I’m humming The bare necessities from the Jungle book as I type this because I feel very “light” after spending the last few days doing a massive, massive decluttering of my house. The whole house.
Context;
A few days before the great declutter begun, I was standing in front of my wardrobe at a loss as to what to wear. I know we always joke about the fact that women have wardrobes full of clothes but never have what to wear. I guess it’s not the lack of what to wear but the lack of anything that excites us.
All the good stuff that speaks to us, is swallowed up by tons of impulse and retail therapy buys.
Anyway, something weird happened as I was staring at my clothes, the song The bare necessities from Disney’s The Jungle Book, popped into my head and I started humming. When I realised what I was doing and the irony of it considering my present state of confusion induced by too much stuff, I knew that the universe might be mocking me or prodding me into ridding myself of stuff I don't need. And embrace the life of “bare necessities”
So then became the great overhaul.
I had sent my friend this podcast by Hindz called personal audit. Next thing, she sent me photos of a huge pile of clothes on the floor and one of an almost empty closet. She is such a go girl. No time to waste lol. She said it was so freeing.
And I can totally relate to how she felt, there is a lightheaded feeling to knowing that all the things you have are essential.
We, I inclusive until recent that is, normally associate minimalism with not owning stuff while it might be loosely correct, here is what Joshua Fields Millburn one-half of The Minimalists duo and poster children for minimalism has to say; (He and Ryan Nicodemus own the popular blog, podcast and Netflix documentary all called The Minimalists)
“Minimalism is the intentional use of the resources you have”
He means that everything you own must have a purpose and be actively used in your everyday life. If you haven’t used something in a couple of months then it might not be of service in your life.
I was so guilty of this, while going through stuff to get rid of, I found things I never unpacked when I moved into my house, I have lived here for 3 years.
Another minimalism “sin” I was committing was holding onto keepsakes in the name of memory or sentiments. I had kept artwork, report sheets etc of my children even a food diary from their first daycare. I was conflicted when I was tossing them out (I took some photos of some though) but I was consoled by what Joshua had said about these memories living inside us and not in those papers or others things we collect as memorabilia. They only just remain clutter as we move them from one home to another( guilty! guilty!! guilty!!!)
I’m thinking I should use the same broom for other aspects of my life; relationships and activities.
When we have more of the wrong things our lives become “less”. These things subtract from our lives both financially, emotionally and mentally. Be they wrong friends. Wrong relationships. Wrong activities. Wrong possessions.
Having a lot of stuff dilutes their effects. One is more meaningful and valuable than having say 5 of the same thing.
“Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so that we can focus on the most important things which are in fact not things” - Joshua Millburn
So while practising minimalism will mean you own less stuff, it’s important to note that getting rid of your excess stuff though freeing and exciting isn’t inherently meaningful on its own according to The Minimalists. The questions they propose we should ask ourselves are these:
When did I give so much meaning to possessions?
What is truly important in life?
Why am I discontent?
Who is the person I want to become?
How will I define my own success?
So, I can hum away to The bare necessities now without feeling like too much of a “fraud'‘. What really got me about the song; which speaks more about how we handle stress and taking things easy and less about minimalism is the fact that the stresses in our lives are born out of the constant pursuit of “more” and the excesses we add to our lives.
Check out this part of the song:
So just try and relax, yeah, cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something, little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh-uh
You're working too hard
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
I will leave you with this essay by Joshua Millburn;
“Minimalism is not interested in what you have. You can buy the “best” bag, bookcase, boots, but none of that will fill the void.
And minimalism is not concerned with what you don’t have. “Look, ma—no things!” Because owning nothing doesn’t remove the void.
Minimalism is not busy with doing something. Decluttering, organizing, and paring down don’t work unless you first find peace in doing without.
And minimalism is not focused on becoming something— job titles and achievements merely generate a thirst for more.
Instead, a minimalist focuses on being— being someone who returns to the natural order, to the default state of thriving with less.
This does not involve simplifying “tips” or “how-to” guides. It requires a deep understanding that you were born simple.
Society, culture, and media have dragged you away from your nature. You’ve been told to improve that which doesn’t need improvement.
You’ve been convinced that you are lacking. You’ve been hypnotized into believing that you are incomplete.
These are lies told to exploit you. To sell you something. But the Truth won’t be found in any store. It is unearthed in less.
The Truth awaits in the pause between stillness and awareness, in surrendering to the absence of wanting more.
It cannot be conjured with the swipe of a credit card.
Simplicity is not a task— minimalism is not a destination—it’s everything that remains when you let go of the attachment to everything.”
Keep going,
Ije
God made man Simple , its we who search out for ' plenty things 😂; We can thrive on Less ! Thanks for sharing Ije....
My best writing of yours thus far. So many nuggets to digest and unpack. Its one of those I have to read slowly and many times to take it all in.