There was a time when Sunny wasn’t simple. I owned over 500 items before I became a minimalist. Although I moved from Florida to Colorado with only my clothes in the trunk of my car, it didn’t take long to build a new stack of stuff without realizing it. Perhaps my favorite part of minimizing radically is the realization that comes along with it. A hyper-consciousness that prioritizes every value – every moment - of life.
When I came across the 100 Things Challenge, I was intrigued. It came to me at a point when life wasn’t going very well. My days were becoming complicated, as they’d been in Florida, and I was stressed. I yearned for clarity and direction, but didn’t know how to uncover the next step of my journey.
It’s only fair to be completely upfront: I’m an over-the-top, jump-in-with-both-feet, and goes-overboard-with-everything crazy person. This doesn’t mean that everyone who undertakes this challenge has these same qualities, but knowing myself, I was a little afraid of pursuing this.
“Hm, Sunny, be careful,” I warned. “This is the kind of pursuit that could lead you into trouble!”
But one week later, not surprisingly, I was in my closets – pen glued to one hand, paper to the other – taking a complete inventory of everything in my apartment. “Because,” I rationalized, “why not?”
I expected to go overboard, absolutely, because that’s who I am. I didn’t expect, though, that releasing most of my things would reveal that clarity I’d been searching for. It was easy to see myself without my crap in the way!
Since a reader expressed interest in my 74 Things, I’ve listed them below. These are all of the things I own, but allow me to explain my list -
- I’ve grouped some things together. My toiletries fit into one box under my sink and I count this as 1 item. To list each bobby pin separately seemed a bit silly.
- I own 1 piece of furniture (sofa) and am borrowing a dining table from friends. I don’t count the table, since it’s not mine and will soon be returned.
- Yes, I currently sleep on my sofa and it’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s quite comfy!
- I have a lot of books around, but they mostly belong to the library. If I’ve purchased them, they’re soon donated to the library. Therefore, I don’t count books.
- I don’t count disposable items, such as laundry detergent, soap, etc.
- This list will change after I move to my new apartment in 2 months. At that point, I’ll add a bed and more wine glasses – in other words, a few things to increase comfort and allow me to simply entertain friends.
Here ya go -
- Eddie (my car)
- Sofa
- Quilt
- Pillow
- Humidifier (I live at 5,280 feet, after all!)
- Egyptian vase (family heirloom I use for flowers)
- Dishes (2 plates, 2 bowls)
- Water bottle
- Travel coffee mug
- Wine glass
- Coffee maker
- Silverware (4 forks, 4 spoons)
- Kitchen knife
- Wine opener
- Kitchen towel
- Can opener
- Basket (used as a general in-box for mail, wine corks serving as mementos, receipts, etc.)
- Decorative box to hold my electronic gizmos
- Digital camera
- Cell phone
- Headphones
- Laptop
- Carry-on suitcase
- Hydration pack for hiking
- Pen #1
- Pen #2
- Envelope of important documents
- Shower curtain and rings
- Bathroom rug
- Bathroom towels (4)
- Bathroom Box (holds all of my toiletries)
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Vacuum cleaner
- L.L. Bean tote bag
- Wallet
- Purse
38-41. Shoes (4 pairs)
42-74. Clothing (32 items)