Change is Inevitable

There’s been a lot of talk on change, simplifying, and living minimalistically around the blogging world. I don’t know what’s going on with 2014, but I feel like everyone’s taking an extra step to make life less about ‘stuff’ and more about the experiences. Maybe some people are just beginning to realize you really don’t NEED a lot of crap to make you happy.

I love the picture above that I captured while we were in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, because this little boy didn’t need much to make him perfectly content. Derik and I watched him play with his pants (as comical as that may seem) for at least an hour as the sun went down. He was doing his own thing, happy to be alive and running around in the water and sand. If only life was always that simple.

As I have mentioned before, I have felt overwhelmed in my tiny asian apartment since coming back from our backpacking trip through Thailand, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Derik and I have made a point to get rid of more than 1/2 of our stuff very rapidly, and with each item going out the door, I feel just a bit more free.

Isn’t it strange how material things actually weigh us down instead of doing the opposite? It’s definitely not something you think of when you’re DYING to buy it at first. Maybe it’s because I’m an expat, maybe it’s because I don’t have roots yet, but I’m just not comfortable having things sitting around my house if I’m not using them.

There’s a lot of change going on around here. Change physically to our apartment, change mentally and emotionally in our minds, change with work, change with eating habits, exercise, and sleeping schedules (hello early bright mornings). Sometimes it freaks me out that so much can happen so fast, but then again I feel at complete peace.

I often handle big change with multiple breakdowns throughout the day, waterworks and all, but then I eventually snap out of it and know everything will be ok if not better than it was.

I’ve sold my piano, excess christmas decorations, extra luggage, and various kitchen appliances on a local flea market group on Facebook this week, all within 24 hours. I also signed up for a local garage sale on Saturday,  in which I will be getting rid of 1/3 if not 1/2 of my entire wardrobe. Do I want to? Not really, but I don’t wear 60% of the clothes in my closet. Ever.

If I’m really going to take the plunge and live simply and minimalistically, I need to start giving more attention to this lifestyle. Embracing this change leads to a freer, happier, healthier way of life.

How do you deal with change?