I never knew other people have felt like they would hurt their stuffed animals by getting rid of them. I remember I was somewhere between 6-8 years old. I had a Puff the Magic Dragon finger puppet and I lost it in the woods. I was horrified. I looked and looked and begged my dad to let me stay and keep looking, but it was long past time to go home. I was heartbroken. I truly felt like I was abandoning him. I still remember the feeling.
Respect to you for getting rid of stuffed animals. I too struggle with their little faces looking up at me asking "do you really not love me anymore? do you really want to do this?" I am otherwise a sane adult with a job, but I too struggle with furry faces because my inner child is convinced that they will feel rejection. That makes at least two of us. I am also dealing with weight gain and whether I think the gain will be permanent, and what to do with clothes for that thinner, younger me. I have had some luck with thanking clothing for their service and saying goodbye then.
I had a super revelation this week when I was decluttering my art supplies And I've been an artist my WHOLE LIFE that's 20+ years of collecting scraps, odds & ends! I'd hold up *something* and be like "what if i want to use this in a project, on a card, in a scrapbook or journal!?" And would put it back in the pile with all the other things i couldn't throw away BUT THIS WEEK WAS DIFFERENT. I had a thought, a brilliant thought, so good in fact that I'm positive someone else whispered it to me because there's no way that **I** came up with this all by myself. So here it is; the magic phrase that has *CHANGED MY LIFE* *Just use something else* That's it. It's so simple and brilliant! "Oh, what if i need this glitter that I haven't used in 5 years to decorate this card ?" Just use something else. "Oh what if I need this gold paper that I haven't touched since I bought it 3 years ago for this journal ?" Just use something else "oh but what if I need these flower cut outs to decorate something with ?" Just use something else!?!????? And I have! If i didn't have that stuff, I WOULD be using something else anyway! This simple phrase has genuinely opened my eyes and I managed to get rid of 60% of my unused art supplies and now all that's left are things that I KNOW i will use!! And no maybes or buts or what ifs!
I've always loved beautiful high shoes, but I'm 180cm and gangly, so I was always self conscious wearing them, and I can't really walk in them anyway, so getting rid of them was quite freeing. Also I never have Christmas decorations, and my family thinks I'm weird 🙃 It's nice to see another person who feels that a few poinsettias and a string of lights are enough ❤
The hardest thing was a dried rose from the top of my mother’s coffin. I had it for 17 years. It was so dusty and looked awful but throwing it away was really rough. I don’t feel bad at all about getting rid of it now.
Hardest thing I've ever decluttered was my guitars. I started playing when I was 14 and sold both my instruments last year when I was 24. Music was and still is something that is extremely self regulating to me, playing music got me through some hard times in my life and I even played a few live performances. But after I got married and moved, guitar reminded me of the past and the trauamatic things that happened as well as the good things. So a friend bought my two guitars and now he uses them for his live shows! They are still used and loved and I have more physical and mental space.
thank you so much to have shared this experience 🙏 and congrats for your step ✨ it inspired me and gives me the power to let go the box that i was preparing this week :) with emotional past stuff that i was planning to let go soon.. but still struggling i think.. but was preparing it..so feeling time is.. as i really want to make a move into my life and feel it is keeping me behind.. stuff reminding past, good and traumatic going with too.. and so i feel it is better to let all that to move to the new phase i really feel the wish to move on now, thank you for your positive that will confort others in process for sure :)
Kayla, your comment is very courageous and vulnerable. I'm facing a similar decision. I have 2 Celtic harps and 2 violins. I now am ready to let go of 1 of each of them for a few reasons (I won't go into here). I could use the extra cash and would love to see them being loved and played.
@@andeeanko7079 oh thank you for sharing your courageous decision too, ;) recently i sold an instrument too.. i hesitated a while and then felt so fine to let it flow, i have others things to let flow.. and your testimonies encourage to find the courage and faith that it is for the best after in fact ;) thank you all of you in this kind supportive community around the sweet lovely content creator, sweet and gentle she is, she creates a lovely community where we feel safe to be, express, thank you all of you 🙏💓☀️ :)
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
Hello Vera, I just turned 50 about two weeks ago. The best thing that I’ve ever let go of is being concerned what other people think I heard it put what other people think of me is none of my business and I’m just real happy with that.
Marie Kondo advises to put the doll/stuffed animal in a bag, cover their eyes with a cloth or paper and thank them as you let them go. You feel less guilty and when you cover their eyes you don’t feel pity. ☺️
A pair of over-alls that were my father's. He passed away suddenly when I was 22 years-old. I held on to them for a long time. It was his only piece of clothing I kept, so donating them was very hard. But, it's just a material THING. I knew I was getting strong at decluttering when I could let go of some old tattered over-alls. Keep the memories, get rid of unnecessary things.
Thank you for your reasoning that helped you let go of sentimental items, as it certainly applies to my souvenirs and gifts too. Visiting and staying with friends in Japan was a beautifully moving and magical experience for my husband and I- It shaped our mindsets, views and our home. Your connections with your experiences resonate. Also. Vera, I wear a simple cotton Yukata (sold at Japanese gift and hardware shops) as my daily bath robe in the summer and switch to a flannel one in winter- although it is not a traditional Kimono, it’s a casual and comfy piece of clothing that keeps the experiences close to heart, you might enjoy this for yourself. Now, I have a few souvenir (and gifted) items that are tucked away that i need to make decisions about. 💕
This was a great video. I’ve been slowly decluttering stuff and have let go of many of the things you mentioned. I think the hardest part is trying to do it all at once. For me, it has to be an organic process. One thing I did last year was cut all my hair off. It was taking up too much of my time and I realized I wanted to spend my time on other things. And recently donating all my old cameras. For me this meant giving up my childhood dream of becoming a photographer. I’m just not that person anymore. I don’t regret it or letting go of anything else. I send things off with a thankful heart and wishes to make the next owner happy and this helps me feel good about seeing someone else receive the same joy I did with those items. Thanks for sharing such beautiful stories about your loved items. Love your videos,
What a lovely video! It shows how Minimalism has the real potential to teach us about ourselves, and about what is important to us. It can help us develop an awareness of impermanence and how our ideas and needs change over time and can give us the resilience to accept those changes. For me the most difficult things I decluttered were books (I still have a small book collection but very much less than I used to own). Books have always been really special to me - I used to spend a lot of time in the library and in bookshops when going through very difficult times when I was young - so much so that now books feel very comforting to be around. Realising that I was keeping books that I had no intention to read again, and that I didn't perhaps even enjoy all that much when I did read them, was tough, almost as if I was betraying friends, and letting them go was even tougher. But I don't regret decluttering them at all. Now I only have the books that mean the most to me .
