Monday, July 21, 2014

The Minimalist Game

This is where I'm at today.  It's come a long way from a few moths back and I realize that it's really not that horrendous for the American standard of living.






 But what is all this crap?
Of course, I know what it all is. I can even tell you exactly where I picked it up, how little I paid, the conversation I had with the person involved in the transaction, etc etc.....
But like what does all this crap mean to me?
That's where I'm at.
And I'm finding it means a little too much.
 So I've joined Mason and Brian in a month long endeavor called
"The Minimalist Game".
On the first day you get rid of one thing, the second day two things, third day three things and so on and so on. My first item was perfect in this practice of "loosening" the grip we have on stuff.
My friend asked me if I had any vintage shirts I didn't want and I went to my closet and gave her one I am extremely attached to. So much that I won't even wear it and it more honor than any scrap of material has any right to. I gave that shirt more consideration than I do people's feelings and needs sometimes. That sounds a little dramatic but that is the honest truth.
 And ironically,
the shirt I thought I treasured so much has never shined more brighter ;)
 

10 comments:

  1. The messy parts of your home seem to look like the cleaner parts of mine.The idea of that game scares me.

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    1. Hi there :) I hear that, I really do. It's kinda scary to me also, to part with things I've let myself become so attached to. I didn't realize it's grip until I started to set it down, ya know? I'll go check out your blog now because I'm intrigued to see those messy spots ;) I love an open book and transparency. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Wow, you are doing amazing! I can't believe you reached for a highly prized possession as your first item! On day one I gave away an item that I had no attachment to. On day 2 I decided to get rid of a more sentimental item from my childhood. It looks like absolute garbage but I hung onto it all these years!

    I have inherited the collecting and hoarding bug from my folks, but I've always had an interest in minimalism. I hope to strike a perfect balance between the 2 extremes. This will quite an adventure. By the end of the last day I think I will feel much lighter. Let's keep that momentum! :)

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    1. Hello, brother :) This game was in perfect timing, you just have no idea! There is also generational hoarding in my family. I declare deliverance!

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  3. You are so endearing in your honesty! I love how you are being stretched by God and are sharing the journey with us. :)

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    1. Love me some Brandy! Let's kill our issues together. We're Bill and Ted......

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  4. Its hard to let go of items that have sentimental value, and its a constant struggle for me to make the decision to let something go. Ed and I do a monthly donation to Goodwill in order to purge the stuff we have. He prefers a minimalist look in our home and I'm a reformed hoarder who sometimes slips up. Our home is definitely looking a lot less cluttered, but its a work in progress.

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  5. i think i need to do this too. it is so hard! i have a front room full of stuff in boxes that i never even look at but can't bring myself to just let them go to the dump without going through each one.

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  6. Your whole minimalist game is awesome and makes me want to do the same. Over the last year, I've unloaded a lot of stuff and it's pretty freeing! Addictively so.

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