This is not how I started.

After marriage, when KG and I set up our first home, it was super special. We were on our own and wanted to have everything that would make it our world.  I remember how we changed the bare walls and empty spaces of a house to a fully functional, happy and cozy home.

In the materialistic society that we live in, there is often an invisible push to buy the latest and coolest gadgets, trendy clothes, and bigger and better things. And we were no different. In fact, I love all the things in my home and am quite proud of it. And why not, we have worked hard to accumulate every single thing in our home.

And then pandemic came in our world and it brought a change in our attitude towards life.

With so much of uncertainty and unexpected ‘extra time’, there was room to reflect on what is truly essential for life. One thing became very clear to me that one can survive (rather live well) with very little. And yes, ‘less is truly more’.

A slight change in our attitude can completely change how we feel and live our life.

I have not read any books on minimalism, such as those written by Marie Kondo, (though I have it on my Kindle) nor have I gone through online resources on the subject. My decision to adopt minimalism was not deliberate or premeditated. It was a necessity.

During the pandemic, there was a drive by NGOs to donate food, clothes, essentials to those in need.

I started with those cute little bottles of shampoo and shower gels, moisturizers and soap bars that I brought back from my stays in hotels due to work travel.

My dark secret? I always stuff these toiletries in my bag when I am checking out of the hotel room. And this is when I don’t use them, neither in the hotel nor once at home. But I have a dedicated drawer for these handmade soap bars and shampoos made from exotic ingredients.

Then I moved on to my clothes. While sorting the cupboards, I realized that I had so many clothes which were not worn for years!! Some had sentimental value attached to them, some I believed, I would fit in one day, AGAIN!! While there are some clothes which no longer suited my dressing sensibilities.

I started by decluttering my physical belongings, getting rid of things I no longer needed or used.

As I cleared out my space, I found that I felt lighter and more at peace. This led me to explore minimalism further and embrace it as a lifestyle. Now, I’m much more intentional about what I bring into my life, from the clothes I wear to the activities I participate in.

Minimalism has allowed me to focus on the things that truly matter in my life and let go of the rest, and I’m grateful for the peace and clarity it has brought me.

And that’s how I became an accidental minimalist.

Join me as I learn and explore about minimalism this April.