The Day I Met Minimalism

It was August 2013. I stood in front of my closet that was bursting at the seams and facing the typical dilemma.

So many clothes, but nothing to wear.

This was different though. I truly had almost nothing to wear because I was 6 months pregnant. After months and months of interspersing a handful of maternity tops with my everyday shirts that contained enough lycra to contain my growing belly, I had finally reached the point where maternity tops were the only option.

I rifled through dozens of options that weren’t really options, feeling frustrated. We were just hanging out at home though, so I put on one of my husband’s t-shirts and left it at that.

Later that afternoon, I wandered back to the closet and stared at it. Our house was old and closet space was at a premium, but looking at all those clothes day after day was getting to me. I started pulling out the tops that didn’t work for me in my current state. Some were smooshed into other less-used closets, some were folded and stuffed in Rubbermaid bins, and some went into the donation box. By the time I was finished, I was left with a nearly empty closet.

I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but clearing out all those items was cleansing for my soul and my self-esteem, too.

When I got dressed for work the following day, I opened my closet. I could clearly see a handful of shirts, all of which would fit me. And I never filled that closet all the way again.

After having my daughter, I returned only the clothes that fit well and that I enjoy wearing. I’ve occasionally faltered, falling victim to fast fashion and trends. But those clothes never last more than a season and usually aren’t worn more than a handful of times.

I’ve been back at work for about 5 months since the birth of my son and have only worn black pants and 1 of 8 shirts since then. (Note: I only work from the office 3 days a week, so 8 shirts is plenty.) I’ve mentioned this to a few colleagues and not one of them had noticed the limited variety.

I’ve since applied this approach to other areas of my life, with varying degrees of success. Kids, in particular, make the notion of paring down a bit difficult. My daughter seems to believe that she DOES need all those Happy Meal toys and the wrapper from her fruit snacks and a broken light saber and a piece of striped fabric. (I could go on but I won’t.)

I’m always looking for new approaches and ways to implement minimalism into all aspects of my life. Suggestions are welcome in the comments!