Thank you so much for sharing yours! I can imagine books being high up on the list. Thankfully, I have an e-reader so I don't have to deal with that hahaha. Happy you enjoyed the video!
@@SimpleHappyZen I've an e-reader now myself to prevent my small physical book collection from expanding. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but it's great and so convenient! 🙂
Letting my piano go as it was where I could pour all my emotions as a single mom and didn't want to vent stuff my kids didn't need to carry, but I needed the money at the time. I did mourn that one.
I love what you said about how you feel more like yourself in sneakers and that high heels were something that your fantasy self would wear. I feel the same and it took me way too long to realize that. I have one pair of heels left in the closet that I feel guilty decluttering because I love how they look, but they gave me awful plantar fasciitis that took over a year to fix. It’s time to let them go.
Thank you for this video. I needed to hear everything you talked about. You are a beautiful person and I'm so grateful I found this channel. I'm 61 years old and still learning. Thank you.
What a great video Vera ... the hardest thing for me to "declutter" was/is my corporate job of 30 years. I've now resigned and I finish on Tuesday 17th :) For a very long time I have been too committed to the financial security that the job brings ... despite the impacts on my mental and physical health. This year I've been quite close to burnout - in fact it was your videos on burnout that led me to discover your channel - so I have finally realised it is enough, and I am ready to let go of the career and take to time out to rest and recuperate.
Wow I'm so excited for you, thank you for sharing Louise! I love that you ultimately decided to choose your own health and happiness and put that first. 🤗🍃🌿🌺 Wishing you all the best!!!
As a child I started to let go and declutter some things. My grandparents from both sides were opposites. One set kept a lot of things and the others got rid of too much. A lot of my things were “decluttered” without asking me such as clothes, toys, and even pets (yikes!). Since then I’ve tried to strike a balance. I can’t actually think of anything I’ve had a hard time decluttering perhaps because I started early in life.
Thanks Vera for sharing your story behind the things you finally decluttered. ❤ My son is 49 years old and I kept every card he gave me. It was very hard for me to let go of them. I can say now that I have decluttered all of them except the ones that have personal messages that he wrote.
Wonderful video for me to watch today. My hardest thing to get rid of is... everything right now. I'm not a minimalist, but in many ways "am" at my core. This century has been a nightmare time of me moving many times, and each time HAVING to get rid of things, which is entirely different from choosing to get rid of things. Then I had what items I had left wiped out by someone who was carelessly storing them for me while I was away from home. I had things stolen. I lost my income, and so now everything I own is getting old and falling apart and I can't replace them. So the theme of all of this time is "loss loss loss." I still have a bunch of stuff, in a storage locker. They just raised the rent and I truly cannot afford to keep things there any more. Another forced declutter. BUT BUT BUT... Watching your videos (and I have subscribed for a while because I'm also HSP and connect with you in other topics), I know I'm a "want to" minimalist at heart. It is who I am. It is only the trauma of the past umpteen years that has me clinging to everything and anything that is left. The reality is, I don't look at the stuff in my offsite storage locker. The reality is, I live in a very small apartment. The reality is that I currently DO have the CHOICE to pare down to the essentials. And that is a kind of therapy! I don't know when I will start, and I know it will be a tiny, slow start, but I do thank you for your videos. Also, my god, you're adorably cute and it just is mind-boggling that you struggled with your appearance. Being a woman, I get it, but as an outside observer looking in? You're gorgeous, and yes, I think even from watching your earlier videos to the current ones, watching you get more comfortable in your own skin with time? You are glowing now.
Aw thank you so much for your sweet words 🤗💖 Also, I'm so sorry to read about your struggles, I can imagine that must all be very challenging to deal with, and it sounds like you have lots on your plate. Wishing you all the best with everything and I hope things will also start to improve for you 🌷
Hardest things I have letting go are sentimental - handmade gifts from family and crafts that my children made for me. I finally decluttered the ones that either were not special such as the multiple knitted pot holders or broken or torn items. I kept the things that I know took a lot of thought and effort such as the quilt that my mom made with images of things she knows I like. Thank you for sharing about your items and your thoughts for each one!
Thank you for talking about decluttering habits, hobbies, and states of mind, as well as stuff. I have been cleaning out storage units of a deceased relative who kept EVERYTHING, and it has been very thought-provoking for how I like to live more simply. Change can be sad, but also very freeing. Thank you for yet another good video.
I feel you so much about the heels. I decluttered the last two pairs of heels last weekend because of exactly the same reasons. I also decluttered/donated/sold stuffed animals, and it was really, really difficult for me.
This video is very valuable to me.Thank you for sharing your feelings with such honesty and sensibility, Vera. I feel reflected in your experiences. Decluttering can be such a relief when you finally take that step but there are some challenging times and circumstances, not to mention sentimental stuff, which I find the hardest, that make it quite a journey. I used to declutter periodically, getting rid of clothes and other stuff rather well but lately I've felt overwhelmed by the massive number of belongings (some are mine but most of them are inherited) and I've had to come to a halt and take a deep breath before I go on. It's just too painful and difficult to make so many decisions, and no matter how many things I let go, there are always more waiting. Anyway, I'm glad I'm not alone in this and I know I must pluck up courage and do it!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, you can do it Eli! Just keep taking one small step after another :) And feel free to check in with yourself and keep some things around (maybe in a box somewhere for 6 months) if you're not sure about them.
👌Hi Vera, the hardest thing I ever let go, were my barbiedolls🤣. I know it's silly, but I enjoyed them sooooooo much every day when I was a child they were part of my family sort of speak... . The were in my closet in their special travelbox for almost 20 years (they used to go everywhere I went as a kid😅) .my little niece turnt out to hate dolls💔. one day friend came for tea with her daughter, I knew the girl was very fond to play with her mams old dolls. I put them out for her to play with while we had tea. Her face lightened up with pure joy when she opened the lock on the travelbox. It was like she opend treasure box full diamants and every one she pulled out her face got even brighter. That night I talked it over first at home, than had a couple of nights of sleep on it. I called my friend to ask if she would like it when I gave them to her daughter because they were actually very used dolls. She agreed, a couple of weeks later was the little girls birthday. I did the dolly's hair, put on the very best cloth, made sure all the pairs of shoes were complete and gift wrapped the travelbox. I knew I did the right thing when she took of the wrapping .the girl was still mesmerised when she found out what it was. Not one regret what so ever😍, I don't think she plays with dolls anymore though, it's more playing with her boyfriend now I think it's been well over 15 years🤣😅. I don't mind, I did not ask if she still has them, she enjoyed them. It was a great relief to find them a good home. Now I am going to give away two stuffed animals I made myself twenty years ago. One soft and fit for a newborn👶🏻 baby and one for her big sisther who likes to play tea with bears. I have a selfmade bear🐻 that can move it legs and sit properly for tea 🍵🫖old-fashioned style . It's alright I wanted them to be played with for all those year anyway. Its good to let go👌 you are tight about that!
