By the end of it, I got rid of over 496 things. [No joke!]. Years into calling myself a minimalist, I still find things to de-clutter and I still learn lessons along the way.
I even got paid. I found a $50 gift card, and some free stamps:
An example that represents my whole process:
I have a bag full of “sentimental England stuff” from my first trip to the UK. I was afraid to touch it at first, because it’s “sentimental”, but I realized that a lot of stuff was actually just rubbish:
empty Walkers crisp packets
Caffé Nero napkins and takeaway bags
pamphlets and flyers for events I never attended
A sticker that says “I had a Bodleian tour today”, which is less special after spending hours in that building doing work.
I did keep and equally large pile of stuff that is not rubbish:
my first ever plane ticket to the UK (the only ticket I’m keeping. All the others went in the other pile)
my illustrated map of Oxford
a Creation Theatre pamphlet for the best production of MidsummerI’ve seen
my graduation certificate from Oxford Prep
drawings from my friends
my notebook, handouts, and final project from my Literature and the Fantastic course
That stuff does not deserve to share the same container as the random stuff I recycled. Now it has its own space!
More insights from my MinsGame:
My main takeaway was this: The only thing stopping me from living my ideal, clutter-free life is clutter. And getting rid of it is free.
It isn’t too late to start for April! Find a team, or start your own with the friendly folks at #minsgame on Twitter.
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