Enough

I'm becoming somewhat obsessed with the idea of decluttering.  I've subscribed to a few email lists about simplicity, living simply, minimalism, and decluttering, and enjoy gleaning the ideas in an effort to simplify my own life, to declutter.  I like to read books about things like Swedish Death Cleaning (that's really a thing, and if you haven't checked it out, I highly recommend it), making life simpler, and time-saving hacks.  I think when most people hear the word "minimalism," they think of getting rid of all one's possessions, and sleeping on the floor.  Talk about living simply, and the mental picture is of the Amish or a "hippie" commune.  It's usually about stuff.  Physical stuff.  Eliminating the stuff you already have and reducing the stuff you acquire.  

I also think a lot about the word "enough."  I made a bracelet at a women's retreat last year, and after agonizing over designing the perfect bracelet decided it should say "enough."  (BTW, the bracelet is a mess, with a couple of the letters upside-down and the color rubbing off some of the beads, but it really is the perfect depiction in a very imperfect medium of the idea of "enough.")  I'm reading Brené Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection, and love how it connects with the ideas of decluttering, simplicity, and enough.  The other day, I had an epiphany, inspired by all the things I'm reading and gleaning, that really captures what I'm trying to achieve in my life of simplicity.  See, this journey I'm on is not only about physical possessions, but simplifying how I spend my time.  Minimizing all the extra stuff I allow in to my brain, my heart, and my body.  Being kinder to myself by casting off the expectations of others, feelings of inadequacy, and all the "shoulds."  The epiphany:  I have enough.  I do enough.  I am enough.

The questions I'm asking myself are not just about stuff, but about my calendar and my value as a person.  Do I need this pair of jeans, or do I already have enough that I can put off this purchase or avoid it altogether?  Do I need the three pairs of black pants I already have, or could I give away one pair to someone who doesn't have enough?  This activity sounds like a lot of fun, but we already have three activities that weekend (and only one car)--do I have enough on my calendar already, and adding one more thing would actually make all the activities less fun?  Am I taking care of my physical and mental health, or doing things because I think I should do them, because I think my worth is tied to producing or accomplishing?  Do I need to say "enough"--enough spending, enough programming, enough striving?  

Enough is the ultimate freedom.  Recognizing that I don't need more makes me feel like I've been given wings.  Like I'm untethered.  Like I'm not attached to all the trappings.  Like there are no trappings.