Growing up- I was the opposite of a minimalist. Going shopping every week with my mom was our bonding time, and I was convinced that I needed to have a new set of outfits to wear to school all the time.
In 2015 I was kind of forced to try out living a more minimal lifestyle when an ex boyfriend literally threw all of my belongings on the side of the road. I gathered some of my stuff, but the majority of possessions I owned were lost - I didn't have any way to collect it, and honestly didn't have any will to try. After that, I sort of reverted to my old ways, meaning, I spent a lot of money on things just to have them. Going out that weekend? Definitely need to buy a new top, and necklace, and shoes. Have a trip coming up? Really need to get new clothes for that too. I realize now, looking back, that any time I've been overly indulgent in my pursuit of acquiring new items, it has been for deeper issues. What I've learned is that things do not fill a void within.
Fast forward to 2016 and spending a ton of time reading about things like creating a 'capsule wardrobe' and 'decision fatigue.' What I realized is having a surplus of things brought me down. When I really evaluated, I wear the same colors day after day. Regardless of seasonality, you can catch me in black, white, army green, burgundy and navy. That's it, those are my colors. So why would I hang on to a bright yellow flowy 'going out' top? (That always sticks out to me because I do not wear bright colors and have no idea why I held onto that top for so long!)
I began by taking everything I couldn't see myself wearing in the next 3 months and putting it into a plastic storage bin. If I particularly missed an item, I took it out and added it back to my regular closet. If not, after 3 months, those items got donated. I did this again, realizing that I had been too prudent in my first go round, this time eliminating more.
Moving at the beginning of the year was the cherry on top of this quest to become more minimal- as I took this newfound empowerment and applied it to all other areas of my belongings- cosmetics, kitchen supplies, nik naks, etc. So many of us fall into the trap of hoarding items that no longer serve us, they just simply sit there and occupy our space. Getting rid of these types of items is such a great exercise in realizing what is important, and what you actually use and brings you benefit.
I could probably eliminate another 25% of my items, but I am pleased to say the number of things I own is very lean. What I do have, I am fully aware of and for the most part, am fully using. Having less in my space has reminded me that items do not define who I am.