I've not had any regrets decluttering I always find i'm totally really ready go. After this video I started declutting even more with even greater ease love this one Vera thanks for sharing especially about letting go of smaller clothese and how good it feels to ware clothes that fit now that's empowering and realistic I will keep this in mind 💜
Such a relatable video! I can imagine how hard it must have been to declutter those stuffed animals, I only have 1 left from childhood and that sweet bear will just be with me forever. 🥰 What you say about getting rid of the high heals and the caring about how you look I had that too, but then more in the way of that I want everything to be comfortable. So never again will I wear uncomfortable shoes (like high heals) or clothes that are made of materials i dont like (jeans), clothes have to feel nice and soft and comfortable right away for me now. (So i wear a lot of merino wool shirts and corduroy pants, i look like a history teacher from the 1970’s 😂) Also I stopped wearing the only make up i wore: mascara, because it didnt feel nice on my face, i only wear day cream and sun protection on my face. And you know what? No one cares! 🙃 I am just a person who doesnt wear make up and its all fine for everyone. And lastly what you say about the hobbies I can relate also, I rode a motorcycle for 2 years, at first it was scary but i thought it was just something i had to get used to. But then after 2 years I stíll felt it was scary so then I decided it just wasnt the thing for me, even though I loved riding the motorcycle I just felt scared of all the other traffic all the time and that made it difficult to enjoy it. If i am ever in the US or somewhere where you have these long empty roads i will try again probably but not here in the Netherlands where there is traffic everywhere. Thanks for this open and insightfull video Vera! I think a lot of people can relate and struggle with this. 🌿
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts Nina!! Ooooh I can imagine riding a motorcycle here in the Netherlands must be so scary.. Like you said, there's traffic everywhere
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
I am in agreement with you on getting rid of clothes that are too small/ no longer fit right. For a very long time I kept clothes that would not fit me anymore with a 3-5 lb weight gain and I would constantly use these clothes to direct my weight. It became exhausting, I finally got rid of these items…there was A LOT and I can’t tell you how much freedom I feel now. Also, these clothes were a much dressier style than I care to wear now so it was a win-win😅
What I love about your channel is you practice what you preach, for example, watching your bullet journal video I decided to carry on in the same book rather than buying a new one, and that worked out just fine. Great video as usual:)
That tea looks amazing Vera … I use Ceylon 🇱🇰 cinnamon sticks … I bought a poncho in Mexico many years ago - I wear it occasionally, but not as often as I should - hard to let it go 🙄🇲🇽
Vera, this was a wonderful episode. Watching you grow and mature is very special. I am certain your dad is very proud of you, and of course you should be proud of yourself. I am certain many people can relate to everything you spoke about in this video. I know I did. Till next time! ☮️🌷🌍🤗
Hi Vera! Oh my goodness do I love this video. I recently have been decluttering an expensive hobby that I was into for about twelve years, a frilly Japanese fashion all about fancy dresses. I realized that it just wasn't for me and I wanted to save money, but also that I had just completely outgrown the whole concept of dressing up in it and standing out so much. Now I've made a bunch of money back by selling all my items, and I'm becoming more comfortable in my own sense of style. This was the hardest thing to declutter as I went back and forth for many years, but now I do feel 100x better! I really love your videos about minimalism, can't wait to see what else you have in store! ^_^
Love what you shared!! I've always really enjoyed Japanese fashion styles on others and I've wondered about getting into it when I was younger. Never did though, it seems like you need to get so many things for it haha. I can imagine getting lots of joy out of them, but also outgrowing the concept after a wihle. Thanks for sharing :)
@@SimpleHappyZen Thank you for the reply!! Yeah, you have to get a whole lot of different things for it and it becomes a big collection of stuff. As I got older, I became less and less comfortable wearing it. I think I was mainly keeping it around because other people like me wearing it! Haha. You're welcome! ^_^
I love you, Vera, your content is soo inspiring and you have changed my life in great positive ways. Your content makes me so happy, thank you for existing. 💜
I have family members that love to give guilt trips when I declutter things. I try to tell them that I still have the memory without the item, but they do make it difficult at times if I want to declutter items they’ve given me. When my father passed away, it was very touching to find that he had saved every goofy little card I had made for him when I was little, so that makes getting rid of my kids art, etc, hard….. I still have many of their school made gifts. I had trouble, like you, getting rid of stuffed animals, shoes and cards.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I don't have kids but I can imagine it must be tricky to know which of their art works and school made stuff to keep and which to get rid of. Probably just comes down to keeping your favorites I guess :) I do know that there are some parents on YT who talk about this topic.
Love the video! Makes me more introspective about my own minimalism and decluttering journey. Thanks for the Christmas mention. That's an area where I've felt "behind" like the apartment should be more Christmasy. I even put on my calendar to start looking for ornaments in July (!) and finish decorating one month before Christmas (!). Your video alleviates this pressure😆
Thank you Molly! :) It's really delicious. And also, since it's quite fancy in terms of the ingredients used, it could be good to know that you can pour water on the same ingredients up to three times and still get lots of flavor from them.
Thank you, another wonderful video! I was sick this week with covid and was finally able to tackle the greeting cards like you mention here. Using your tips form previous videos, I recycled those that did not have hand written messages, and cut out ones with nice designs, as i enjoy collaging. It was very hard as I felt guilty (I had not thrown any away in over 10 years as I felt they had taken the time to think of me), but it truly feels so much better now so have a handful of personal ones and more space reclaimed. 😊
I completely understand your sadness of getting rid of your stuffed animals. I recently made a similar decluttering decision. I now have only one, the little tiger I got on my second birthday, it's an antique now! 😅🐯🐅🙏 Oh, I'm a new subscriber, by the way - I love your content!
I had kimonos too - I bought them in Target ha. After many years, they had to go as I didnt wear them anymore. It took ages, but the memories of the joy I had with them at the time is still there. Another one is my hobby of painting terricotta ordaments and pots. It took a few years to declutter as though the interest was not there i thought I would change my mind. I did the declutter gradually and have kept one pot - big relief . I think I was nervous and emotional of letting go of what meant joy for many years - loved your encourging video with sharing your experiences in your journey with items as well as tips for us 💛
I would say letting go of a significant portion of my movie collection has been a difficult process. I did try to make myself believe that I would actually sit down and watch them when in reality I had no desire to do so. It used to be a hobby I quite enjoyed, but now when I do it I suddenly feel tired and lose all interest. So most of them are either getting sold or donated.
