Simply Blooming Grace

Got purses?

Could you go down to one purse? Honestly, I think my husband would say I’d die if I had to just have one bag. I don’t have a ton…but the ones I have, I adore. I imagine some of them being passed down someday.

But could I (or even should I) minimize far enough to one bag? Some minimalists would argue it’s wasteful to own more than one. After all, I can only use one at a time. But this is where minimalism sometimes gets taken too far. There’s a balance between less and joy.

I enjoy having a purse that fits different seasons. It makes me happy. Not princess in a castle happy; but it definitely feels  like a little bit of a real-life fairy tale touch. And for most people like me, we all have areas where we bend a little on minimalism.

Ask me about cars, for example. Some people have two, three, or even five parked in their driveway. I’ve tried to persuade my husband that our family of seven could survive with just my almost twenty-year-old suburban. 

He’s not convinced. 

In fact, I’m pretty sure he’d die before we dropped down to a single vehicle.

The difference between decluttering and organizing with other people is this: we can simplify in different areas. What matters is how value and enjoyment play a role. Sometimes we even let go of certain things so that what remains carries more meaning. Joshua Fields Millburn, one of the Minimalists, puts it well.

“When everything is special, nothing is special.”

Statistics back it up. The average American home has over 300,000 items in it, according to the LA Times. Yet research shows people who intentionally simplify their possessions report lower stress, improved relationships, and more financial freedom. That’s not about living with nothing, it’s simply about making space for what matters most.

For this crazy red head, minimalism has been a four-year journey. And I’ll be honest, my friends! Life is absolutely more enjoyable now…even with that extra purse.

So let me ask you! What is one area in your life you could trim down? Or on the flip side, what’s something you keep that brings you joy, even if it doesn’t check the “minimalist” box?

Rachel Redlin is a columnist, author, journalist, and award-winning radio host. She lives in Northwest Kansas with her husband and five children, where she writes about faith, food, and the simple everyday life. Want to read more or contact us? You can subscribe to the FREE newsletter at www.simplybloominggrace.com

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