This picture illustrates what my life feels like.
Don’t judge. Well, ok, you can. Why else would I be splashing this all over the interwebs.
There’s just too much of everything and it weighs me down, mind, body and soul.
I have begun a challenge. Pare down all aspects of living to maximize experiences and relationships.
Here’s my countdown timer:
from timeanddate.com
Follow me as I downsize my body, financial burdens, home space, and all parts of life to create a more joyous and stress-free existence.
Finances and Tech: I cancelled cable TV and phone, keeping only the internet. I’ve wanted to get rid of it for a long time and I finally pulled the plug on Saturday, October 3, 2020. This will save me over $210 a month when I get my next bill and sign up for autopay. (You get a $10 discount for paying automatically.)
And just so you don’t think I’m suffering, I have access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, ESPN, plus Audible, Kindle, and Spotify. And I have ChromeCast on my living room TV. This girl’s got plenty of media options.
I’ve gotten rid of the TV in my bedroom.
This is pretty shocking as I am a TV baby, a habit I’d like to break. The TV has been my constant companion and babysitter since I was a toddler. It drowned out all of the scary noises a child hears when she is home alone.
I still have three laptops, an iPad, and an iPhone, so I’m not hurting for tech either.
Emotions: Relief at shedding a burden. Satisfaction at being able to rid myself of a bill I always hated. A sense of sticking it to The Man.
Finances and Spending: I’m not a huge consumer (although that’s probably a lie as I take another look at the picture above.) There are things I just love wasting money on, like my search for the perfect bag, notepads that are too nice to write in, pens, socks, and who knows what else. The next 633 days will include a retail spending diet. Odds are I have more than enough of everything to last for the rest of my life.
My mother believed in retail therapy having grown up with very little during WWII. Her game was to see how much she could get for very little cost, even if she didn’t really need something. I’m going to see if I can resist the urge to buy and make Free to Me my spending motto.
Emotions: Apprehension of an overwhelming goal.
Part of this process involves not leaving things behind for someone else to clean up and clear out. This was such a tedious process when my parents died. I still have tucked away items from them that I never use and I doubt I never will. I already know the items aren’t wanted by my daughter, either.
The Swedish call this Death Cleaning, or döstädning, and it’s one of the newest decluttering systems. The “IN” book on this topic is The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson. The author recommends starting this process at age 65. I plan on being done before then.
Emotions: Excitement over a new adventure and direction. A renewed sense of control, much needed by me at this time in our history.
NEXT STEPS: Thanks to my amazing daughter, Erika, I’ve gotten my ass in gear, and I already feel more alive.
Selfie. Oh, jeez.
