour it just as you would whole meat slices, so it will taste similar to what your son would eat with a healthy jaw. Maybe there is some other reason, though, that he’s not allowed meat? Sorry if this is redundant info. The protein will help him feel more satisfied on a pureed diet.
Colleen says
Hi Jo,
thanks for the meat tips but he is a vegetarian which drives me nuts but we thought it best to honour his convictions even when he didn’t know what we were feeding him. I have been getting as much dairy and eggs into him as possible to get the protein needed to fix those neuron connectors in his brain. I wish he would eat meat again just because he could do with the nutrients in it right now. Mind you whatever nutrients he was getting before must have been good for him considering how well he has healed so far.
Jessiejack says
can you do peanut butter? great protein and some fat
Colleen says
Hi Jessiejack,
He has never really eaten peanut butter before oddly enough considering he grew up in America. He does eat peanuts though so I will have to ask him although aside from just eating it off a spoon I am not sure what he would have it with because he can’t eat bread.
Jo says
Ah, yes, my daughter is vegan so I understand a little about the restrictions. You’re right though, he must have been very healthy on that diet to begin with, to heal so well.
Cindy says
Year and years ago, a friend broke his jaw. I remember him getting desperate and pureeing a lasagna. Sounds awful, doesn’t it, but he was so pleased.
Jo says
If it has to be pureed, then the flavour really really counts, doesn’t it!
Colleen says
Hi Cindy,
in hospital he only got two things over and over again. Since he has been home I have given him something different every day. He has had things like Red Chicken curry with rice (minus the chicken), thick minestrone and last night we had Mexican chilli beans pasta with guacamole and sour cream on the side. Anything that is cooked with meat he will eat the sauce but not the meat itself mostly as a concession to me but it does make things easier.
Colleen says
Hi Cindy,
in hospital he was given two things over and over again which was boring and a pretty pathetic effort if you ask me. He has been home for six days now and has had something different every day. Things like curry and rice, thick minestrone soup and last night we had Mexican chilli bean pasta with guacamole and sour cream on the side. He will eat things cooked with meat like currys, stews and gravy but he only eats the sauce and not the meat a concession to make my life a little complicated but it does help.