Have you ever had the desire to start over with your 'stuff'? A do-over? One of the things I used to do was day dream about what my ideal home would be like...when I moved again, or for my retirement years, or even right now.
I realized from those dreams that I did not want what most advertisers and culture said I should want. The more is better...bigger is better...desires that businesses what me to have.
I want small! A small home...a small tv...a small kitchen...fewer gadgets, well, don't take away all my electronics...they are small, though!!! A small yard (with enough room for a small garden.) You get the picture.
And I want to be more self-reliant. Grow my own food. (Guess I have to rethink that small yard and garden!) Raise some chickens for eggs. Use solar and wind power. Have a well for water.
(Well, there is one exception to my small 'wants'...a vehicle. I really want a truck. Yeah, I know, that is not exactly a 'small' thing. )
So what does that have to do with simple living? That day dreaming has given me an excellent idea of what I really want. Less!!! Less 'stuff' for 'stuff's' sake. Less complications. More time to do what I want to do...(You know what I mean, when I grow up, I want to ..... (fill in your own dream)!)
Am I going to get everything in my personal utopia? Of course not, but I can use those dreams to point the way...a road map for the journey.
Interestingly, when we moved out west, we gave away almost all of our furniture. I have some antique pieces...seven to be exact...and shelves for my collections. And yes, I have some collections that give me joy so I will be keeping them. But for the most part, I do not have a lot of 'stuff'. And now, given my new circumstances, I will have that re-do.
And I still want small. For housing I want a central room where I do everything from entertaining to eating to reading to creating to fixing food. And a bedroom for sleeping. A bathroom. A porch, deck or balcony would be nice. I want everything that I own to have a purpose - utilitarian or joy.
I guess this will be the beginning of my journey to a simpler life. I'll let you know, occasionally, how that journey is going.
So what about you? Do you ever dream of a simpler life? Remember, you can always take small steps right now and begin that journey.