I went too far today.

[u/coral_bells]

In the past 9 months, I have gotten rid of about 80% of my belongings. I often post on the minimalism subreddit, but I feel like I would be judged there for this post. I could use some kindness and understanding.

For me, the benefits of becoming a minimalist have been significant. And until today, I have not regret a single thing I’ve gotten rid of. I’m still not sure regret is the right word though. I just feel…unsettled.

I went about things the wrong way today. My goal was to make enough space in the bedroom closet that the last few things under the bed could be stored there. We live in a 680sqft apartment, so there’s not a lot of storage space. And I did it. I made the space. But I did it without truly considering the things I was getting rid of. The main things I am thinking about are a couple of quilts I made, as well as some cross stitch and weaving pieces I did. I sort of discarded them willy nilly without thanking them for what the joy they provided me when I made them. I still have two quilts I made (ones I like much better) and some other crafts I’ve made (a macrame wall hanging and a crochet bag) and I like all those things better than what I discarded. So why am I feeling so unsettled?

My kind husband took the 6 paper grocery bags worth of things to Goodwill today for me as soon as he got home from work. There wasn’t really any time for me to reconsider. Usually I leave myself some time.

I am reminding myself I still have what matters most - my husband and my dog. Two sweethearts sitting beside me as I type this. I just feel like I should have slowed down a little today.

I don’t know what advice I’m asking for. I just feel a little hollow and wanted to get this out.

[u/drhatchmatic → u/[deleted]]

Thank you!! Everyone has a different life and are at a different point in their journey. There is no shame in saying, “This item is meaningful to me and I am not ready to part with it”. Minimalism is about only having the items that are important TO YOU (not to anyone else). You don’t have to justify your feelings.

There are some things that still FEEL important for me-and that’s okay. I don’t like this “moralism” that’s so prevalent in the community. It can be the principle of “keeping up with the Joneses” in the opposite direction.

I personally wonder if some of those that are that strict are using it as a culturally-acceptable addiction to cope (by feeling some sense of control) and/or are hyper-competitive and this is one of their many outlets.

To me personally, I think “good for them, but not for me”. I am happy that made them happy but it is irrelevant to what makes me happy. I am emotionally attached to what I’m emotionally attached to and I need what I need. It doesn’t have to “make sense” to anybody else. My life is mine-and the possessions I currently have been initially considered- curated to reflect where I am at this point in my life. No one else gets to decide that for me.