Just got home from throwing away some broken wooden furniture. They could have yielded good material for my woodwork hobby, but I decided that what I had already in my stash was going to be (more than) enough. Opened UA-cam and the first video that came on was this!😁
Thank you for sharing how difficult it can be to get rid of things that have meaning to you but still take up space. I always look forward to your videos and your insight Vera. Ps. I'm going through a difficult time with deciding on what to declutter as well.
I just came back to working in the office after 2 years of remote work. This is the first time my suites don't fit me. I feel so shocked. I know I've gained 23 pounds since turning 35 because I've been feeling down about my career and just like eating out of boredom. I want to give myself a year before I let go of these clothes that defined my style. My big sister told me "You can't be a size zero or one forever and to not focus on clothes size" I know I need to keep things that make me happy but I just want to give it this year and see if my lifestyle changes make a difference. Moving back to the city I do have to walk to work and everywhere else we need to go, so even that is a change in the activities I do.
I've been enjoying and learning a lot from your videos for a couple of months so far. It's my first time to write a comment on your video. I'm glad to hear that you've come to Japan. (I'm Japanese) I love how you look happy to talk about Japanese tea in some videos💕 Thank you for your creations, I'll keep watching them.
This is so timely currently decluttering and have the same problem to let go all of those you mentioned except for 4 . Thank you for this video very helpful . More power !
This was a great video! I have decluttered a lot from my childhood (including my journals and toys). I haven’t regretted it at all. I still have my wedding dress but I have thought about letting it go numerous times. Still can’t seem to part with it. I know no one will ever wear it again and I have been married for early 30 years. Perhaps when we downsize I might be able to part with it. We have also pared down our Christmas decorations quite a bit and tried to only keep what I love and feels meaningful but I would still like to get rid of more. I find it feels fine when things come out at first but after a few weeks it feels a little cluttered. Plus I have to store 6 bins in the basement all year to only be using the stuff for a few weeks.
Yes that's such a funny thing isn't it, I'm always kind of relieved when Christmas is over and I can go back to my regular, clutter free surfaces hahaha
This is an amazing video. There was a lot in here that I used to know but forgot in the last few years. I appreciate your thoughts more than you could know, and the timing was perfect.
I think the hardest thing for me to get rid of were some old dolls and my teddy bear that I had had since I was a baby. They were all at my mom' s house since she was saving them for my daughter to play with but, she decided to get rid of them because my daughter is now a teen going on 22. It was hard but, it still felt like the right thing to do. In the end MOST things can be replaced like your TV, stereo, etc.
Another great video, thanks 🤩 I moved around a lot (living in different countries) so luckily I don't have any particular attachment to childhood toys, clothes or memorabilia. I think most of my things were donated to charity or other family members with small kids. Only exception are photo albums, and those are really precious to me so I'll always keep them. 😍 Clothes that no longer fit resonated with me on a deeper level because I get attached to clothes and tie them to moments I lived in a specific outfit. But between 15 and 30 years old I gained around 10 kg so gradually I would not fit into some of the clothes. It was both terrifying and freeing to finally let go of them and realise that it's normal as a 30 year old woman not to weight 47kg anymore or fit into my teenage clothes.
OK, Vera, OK, I'll donate those items in the two boxes in the corner of my bedroom. They've only been waiting for a year so far. The hardest thing I've ever let go of was one piece of jewelry of my wife's and to this day I regret getting rid of that one item.
@@SimpleHappyZen Hi Vera, yes but very little which is fine. However, I should have kept a simple Virgin Mary medallion she had since young as a Spanish Catholic (which I am not). It's not the medallion as such, it's more like I didn't understand what that meant at the time. We make mistakes, we go on. 🙄
This is an excellent video. I can resonate with the stuffed animals - and dolls like Cabbage Patch Kids too! I do wish I kept a few. I have a video idea for you - is there anything you've accidentally decluttered that you realized later? (Example- I was decluttering papers from my yoga teacher training and realized later I'd also had with them my personalized Vedic astrology reading, which I'd mean to keep. I also love your concept of decluttering standards- awesome, Vera! Thank you!
Thanks so much Kiki! Hmmm now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever decluttered something by accident... If I did I haven't noticed haha. If I declutter paper, I will always tear it up into a million pieces first, just for privacy reasons I guess, and because of that, I'll hold everything in my hands first. So it'd be hard for something else to sneak in there that I didn't mean to recycle. Have a great rest of your weekend!
Hi Vera, I've been watching some of your videos and want to comment here (the newest one) so you can read it easily. Just by looking at your room/background I immediately feel better (it's clean, neat, and bright), such a good vibe. You're so gentle and sweet. And you know, your "pale skin" that you once mentioned made you feel insecure - I can say that your skin is what 99% Asian girls dream of (here in Asia we love white skin:D). You are beautiful!
The things I've decluttered alre always hard to let go of but I rarely even remember them. The only thing I've ever regretted was a yellow sundress I got rid of last year (probably for a reason) and I'm sure it's only because it's almost summer now and I haven't found a replacement 😂
I had a collection of D&D novels. They were a big part of my life for several years (as was the community around them). But recently, the combination of the fandom and decisions made by the company that I didn't like, I found that holding on to them was just making me sad. So...I finally let them go earlier this year.
Hardest thing I "decluttered" was my former circle of friends. I was moving in a new direction and we didn't have anything in common any more. It hurt. A lot.
Ay yes, I can imahine.. I actually had a similar experience when I was younger. Thanks for sharing and I hope you'll be able to find some new friends with whom you have more in common!
. . . Most everyone we 'cross paths' with - for a shorter or longer duration , are , meant to be just 'that' ... for a certain while - only . It is a part of growing - up to both realise and accept that truth . " And Truth is Sad " - Neil Diamond
Oddly enough, I’ve gotten rid of a lot but the hardest was my high school graduation tassels. Growing up, for my brother and I it was a big deal that my mom had hers. I got rid of them during a declutter, and now I feel kinda sad. I wish I hadn’t.. but I know it can’t be undone. I just wish I had given that some more thought. I don’t know if that’s a big deal, or if many others keep them, but in my family it was a big deal 😔
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
I think decluttering is not about having to get rid of as many things as possible and 80% of your past self (or selves :-)). It's about gaining literal and mental room in the space you live to breathe, function and thrive in. Consequently, how much you declutter is going to mean something different for everyone. Therefore, I don't necessarily agree with the fact that it's silly you'd want to hold on to certain items, particularly from your past. I think it's perfectly natural that an item that once brought you joy/love is hard to let go of. In the end, it's a balancing act. I declutter whatever makes me feel lighter, but I don't feel bad about keeping some 'emotional items' that bring a smile to my face. Someone who also posts videos on minimalism suggested to put such items in a 'memory box', which helps as it does make me very mindful on what to keep because I don't want to end up with a house full of memory boxes.. :-) Oh and you are totally right about the clothes in several sizes. Finally got rid of those!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I can't agree more :) All the things I mentioned in this video stopped putting a smile on my face and became something more negative instead, so I let them go in the end. But I still keep many things, just because they make me feel good/happy/comfortable. It's all about deciding what you want to keep, not necessarily what you want to get rid of. We get rid of things that don't serve us anymore, so that we can enjoy what truly matters more :)
That's the worst haha :) In the end, they're just objects though.. But in the end, it's all about what makes sense for you. If I didn't have plans to move somewhere smaller, I might've made a different choice.
