What gets news? Child actress Shirley Temple who passed away at a ripe old age or Bruce Jenner? Why can't we decrease the junk clogging the media or the web? Why? Just feel that if things were that way then we could concentrate on things that need our attention now.
So, lesser the better, right? Once I had my mind set on that notion and 'mantra' to follow for my life ahead for the next phase of my life as I will be turning 50 this year, I started looking around myself! I sure have a lot of things. Got to start purging is what I immediately considered doing.
Now, throwing away what you don't need is the fastest way to get everyone around you to see you following what you preach. But, doesn't that defeat the purpose? Throwing reasonably good things into landfills is certainly not my way of being minimal. I would rather see my clutter slowly disappear with thoughtful purging than to just chuck it, be it even something that has lost it's value or meaning too.
Craiglslist for some small change or ebay for the larger ones are the obvious choices or even a trip to the thrift stores or donation bins around town isn't a bad idea either. Then there is freecycle.org. WOW!! What a great idea! I find this better than just dropping it in donation boxes for some company to take a profit from the lower income strata of this country or I have heard that it's sent to Africa and sold there.We all talk of Africa being the third world but some opportunist has even thought of turning their desperation into a profit by relying on the vulnerability of the affluent here to get their donation sent to Africa for profit. Oh well!
It's actually great to feel minimalistic. I even take it to my cooking style these days. Like what I had for dinner today- Basic sauteed chicken, hash brown patty from Trader Joes and arugula salad with avocado. Nothing elaborate, got it done and kitchen cleaned and closed in less than 2 hours. Lesser stress, lesser weight over my shoulders or on me too ;-) Now what else can I ask for?
So, lesser the better, right? Once I had my mind set on that notion and 'mantra' to follow for my life ahead for the next phase of my life as I will be turning 50 this year, I started looking around myself! I sure have a lot of things. Got to start purging is what I immediately considered doing.
Now, throwing away what you don't need is the fastest way to get everyone around you to see you following what you preach. But, doesn't that defeat the purpose? Throwing reasonably good things into landfills is certainly not my way of being minimal. I would rather see my clutter slowly disappear with thoughtful purging than to just chuck it, be it even something that has lost it's value or meaning too.
Craiglslist for some small change or ebay for the larger ones are the obvious choices or even a trip to the thrift stores or donation bins around town isn't a bad idea either. Then there is freecycle.org. WOW!! What a great idea! I find this better than just dropping it in donation boxes for some company to take a profit from the lower income strata of this country or I have heard that it's sent to Africa and sold there.We all talk of Africa being the third world but some opportunist has even thought of turning their desperation into a profit by relying on the vulnerability of the affluent here to get their donation sent to Africa for profit. Oh well!
It's actually great to feel minimalistic. I even take it to my cooking style these days. Like what I had for dinner today- Basic sauteed chicken, hash brown patty from Trader Joes and arugula salad with avocado. Nothing elaborate, got it done and kitchen cleaned and closed in less than 2 hours. Lesser stress, lesser weight over my shoulders or on me too ;-) Now what else can I ask for?
