Little did I know 25+ years ago a move from a three bedroom townhouse in the burbs to a one-bedroom apartment in the city would be the start of a massive journey to embrace “less is more.”
Less is more. When you read those words what feelings come up for you? The word less inspires what feelings? Happiness? Sadness? Anxiety? Freedom? Worry?
Before this move the word less was not a word I used unless I spoke of pollution, hate – stuff we would most likely agree that we need less of. For the first 32 years of my life I followed the path most folks followed. Stuff = good. Stuff = show of accomplishments. More stuff = more pride in my accomplishments. More stuff = more happiness. The more unique, rare crap I bought the more I thought I was happy. Our material world thrives on these illusions. Buy. Buy. Buy. What possessed me to think all my stuff from a three-bedroom townhouse would fit into my one-bedroom apartment – I’ll never know! By day two in that one-bedroom apartment I knew a massive clear-out was in order.
Today I KNOW (thus live) by the reality that less stuff is more happiness. After that fateful move I started a focused, progressive clearing out! As more of my cherished treasures found new homes (buyers, charities, friends, etc.) I rediscovered a feeling a deep happiness. A deep happiness triggered by seeing the happiness on the faces of folks buying / receiving my stuff. Happiness in knowing I’ll never – EVER – face moving a lot of personal stuff – ever! Happiness that life just seems far less stressful. A deep sense of peace and joy allows me to pass-up purchases that I would have snapped-up just years ago.
As years melted into decades my stuff now fills three suit cases and a laptop carrying case. That’s all. What you see in the pic below is the sum of my worldly goods. Looking at that picture I sense it’s time to thin-out even more. Why? Well now that airlines charge for every checked bag (those fees will never end – right?) me thinks it’s time to let go of more. The extra baggage fees I pay add up. As most folks who know me (of which, you will know me when you follow this blog / poke around on this site) most folks know I’m raising funds to launch a company to care for care givers. Every penny counts these days. The less I spend (on stuff that most folks find great pleasure in owning) the more I’m able to do what I feel called to do. That dear reader is freedom!
As I embrace my minimalist I feed my nomad. I love to travel. I love to learn. I love to teach. Travel means knowing that where ever I lay my head down for that moment I’m home. Literally.
Potential is one ingredient of the unknown. Trust provides a sense of calm when chaos is ready to hurl it’s best efforts into the mix. I trust my calling to provide what’s needed when it’s needed by people who have a desire to learn laugh and grow with ease and grace.
As I reflect on the reality the more I know the more I realize – I don’t know much. There’s more unknown than known in life. It’s easy to fall asleep with the illusion that I know someone or something. The moment I think I know you or feel confident I have mastered something is the moment I start falling asleep.
The unknown often scares folks into remaining asleep. For some odd quirk or as fate would dictate at age 11 I sensed my life is nothing but a wild ride. Life is far too short to stay asleep to the miracle life is.
How do you handle the unknown?
- Do you embrace the adventure?
- Does ‘not knowing’ scare the crap out of ya?
Continue to follow this wild ride to discover how to make friends (then peace) with not knowing. For folks who wish to give back, consider lending support to my journey. Which of the following menu items feels like support to you?
- Share this blog / journey on your social media timelines.
- Comment on these posts to begin (then continue) hearty conversations with folks you may never meet in person but get to know as well as (or better) than family.
- Subscribe to my meditation series focused on dissolving doubt, guilt, shame and worry. You’ll find yourself feeling far less stressed out one day, one step, one-ah-ha at a time…
Aloha!