I'm curious about the tea, that you made, from fresh ingerdients and dried herbs, in your intro. Looks simple, but do you mind, listinf all of thr ingredients ? Your video expressions and tips, bring peace, relaxtion and practicality, to me. Thank you.
Thank you so much Kathy! The tea was made with fresh rosemary, ginger, a cinnamon stick, star anise, and a grapefruit wedge. Sweetener is optional, I used a bit of agave syrup. The cool thing about this tea drink is that you can pour water on the same ingredients 2-3 times and you can still get lots of flavor from them. So no need to throw them out after one use. Let me know if you try it! :)
Hi vera, great video! Your video has inspired me to declutter some items I was struggling with or too lazy to tackle. However, I still hold on my piano and guitar although I haven't played in months. I have a really hard time decluttering them because I still love music and could play nice pieces on them. Yet, I don't have time (or don't make time) anymore for this hobby. I got better at decluttering gifts though. I think that the fact we hold on to certain items has something to do with us thinking too much about what other people are going to think. What will people think of me if I declutter a gift from my grandma? What will people think of me if I don't own Christmas decorations? What I've learnt with minimalism is to live my life according to my beliefs and passions without caring too much about the opinion of other people. Have a nice day and take care 🌼
I love that lesson! So important to think about how WE want to live our lives, instead of on what it will look like to others. Of course we can keep others in our minds and make compromises, but in the end, when it's our home and our stuff, we get to decide :) And we don't owe others an explanation. Have a lovely week and a happy Monday!
Personally, I've never regretted decluttering something. However, I'm sure that I would have regret not starting decluttering in the future. So if you don't declutter because of this fear remember that things can be bought again most of the times, but years of waiting in order to be sure one day, never return. 💙💚💛
oh thank you for these words.. very inspiring as a reminder and a confort to keep on focusing for the dream projects Now and to do concrete actions steps for it Now, as learning concrete steps for new dream work path, diving into passions and projects i always dream to create.. and even collecting info for a dream travel i always dream to do too, a few months travel and learn a new language with it.. all in the same time seems crazy.. as i am in a real life transition, changing job, feel to change all.. but step by step, implementing the roots and bases for these dreams for the now, and i finally feel ready to let the past :) was not easy but so freeing liberating even if positive or not.. even being too attached to positive past was not helping to move on, i can keep the joy it has been but others lovely things will be now ! :) and this community helps to sense I can move on , thank you :) 😘 a lot of positive inspiring words in this community :) thank you everyone 😘☺️✨
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
The hardest thing I decluttered was my late mother's sweatshirt with all the grandchildren names written on it. I am 61 and still have two special stuffed animals. My kids will have to handle that, but I can't let them go.😢
The hardest things I declutter was my Japanese textbooks. I major in Japanese and I hold on to my Japanese textbooks for 10 years. Not landing the job I wanted in Japan I decided it was time to move on in life and find different career path. I still love Japanese language and Japanese culture.
thank you for this inspiring content ;) 🙏😘 I let go a lot of activities and the material in link with (books, accessories going with these practices) and material from my old work as I feel to move on. I kept them for a while as I invested 10 years in these practices and work.... and after years, I felt to let go all of it and I felt sooo liberated then.. :) it was not easy and I hesitated a very long time but since, I felt more ready and so much free to dive into my passions, new dreams, and felt even lighter, even not so worrying about life.. ;) in fact.. letting go helps me to make me ready to move on :) but i felt it, step by step :) courage for everyone in process 😘✨ and sincerely i felt good to go by step, slowly to sense the moment, to be sure if struggling with some things.. ;) until we feel the moment ready for letting it go ;) 👌⋮
@@SimpleHappyZen thank you :) step by step.. :) not yet there, but people like us is comfort to the heart to keep it up :) thank you to share your kind advices :)
I constantly struggle with letting go of clothing that I want to fit into or fit back into. it's so so hard especially when you truly buy good quality classic pieces! Thank you for this video I need to really work on this and declutter these pieces out asap! Since you took Tai chi for so many years you're the right person to ask ... Can you recommend a good beginner app or UA-cam channel. My husband's very interested in Tai chi. But it would have to be a gentle ease in as he is 66 years old and a little stiff. Hoping this will help with his balance and loosen him up a little bit. Would appreciate any advice. Thank you
Yes exactly.. it's tough :) If you do decide to let them go (which you don't have to, totally your decision 🙂) it might make it easier to know that those high quality pieces will be enjoyed by someone else. For example, I like to donate my 'dressier' clothing items to Dress for success. That way I know that they can be helpful for others. Of course, there are many other good options. You could also host a party and give them away, or sell them online to make some of the money back. About Tai Chi, I actually don't know of a channel or app... I went to an actual class for all this time. So I never did it through a digital source. I'm sure there are tai chi for beginner videos out there though :)
Enjoyed this one a lot. Brought up a few of the hardest things for me. I still have a watch that was my mother's. She's been gone 2 years and not only do I not wear watches but her wrists were larger than mine. Definitely sentimental yet it sits in a drawer I don't even look at. Plus it's a beautiful piece someone would enjoy. All 10 were areas for me too ... Stuffed animals were not easy to let go. I had a hearty sized teddy bear collection! They have a face! Yes High heels. Ugh. Got rid of a lot of Christmas stuff then ended up with Mom's! Left groups, clubs, & organizations that no longer resonated. Thank you for your beautiful videos and messages.
Thank you so much, that's nice to hear! :) About the drink, it's a fresh herbal tea kind of cocktail. I used fresh rosemary, grapefruit, ginger, a cinnamon stick and star anise. Sweetener is optional, I used a bit of agave syrup. Enjoy!
You had them all right 😄 Grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary and star anise (the brown spiky thing) with a little sweetener (optional, I used agave syrup)
I got rid of all of my heels too (I still have some wedges that are very moderate) but the “sexy” shoes had to go. I can’t do it anymore, I need comfort. 😂
I am the same with stuffed animals, I just can’t bear to throw them away, even though they are extremely cluttery items, you actually feel like they are alive and they will be sad, 😫
I keep them for a few weeks, displayed on my dresser in my living room. Then, I decide if they'll get recycled or if they'll get transfered to my little box where I keep sentimental papers.
