A lot of people feel obligated to do an "I'm thankful for..." post on Thanksgiving. I scroll through my newsfeed seeing my friends all posting identical statuses listing what we are all supposed to be thankful for. Family, religion and food always make the cut. I continue to scroll.
Bored.
Very bored.
My friends are more interesting than this monotony. While I realize the importance and the value of these things (and wholeheartedly appreciate my own), I question the need to constantly recite our appreciation of them. Are we trying to convince ourselves or are these things we're truly thankful for? They are things so easily taken for granted. Shouldn't these things be assumed if they are really so important? Can we honestly say we are thankful for anything anymore? In a world of cheaply made, disposable products, what has value?
I genuinely feel thankful this year. Maybe for the first Thanksgiving ever. 2016 was a rough year at the start, I dealt with deep, unnerving postpartum depression, health issues and coping with the learning curve of more children in our household. Despite what I may have thought at the time, I did make it through to the other side. I have allowed the trials and triumphs of this year to transform me. Particularly that these little events added up to my unearthing of Minimalism. I can't put into words how thankful I am to have discovered the culture of Minimalism. Every natural tendency in me was given a name in that moment. Those tendencies were given a permission to exist despite my upbringing and the opinions of those that I value most. It was as if every little rabbit trail of my life flashed before my eyes culminating in the interstate that is this movement called Minimalism.
When I say Minimalism, almost everyone listening assumes I'm talking about owning very few physical possessions. In a way, yes, they're not wrong, but Minimalism is so much more than just the number of things in a person's home. I'm not even sure I can accurately describe all that it encompasses yet. I am still very much in the beginning stages of my journey, but I will try to elaborate on the subject. It is the ability to say, "No," when you genuinely don't want to partake in an activity and not feel guilty. It is the ability to say, "Yes!" loudly, and full of life when you find yourself in a moment of pure, focused joy. When you feel the impulse to do something and instead of moving forward you suddenly put the brakes on because you hear that little voice in your head whisper, "What if..?", it is the courage to vehemently say, "Shut up." It is embracing purpose and practicality. It is discarding or removing anything you don't find to be useful, beautiful or necessary. It is ignoring "The Joneses" and accepting YOU.
I have been learning so much about myself in the last few months. I am not afraid to discover who I really am anymore. Almost anything I dislike can be removed, changed or accepted as it will be. I can put aside the things, people or activities that spark my interest for only a few moments and use my time, focus and skills for true enjoyment. I am not pressured. I am being brave. I welcome who I will continue to grow to be. And today who I am is very, very genuinely thankful that I've been given new eyes to view the world.
