When I started my amazing journey into minimalism, my daughter didn’t quite buy into it.
She didn’t know why I would get rid of so many pretty things. So much stuff that we might want back someday.
It’s been a couple of years now that I’ve been donating things, but I became really serious about it recently. Though she’s been watching, it wasn’t sinking in totally. Yet.
But she does see me happier. She loves that.
You see, I love my life with fewer things. It frees up my mind, spirit, and body to enjoy what’s really important. When I have less to distract me, I can spend more attention on better things.
Quality over quantity.
To be clear… it’s not a life with nothing in it. It’s a life with only the things that I use. Things I love and use. Things I love and use and I would buy again today. Things that “spark joy” and I love and I use and I would buy again today.
Funny but most things do NOT fall into this category.
Anyway, enough about me. This post is about my daughter and how SHE got on board with minimalism.
It all came down to a “donation box” (or basket or container).
I came across the tip while listening to The Minimalists’ podcast. They suggested simply putting out a box with a sign on it for donations. From there, when other family members see fit, they can add to the box when they’re ready. No more trying to talk my daughter into donating things that I knew she really wasn’t using.
Here’s the best part:
The container wasn’t out even five minutes before she started filling it up.
Yay(!), and then there was a time later that night that she couldn’t be disturbed because she was going through her stuff and telling me what “didn’t spark joy” and what “didn’t have value” for her.
She understands it better now, and she’ll appreciate it even more over time. We’re giving these things that no longer are of use to us and helping them find another family who could use them. Making more space in her room and closet. Making time for the things that matter more than “things” – like us playing outside together or reading together or snuggling.