Stuffed animals are harder when you realise you don't have them for your kids. That has been the hardest for me. I don't have things to hand down to my daughter.
I think minimalism and decluttering are becoming overemphasize today. Keep the things that are important to you. Because if you do toss them, you're going to end up regretting it. I know that I do. I think it's more important to have a functional home with as much or as little stuff as you want. The amount doesn't matter. The quality and the importance of the items do.
I’m not sure I could say any particular thing really. I think for me the “levels” become harder as you do more and more of it. I’m focusing now more on trying to see it as a self discovery adventure rather than seeing the sad girl who amassed so many things Bcuz she was so insecure. I forgive myself tho. I just didn’t know who I was eh? And I didn’t have a lot of faith about even being able to find things that fit me like a glove or suit me to a tee. So when the ads came at me for all these products promising to “change my life” I was like ok why not try it? I guess the happy part is that now I can discover a lot more about who I really and truly am and it’s def a lot of fun to me when you find those awesome bomb a$$ things that you love using and having. It has a way of helping you not even want what all you had before. (Which were more like “experiments” I guess). I think so much of it too is how I didn’t really have a grasp on something being “so right for me” Bcuz I had so many “make do” things and your brain starts to think “mediocre make do” is as good as it ever gets...when that’s not really true. Recently it was me noticing a bomb a$$ body scrub and how all these others are quite a joke. I’m over here like you call that a scrub? And some mineral makeup that was also amazing. Silly things I know (not at all sentimental etc) but these little things matter Imo. “Life changing” isn’t all the various products tho. “Life changing” is when you find “the ones” that fit you like a glove and really deliver.
@@SimpleHappyZen we were going to downsize a couple of years ago as well, but we didn’t, and boy did we get rid of a lot of stuff and it felt great. But I parted with a bookcase my dad built and now with not moving I regret that decision. But I have other pieces he made that I’m never letting go of😁
Hi Vera, I just have to comment on your tea. I have some extra ginger root I didn’t know what to do with. Your tea looks so yummy! I’m making some tonight 😍🌼
I never knew other people have felt like they would hurt their stuffed animals by getting rid of them. I remember I was somewhere between 6-8 years old. I had a Puff the Magic Dragon finger puppet and I lost it in the woods. I was horrified. I looked and looked and begged my dad to let me stay and keep looking, but it was long past time to go home. I was heartbroken. I truly felt like I was abandoning him. I still remember the feeling.
Aw that must've been tough 😢
Respect to you for getting rid of stuffed animals. I too struggle with their little faces looking up at me asking "do you really not love me anymore? do you really want to do this?" I am otherwise a sane adult with a job, but I too struggle with furry faces because my inner child is convinced that they will feel rejection. That makes at least two of us. I am also dealing with weight gain and whether I think the gain will be permanent, and what to do with clothes for that thinner, younger me. I have had some luck with thanking clothing for their service and saying goodbye then.
Aaaaaaaah that's heartbreaking!! 😱😭 I had to really remind myself they weren't thinking these things
Toy story syndrome.
I had a super revelation this week when I was decluttering my art supplies
And I've been an artist my WHOLE LIFE that's 20+ years of collecting scraps, odds & ends!
I'd hold up *something* and be like "what if i want to use this in a project, on a card, in a scrapbook or journal!?" And would put it back in the pile with all the other things i couldn't throw away
BUT THIS WEEK WAS DIFFERENT. I had a thought, a brilliant thought, so good in fact that I'm positive someone else whispered it to me because there's no way that **I** came up with this all by myself. So here it is; the magic phrase that has *CHANGED MY LIFE*
*Just use something else*
That's it. It's so simple and brilliant! "Oh, what if i need this glitter that I haven't used in 5 years to decorate this card ?" Just use something else. "Oh what if I need this gold paper that I haven't touched since I bought it 3 years ago for this journal ?" Just use something else "oh but what if I need these flower cut outs to decorate something with ?" Just use something else!?!?????
And I have! If i didn't have that stuff, I WOULD be using something else anyway! This simple phrase has genuinely opened my eyes and I managed to get rid of 60% of my unused art supplies and now all that's left are things that I KNOW i will use!! And no maybes or buts or what ifs!
I absolutely LOVE everything about this 😄😍
@@SimpleHappyZen thank you, my love!! Your videos are also so inspiring! 💙💙💙💙
I've always loved beautiful high shoes, but I'm 180cm and gangly, so I was always self conscious wearing them, and I can't really walk in them anyway, so getting rid of them was quite freeing. Also I never have Christmas decorations, and my family thinks I'm weird 🙃 It's nice to see another person who feels that a few poinsettias and a string of lights are enough ❤
The hardest thing was a dried rose from the top of my mother’s coffin.
I had it for 17 years. It was so dusty and looked awful but throwing it away was really rough. I don’t feel bad at all about getting rid of it now.
Hardest thing I've ever decluttered was my guitars. I started playing when I was 14 and sold both my instruments last year when I was 24. Music was and still is something that is extremely self regulating to me, playing music got me through some hard times in my life and I even played a few live performances. But after I got married and moved, guitar reminded me of the past and the trauamatic things that happened as well as the good things. So a friend bought my two guitars and now he uses them for his live shows! They are still used and loved and I have more physical and mental space.
Love what you shared so much and I've recently actually made a similar decision. Thanks so much for sharing it :)
thank you so much to have shared this experience 🙏 and congrats for your step ✨ it inspired me and gives me the power to let go the box that i was preparing this week :) with emotional past stuff that i was planning to let go soon.. but still struggling i think.. but was preparing it..so feeling time is.. as i really want to make a move into my life and feel it is keeping me behind.. stuff reminding past, good and traumatic going with too.. and so i feel it is better to let all that to move to the new phase i really feel the wish to move on now, thank you for your positive that will confort others in process for sure :)
Kayla, your comment is very courageous and vulnerable. I'm facing a similar decision. I have 2 Celtic harps and 2 violins. I now am ready to let go of 1 of each of them for a few reasons (I won't go into here). I could use the extra cash and would love to see them being loved and played.
@@andeeanko7079 oh thank you for sharing your courageous decision too, ;) recently i sold an instrument too.. i hesitated a while and then felt so fine to let it flow, i have others things to let flow.. and your testimonies encourage to find the courage and faith that it is for the best after in fact ;) thank you all of you in this kind supportive community around the sweet lovely content creator, sweet and gentle she is, she creates a lovely community where we feel safe to be, express, thank you all of you 🙏💓☀️ :)
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
Hello Vera, I just turned 50 about two weeks ago. The best thing that I’ve ever let go of is being concerned what other people think I heard it put what other people think of me is none of my business and I’m just real happy with that.
