It all began for me 3 years ago when I first emigrated to Canada from the UK. Emigrating was perhaps the most difficult and stressful experience I have gone through. However, on arrival in our new country we had very little, and I started thinking about how simpler life could be.
We had left behind our home, our careers, and the majority of our belongings. I felt a certain amount of panic, but I also felt a huge sense of liberation, like I’ve never experienced before.
When you have nothing (no job, no house, no belongings) it really helps to solidify what is important to you. I had my husband, my two children and my dog – all the immediate people that meant something to me. I also had ME. I valued my body, my health, and my mind like never before.
Of course I felt responsibility to my family to provide for them. But I did not have all the added responsibilities that go with having a “good” job, a vehicle, possessions, mortgage and bills.
Living with Less
After acquiring minimum wage jobs, we rented our first house. It was comfortable but small.
We had very few belongings so tidying and cleaning was easy – just a quick sweep around, and washing the one small bathroom took minutes.
My kids weren’t burdened with lots of possessions. They had a kindle, a packet of crayons and a pack of playing cards. Without TV and other distractions, the girls spent more time being creative (drawing, making things), being outside, reading and playing simple card games.
Money was tight, but we spent our time together as a family doing free things – walks, playing at the park and visiting the library.
Acquiring More
Gradually, over the last 3 years, “normal life” has crept up on us again. With better jobs and more money came the inevitable acquisition of goods. We moved to a larger house, we bought a car, a TV, a games console, a desktop computer, a laptop, new phones, furniture, pictures, rugs, toys, books, clothing, sports equipment, kitchen items, tools and so on – gradually re-acquiring the many things we had left behind.
Of course some of these things have been necessary, but I am more burdened again. I feel that we should have been more discerning about what we reacquired. Not only have we acquired belongings, but our lives have become more complicated in other ways. Our new jobs are more stressful. We have more bills to pay. Our kids are engaged in more structured activities. We spend more time getting or looking after our “things”. This all leads to stress.
Making Life Simple Again
My challenge this year is to make everything simple again. Not to put myself in the risky state of giving up everything again (including a steady income), but to re-evaluate every aspect of my life and to do what I can to make it simpler.
Each week I am setting a new challenge to simplify an aspect of my life. As you follow my journey I hope you are inspired to follow some of the ideas to make your own life simpler and happier.
My first challenge – decluttering!