I’ve always had an appreciation for beautiful things—who doesn’t, right? I was once the girl with a closet overflowing with handbags and a wardrobe full of clothes that I rarely wore. Many items hung unused for months, still sporting their price tags, either because they were impulse buys or simply the wrong color. Over time, I found myself accumulating items that served no purpose.
My enthusiasm for aesthetically pleasing items extended beyond clothing. I filled my home with throw pillows, decorative office supplies, stylish area rugs—if I liked it and could afford it, it found a place in my home, regardless of necessity.
While having a collection of items isn’t inherently negative, for me, it became overwhelming. Clutter triggered my anxiety; a messy space felt suffocating. Initially, I was able to keep my space organized as a single individual, but after marrying my husband, who brought his own belongings, our combined possessions quickly multiplied. Adding children to the mix resulted in an avalanche of toys and items that exceeded my wildest imagination.
Before I knew it, I was teetering between “Oh, I forgot I had this” and a full-scale episode reminiscent of Hoarders. My anxiety peaked as I confronted the chaos around me.
Determined to take control, I began with my closet. Anything I hadn’t worn in the past six months went straight into a donation pile. I methodically worked through each room, repeatedly asking myself: Do I truly love this? Do I need this? Do I already own something similar? Each question helped the donation pile grow.
When it was time to tackle the kids’ rooms, I felt apprehensive. I decided not to pressure them into giving up anything they were attached to. My daughter, who had observed my decluttering journey, asked what I intended to do with the items set for donation. I explained that we would be donating them to families in need at our local homeless shelter, a cause I was connected to through my work.
Her eyes widened as she processed this information. “So they don’t have a home? Or toys?” she asked. I nodded. Without hesitation, she rushed to her room with a box, sorting through her belongings with care. “They can have these, Mommy,” she said, presenting me with a nearly overflowing box. That was over a year ago.
Now, our home only contains the items that are truly meaningful to us. The time and money once spent on acquiring and managing our possessions are now directed toward family experiences. We allocate our budget for outings together rather than getting lost in a cluttered space searching for forgotten items. We truly live.
Of course, we still accumulate items, though we are much more discerning. If I see a must-have beauty product at Target, I allow myself the indulgence, but we are conscious of our needs versus wants. If we bring something new into our lives, we often donate something old, ensuring that our space remains manageable.
As my husband wisely remarked during our initial decluttering phase, “No one needs 16 throw pillows.” Especially when we are fortunate enough to have each other.
For those interested in learning more about home insemination, you can find additional resources at this link. For an authoritative source on the topic, check out Make a Mom. Also, an excellent resource for understanding fertility can be found at Science Daily.
In summary, my journey to minimalism has not only reduced clutter but has also significantly improved my mental well-being, allowing my family and me to focus on what truly matters.