I totally agree! Also, congrats on turning 50 Bill, that's awesome! 🤗
You have the most calming channel on UA-cam 💕
Aw thank you so much Lauren!! 🤗🍂🌿
Marie Kondo advises to put the doll/stuffed animal in a bag, cover their eyes with a cloth or paper and thank them as you let them go. You feel less guilty and when you cover their eyes you don’t feel pity. ☺️
I got rid of all my heels 15 years ago and have never looked back, as a tall lady I don't need more height. Feels good.
Nice! :)
A pair of over-alls that were my father's. He passed away suddenly when I was 22 years-old. I held on to them for a long time. It was his only piece of clothing I kept, so donating them was very hard. But, it's just a material THING. I knew I was getting strong at decluttering when I could let go of some old tattered over-alls. Keep the memories, get rid of unnecessary things.
Wow that must've been very challenging.. thank you for sharing Lindsey, have a lovely weekend!
Thank you for your reasoning that helped you let go of sentimental items, as it certainly applies to my souvenirs and gifts too. Visiting and staying with friends in Japan was a beautifully moving and magical experience for my husband and I- It shaped our mindsets, views and our home. Your connections with your experiences resonate. Also. Vera, I wear a simple cotton Yukata (sold at Japanese gift and hardware shops) as my daily bath robe in the summer and switch to a flannel one in winter- although it is not a traditional Kimono, it’s a casual and comfy piece of clothing that keeps the experiences close to heart, you might enjoy this for yourself. Now, I have a few souvenir (and gifted) items that are tucked away that i need to make decisions about. 💕
This was a great video. I’ve been slowly decluttering stuff and have let go of many of the things you mentioned. I think the hardest part is trying to do it all at once. For me, it has to be an organic process. One thing I did last year was cut all my hair off. It was taking up too much of my time and I realized I wanted to spend my time on other things. And recently donating all my old cameras. For me this meant giving up my childhood dream of becoming a photographer. I’m just not that person anymore. I don’t regret it or letting go of anything else. I send things off with a thankful heart and wishes to make the next owner happy and this helps me feel good about seeing someone else receive the same joy I did with those items. Thanks for sharing such beautiful stories about your loved items. Love your videos,
What a lovely video! It shows how Minimalism has the real potential to teach us about ourselves, and about what is important to us. It can help us develop an awareness of impermanence and how our ideas and needs change over time and can give us the resilience to accept those changes.
For me the most difficult things I decluttered were books (I still have a small book collection but very much less than I used to own). Books have always been really special to me - I used to spend a lot of time in the library and in bookshops when going through very difficult times when I was young - so much so that now books feel very comforting to be around. Realising that I was keeping books that I had no intention to read again, and that I didn't perhaps even enjoy all that much when I did read them, was tough, almost as if I was betraying friends, and letting them go was even tougher. But I don't regret decluttering them at all. Now I only have the books that mean the most to me .
Thank you so much for sharing yours! I can imagine books being high up on the list. Thankfully, I have an e-reader so I don't have to deal with that hahaha. Happy you enjoyed the video!
@@SimpleHappyZen I've an e-reader now myself to prevent my small physical book collection from expanding. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but it's great and so convenient! 🙂
Letting my piano go as it was where I could pour all my emotions as a single mom and didn't want to vent stuff my kids didn't need to carry, but I needed the money at the time. I did mourn that one.
Yes I can imagine... thank you for sharing Christine, hope you're having a nice weekend so far!
I love what you said about how you feel more like yourself in sneakers and that high heels were something that your fantasy self would wear. I feel the same and it took me way too long to realize that. I have one pair of heels left in the closet that I feel guilty decluttering because I love how they look, but they gave me awful plantar fasciitis that took over a year to fix. It’s time to let them go.
YES! Life's too short to be in pain because of our shoes :) Comfy shoes all the way!
Thank you for this video. I needed to hear everything you talked about. You are a beautiful person and I'm so grateful I found this channel. I'm 61 years old and still learning. Thank you.
Aw thank you so much Donna 🤗✨💕 I appreciate it. Have a lovely rest of your weekend!
What a great video Vera ... the hardest thing for me to "declutter" was/is my corporate job of 30 years. I've now resigned and I finish on Tuesday 17th :) For a very long time I have been too committed to the financial security that the job brings ... despite the impacts on my mental and physical health. This year I've been quite close to burnout - in fact it was your videos on burnout that led me to discover your channel - so I have finally realised it is enough, and I am ready to let go of the career and take to time out to rest and recuperate.
Wow I'm so excited for you, thank you for sharing Louise! I love that you ultimately decided to choose your own health and happiness and put that first. 🤗🍃🌿🌺 Wishing you all the best!!!
Today was your first free day. I hope it was great 😁
I dream of such a day...
Enjoy your new adventure!
As a child I started to let go and declutter some things. My grandparents from both sides were opposites. One set kept a lot of things and the others got rid of too much. A lot of my things were “decluttered” without asking me such as clothes, toys, and even pets (yikes!). Since then I’ve tried to strike a balance. I can’t actually think of anything I’ve had a hard time decluttering perhaps because I started early in life.
Thanks Vera for sharing your story behind the things you finally decluttered. ❤ My son is 49 years old and I kept every card he gave me. It was very hard for me to let go of them. I can say now that I have decluttered all of them except the ones that have personal messages that he wrote.
I can imagine!!! :)
Wow,good morning
Wonderful video for me to watch today. My hardest thing to get rid of is... everything right now. I'm not a minimalist, but in many ways "am" at my core. This century has been a nightmare time of me moving many times, and each time HAVING to get rid of things, which is entirely different from choosing to get rid of things. Then I had what items I had left wiped out by someone who was carelessly storing them for me while I was away from home. I had things stolen. I lost my income, and so now everything I own is getting old and falling apart and I can't replace them. So the theme of all of this time is "loss loss loss." I still have a bunch of stuff, in a storage locker. They just raised the rent and I truly cannot afford to keep things there any more. Another forced declutter. BUT BUT BUT...
Watching your videos (and I have subscribed for a while because I'm also HSP and connect with you in other topics), I know I'm a "want to" minimalist at heart. It is who I am. It is only the trauma of the past umpteen years that has me clinging to everything and anything that is left. The reality is, I don't look at the stuff in my offsite storage locker. The reality is, I live in a very small apartment. The reality is that I currently DO have the CHOICE to pare down to the essentials. And that is a kind of therapy!
I don't know when I will start, and I know it will be a tiny, slow start, but I do thank you for your videos.
Also, my god, you're adorably cute and it just is mind-boggling that you struggled with your appearance. Being a woman, I get it, but as an outside observer looking in? You're gorgeous, and yes, I think even from watching your earlier videos to the current ones, watching you get more comfortable in your own skin with time? You are glowing now.
