Through my childhood and into high school I accumulated quite a bit of "stuff." When I moved to college I didn't even realize this. The main reason was that I moved almost nothing to college. My first year at college was a huge success (maybe because I was living as a minimalist even without knowing it). At the end of the year though, I had accumulated quite a bit of junk. The move was pretty wild and I dropped off my junk at my aunt's house. Sophomore year the trend continued until the end of the year with a even more horrendous move out. I wouldn't have made it in time without the help of my friend Sebastian.
That summer I interned at a company in Indiana and lived off a minimal amount of stuff. ...and guess what? It worked. Conveniently, the first semester of my Junior year was a exchange in Hong Kong. I decided on taking only one suit of belongings (the bare necessities) and fitting another suitcase inside the first. I knew that my belongings would inevitably expand during the 5 months. This time though there was a limit. Two suitcases returned... no more! In fact I didn't even have to throw much of anything out at the end of the exchange. The trick was not buying things I didn't need and donating larger items that I had bought (linens, comforter, books).
The experience in Hong Kong was so great that the next semester back at college I traveled out with just two suitcases and it worked. Since then I have attempted to rationalize all purchases and minimize my belongings.
Currently my biggest project is sorting through all the stuff in my room at my parents house. All the things I accumulated before I "simplified" my life. Which items are meaningful and carry memories with them and which are just junk?
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I know! Isn't it insane how much unnecessary stuff we accumulate at the end of just one year? My goal next year is to actually leave my apartment with fewer things than I came with. We'll see how that goes...
ReplyDeletehong kong! me too! ha. i brought one suitcase as well. most of that was insulin supplies. very lame. i think i shocked angus when she arrived home to a bed covered in syringes. but yes, i acquired too much but i fit it in a rucksack on the way home. i gave most of my items to lulu. kind of fun to donate on.
ReplyDeletei got to do that this year. i graduated and a few of us donated millions of pieces to our friend who's staying. it was neat since a few pieces had been donated to me as well.
i'm going to india this summer and i keep hoping that each trip will prepare me but i really want to be a minimalist while there. plus we're tripping around with rucksacks. don't want things! though again, diabete supplies...
you inspire me!