Good day to you all,
An idea popped up in my head after reading your comments to my intro post so I'm writing to share with you. Even though I consider myself a minimalist now, I have to admit I once shopped and spent a lot on materialistic stuffs. To be honest, I can't recall a lot of the things I bought back in college or right after graduating that brought great joy to me now. However, I believe they did serve their purpose back then to add some value to my life and my experience.
I think it's common for us to buy stuffs we don't need and hold on to them longer than we need to 😅. During my process of transitioning to a minimalist, parting from unnecessary items was the hardest process for me. Questions such as: what if I need this jacket next month?, what if I need this tool a year from now?, what if the person gifting me this item gets offended that I give it away (even though I don't like this color at all)?, is it a waste to throw this item away?, and hundreds more. I feel guilty of throwing away my stuffs as well as ashamed of myself for buying so much junk 🤑. Fortunately, I struggled through these feelings to cut back on my belongings as well as practiced awareness before buying new items. I am even more aware to say "No" to free items that add clutter, not value, to my home and my mind.
The one book that helped me through this process is "Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism", by Fumio Sasaki. I was inspired by Fumio Sasaki to reduce, sell and donate old items and not to acquire more stuffs. Rather, I spent more time on experiences such as: reading, cooking, hiking, biking, enjoying more free outdoor activities. The value I receive is beyond imagination and the good feeling of being free, efficient, environment-friendly keep me from falling back to shopping during stressful time (of course it's not absolute, it's a work in progress but I'm getting used to this new lifestyle).
Since I can't remember much of the items that brought me great joy during the old days, I will share with you the big item I own and use frequently: vehicle. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to this because most of us commute frequently, especially in big cities without public transportation.
I am amazed looking at some of the vehicles I have and the progress I've made. Are you curious to know? I'm excited to share 😄
(I don't own or drive this one! 😁)
I can't remember all but here are some vehicles I can recall from my memory at the moment, in chronologically order. Since 11th grade up to now, I have had the privilege to use these great vehicles. They helped me commute, travel, enjoy road trips, and exercise. During different periods in life, these great vehicles are tools to support me to get around places, to see my family, friends, clients, and to leisurely explore my location. I am proud I could manage a pick-up truck, a huge van, but mostly I can choose to go with bicycles in recent years.
My favorite bike:
My 1st car, a gift from my Professor:
My 1st brand new car after graduation:
And a van, it's not mine but I drove it for some time:
Well, a truck and an SUV:
I have simplified from big vehicles such as truck, van & SUV to smaller, more energy efficient car (and it's blue!) since I moved to smaller cities. In California, I didn't need to commute by car so a bicycle and my legs served my need to move around for groceries and other daily activities. Since moving back to Vietnam, I decided against living in big cities that required a motorbike. I choose to walk or bike most days and rent a motorbike to explore further places. This has worked out for me so far and I hope to keep things this simple. I'm still quite open to the idea of a motorbike when I need one.
I hope my sharing of this downsizing journey can be a motivation for you who are considering simplifying your belongings and your life. You don't have to get rid of your car or motorbike. Just simply clean out a drawer in your closet, a shelf in your bookshelf or your unused clothes/stuffs. Start small. I always encourage everyone to take small steps but frequently, with discipline you can reach freedom from materialism, find more joy and inner peace.
This is my Queen bike that helps me get around town now:
Maybe next on my list is:
Just kidding, maybe this one 😂
I enjoyed writing this, hope you enjoy reading it!
Thanks for supporting me and be SIMPLE!
With love from Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, Dec 2021
Oh wow you have owned and driven so many vehicles. I think the best and most simple transportation is our legs. 😁
Definitely agree with you on this. I was amazed discovering I can walk very far distance after years of depending on motorbike and cars. It's great feelings, but a strange thing for lots of Vietnamese when I tell them I walk 😂
Hello @nguyenthaonguyen,
Your post made me smile😊
That's a good way of looking at it, and I do believe that to be true🤗
Thanks for the tip on that Japanese book, I've only heard of Marie Kindo, not this one.
I like the tone, and the feelings you've expressed. It's great that you don't feel any lesser for going from big grand vehicles to small bicycles.
I do have a similar experience; I owned a small sports car when I lived in Jamaica because it was essential to have my personal vehicle in Jamaica, (the car is still there) but I haven't driven in ages, and hopefully I won't ever need to own a car.
I love bicycles, and that's the only thing I might consider getting.
I love your journey to minimalism, and as you've said, a little at a time. I will be doing some spring cleaning soon.
Welocme to the community, see you around:)
Thanks Camille for reading my post and welcoming me.
A small sports car must be nice 😄 Is it a manual transmission?
I'm happy to join the community and always excited to hear others' journey. This journey makes me feel fuller and more alive and conscious than ever before. It's still a long process for me of learning and struggling with the urge to buy and accumulate things. But it's going well with the support from like-minded community and members like you.
I hope we all can start spring cleaning as I have seen the same activity in my community here.
Enjoy being simple and have a Merry Christmas!🤶
Hello @nguyenthaonguyen,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply:)
It is a process indeed to abide by minimalism and stay on that path, as there's always temptations, and society forcing you to want more.
My car is actually an automatic, as in Jamaica our imports of cars are mainly automatic.
You sound fairly levelled headed to me and I have no doubt that you are happy and will find the strength and courage to continue living your simple and minimalistic life too.
I'm looking forward to hearing more of your stories:)
Thank you for your encouraging words. I'm continuing on this journey and yes, I always pray for strength and courage to live fully and more gently towards Mother Earth! :)
Xỉu luônnnn. Cô gái nào mặc áo dài đạp xe duyên dáng quá z 🤭
Em đừng bắt chước nha Vy .hihi
giờ em mập lắm ko có cái áo dài nào nhét nổi em đâu c kk
về VT lấy xe đạp mỗi ngày chạy hết mấy vòng VT nha, sẽ chui vô áo dài vừa thôi 😁
Hello @nguyenthaonguyen,
Hi @nguyenthaonguyen, thanks for inspiring us to pursue minimalism. For me, I have already let go some of my old unused stuffs but it's a struggle since I keep on thinking I could still use them in the future. Maybe, Sasaki's book can help me. Hopefully, I get to read it. Love your bikes! They are great alternatives to cars or motorbikes since you get to exercise too.
Thanks @laviesm! I'm happy to share this journey now, but it was great struggle to throw away anything at first for me, even now. I usually spend hours looking, thinking of usage and reasons I should keep something...At least now I control the intake more carefully by not buying as much to begin with.
You should challenge yourself to throw away one old stuff, donate one you don't need by end of 2021 and continue doing it and share your result for encouragement from this community. Have fun becoming a minimalist!
Hi @nguyenthaonguyen, great idea! I can donate some of my rarely used stuff to the recent typhoon victims here in the Philippines. Happy holidays, by the way ⛄
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Wooww @nguyenthaonguyen it's a blessing life. You have #TheMINIMALIST #lifestyle in huge love. Thank for sharing your story to us. . .
I definitely enjoy sharing this. Thanks for your support!!!
Wow, such a nice journey chi oi!
Hihi, viết ra thì "grand" vậy chứ lúc dọn đồ là cuộc chiến nội tâm khủng khiếp í em 😅
I'm practising minimalist too, but it's so hard as I like to keep everything LOL.
haha it's hard I know. I keep almost everything, even all my receipts from years ago 😖
I think that's why we are practicing only, keep doing it daily together :)