Reducing Life Down

Dana
2 min readMar 21, 2023

In light of my current employment status, I recently made the decision to move out of my current apartment and live in an Airbnb until I find a stable job with a reliable income. Although I still have time to prepare, I started sorting my things today. I decided which things to keep, toss, donate, or give away to friends.

As I began the process of sorting out my possessions, I was struck by the realization that, after three years of living a relatively stable life, I had accumulated a lot of things. It’s not until we have to leave a place we’ve been for so long that we realize how many unnecessary things we can accumulate. During moments of stability, I began to acquire small trinkets, extra clothes, and more appliances.

Now, as I looked at the pile of things I was giving away, I realized that most of these things weren’t necessary, and I wouldn’t find them useful if I were to go somewhere where I had to live temporarily. It’s interesting how we can attach sentimental value to things, even if they don’t serve any practical purpose.

In a way, this experience has been a reminder to me of the importance of simplicity in life. Often, it’s the simple things that bring us the most joy and contentment. Moving to transitional housing will require me to live with less, but in a way, I’m looking forward to the experience of simplifying my life and focusing on what truly matters.

Although it’s a bit daunting to think about, I’m excited to embark on this new chapter in my life and see where it takes me. And a reminder for myself to continue practicing minimalism and remember that life is impermanent.

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Dana

a person with wanderlust and medium-size dreams, sharing her suffering and joy with the world through words