Carol Minimalizes

I just saw the documentary “Minimalism:

A Documentary About the Important Things.” It struck a nerve with me. I am at the age where I had better start shedding some of my stuff. Lightening my load. If I don’t do it, my dear sisters will be tasked to sort through it all. And even if I do stick around for another 20 years, I want to lighten my load for a more clutter free, more serene environment.

I have found that the energy in the house changes once you start releasing objects. Goodbye, ill-fitting bra! Sayonara, funky old lamp! Arrivederci, uncomfortable shoes!

How can I get started minimalizing my life? To start with, over the pandemic I gained a few pounds so the waistline on all of my jeans is history. Why is it so hard to part with jeans? Some have just the right fabric, some just fit perfect (or did) you knew as soon as you put them on in the dressing room that they were made for you.

Some are skinny down to the ankle, some straight, some flared, some bootcut and some… bell bottoms. Then there are the shoes that go with each type of jean. So, in order to part with a pair of jeans – I know I’ll never fit into them again – it will be a process of elimination.

Okay, skinny jeans never did look that good on me. I am already top heavy so I look like I’m going to tip over. A full body picture of myself revealed that to me. Tiny feet, big boobs. I look like a dart. Bye, bye to all my skinny jeans. That wasn’t so hard. I’ll be donating them directly to a local homeless shelter.

And what about shoes! They are such an expression of self. I do not wear high heels anymore – I loved them but can no longer walk in them. I just donated a pair of UGGS since over the past 10 years my feet have gotten bigger. It all started in 1st grade when I wanted to wear my shiny black Mary Janes to school. I know they were only for special occasions but I just had to wear them that day.

So, I hit my old brown oxfords behind the toilet (so nobody could find them) and told my mother that I couldn’t find my brown shoes and I would have to wear the Mary Janes. It made my day at school. I looked at them all day.

It's weird - it feels just as good to get rid of things as it did to get them in the first place.

Carol