Aw thank you so much for your sweet words 🤗💖 Also, I'm so sorry to read about your struggles, I can imagine that must all be very challenging to deal with, and it sounds like you have lots on your plate. Wishing you all the best with everything and I hope things will also start to improve for you 🌷
Hardest things I have letting go are sentimental - handmade gifts from family and crafts that my children made for me. I finally decluttered the ones that either were not special such as the multiple knitted pot holders or broken or torn items. I kept the things that I know took a lot of thought and effort such as the quilt that my mom made with images of things she knows I like. Thank you for sharing about your items and your thoughts for each one!
Sometimes it's all about knowing which ones are extra special, so you can keep those and cherish them :)
Hi
Thank you for talking about decluttering habits, hobbies, and states of mind, as well as stuff. I have been cleaning out storage units of a deceased relative who kept EVERYTHING, and it has been very thought-provoking for how I like to live more simply. Change can be sad, but also very freeing. Thank you for yet another good video.
Thank you so much for sharing Elizabeth, I wish you all the best with going through all of the items. Sending you a hug!
I feel you so much about the heels. I decluttered the last two pairs of heels last weekend because of exactly the same reasons. I also decluttered/donated/sold stuffed animals, and it was really, really difficult for me.
This video is very valuable to me.Thank you for sharing your feelings with such honesty and sensibility, Vera. I feel reflected in your experiences. Decluttering can be such a relief when you finally take that step but there are some challenging times and circumstances, not to mention sentimental stuff, which I find the hardest, that make it quite a journey. I used to declutter periodically, getting rid of clothes and other stuff rather well but lately I've felt overwhelmed by the massive number of belongings (some are mine but most of them are inherited) and I've had to come to a halt and take a deep breath before I go on. It's just too painful and difficult to make so many decisions, and no matter how many things I let go, there are always more waiting. Anyway, I'm glad I'm not alone in this and I know I must pluck up courage and do it!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, you can do it Eli! Just keep taking one small step after another :) And feel free to check in with yourself and keep some things around (maybe in a box somewhere for 6 months) if you're not sure about them.
👌Hi Vera, the hardest thing I ever let go, were my barbiedolls🤣. I know it's silly, but I enjoyed them sooooooo much every day when I was a child they were part of my family sort of speak... . The were in my closet in their special travelbox for almost 20 years (they used to go everywhere I went as a kid😅) .my little niece turnt out to hate dolls💔. one day friend came for tea with her daughter, I knew the girl was very fond to play with her mams old dolls. I put them out for her to play with while we had tea. Her face lightened up with pure joy when she opened the lock on the travelbox. It was like she opend treasure box full diamants and every one she pulled out her face got even brighter. That night I talked it over first at home, than had a couple of nights of sleep on it. I called my friend to ask if she would like it when I gave them to her daughter because they were actually very used dolls. She agreed, a couple of weeks later was the little girls birthday. I did the dolly's hair, put on the very best cloth, made sure all the pairs of shoes were complete and gift wrapped the travelbox. I knew I did the right thing when she took of the wrapping .the girl was still mesmerised when she found out what it was. Not one regret what so ever😍, I don't think she plays with dolls anymore though, it's more playing with her boyfriend now I think it's been well over 15 years🤣😅. I don't mind, I did not ask if she still has them, she enjoyed them. It was a great relief to find them a good home. Now I am going to give away two stuffed animals I made myself twenty years ago. One soft and fit for a newborn👶🏻 baby and one for her big sisther who likes to play tea with bears. I have a selfmade bear🐻 that can move it legs and sit properly for tea 🍵🫖old-fashioned style . It's alright I wanted them to be played with for all those year anyway. Its good to let go👌 you are tight about that!
I mean you are right😅 letting go feels a lot better!
Aw I loved that story about the dolls! :)
@@SimpleHappyZen thank you, have a great weekend!!!! Your video was powerful! 🌷
I've not had any regrets decluttering I always find i'm totally really ready go. After this video I started declutting even more with even greater ease love this one Vera thanks for sharing especially about letting go of smaller clothese and how good it feels to ware clothes that fit now that's empowering and realistic I will keep this in mind 💜
Happy to hear it! Thanks Deborah!
Wow good morning
Such a relatable video! I can imagine how hard it must have been to declutter those stuffed animals, I only have 1 left from childhood and that sweet bear will just be with me forever. 🥰
What you say about getting rid of the high heals and the caring about how you look I had that too, but then more in the way of that I want everything to be comfortable. So never again will I wear uncomfortable shoes (like high heals) or clothes that are made of materials i dont like (jeans), clothes have to feel nice and soft and comfortable right away for me now. (So i wear a lot of merino wool shirts and corduroy pants, i look like a history teacher from the 1970’s 😂) Also I stopped wearing the only make up i wore: mascara, because it didnt feel nice on my face, i only wear day cream and sun protection on my face. And you know what? No one cares! 🙃 I am just a person who doesnt wear make up and its all fine for everyone.
And lastly what you say about the hobbies I can relate also, I rode a motorcycle for 2 years, at first it was scary but i thought it was just something i had to get used to. But then after 2 years I stíll felt it was scary so then I decided it just wasnt the thing for me, even though I loved riding the motorcycle I just felt scared of all the other traffic all the time and that made it difficult to enjoy it. If i am ever in the US or somewhere where you have these long empty roads i will try again probably but not here in the Netherlands where there is traffic everywhere.
Thanks for this open and insightfull video Vera! I think a lot of people can relate and struggle with this. 🌿
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts Nina!! Ooooh I can imagine riding a motorcycle here in the Netherlands must be so scary.. Like you said, there's traffic everywhere
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
I am in agreement with you on getting rid of clothes that are too small/ no longer fit right. For a very long time I kept clothes that would not fit me anymore with a 3-5 lb weight gain and I would constantly use these clothes to direct my weight. It became exhausting, I finally got rid of these items…there was A LOT and I can’t tell you how much freedom I feel now. Also, these clothes were a much dressier style than I care to wear now so it was a win-win😅
What I love about your channel is you practice what you preach, for example, watching your bullet journal video I decided to carry on in the same book rather than buying a new one, and that worked out just fine. Great video as usual:)
Aw thank you Lynby! 🤗💕
That tea looks amazing Vera … I use Ceylon 🇱🇰 cinnamon sticks … I bought a poncho in Mexico many years ago - I wear it occasionally, but not as often as I should - hard to let it go 🙄🇲🇽
Thanks!! This tea has a wonderful flavor. I love Ceylon too
I needed to hear this right now it is hard to part with certain things and concepts but it's worth it
I'm glad you found it helpful! Remember that it's okay to take your time and decide to keep things around if you're not sure :)
This video really resonated with my inner voice. I feel more inspired!!!
Yay, so happy to hear that!
Love this video. So reassuring hearing that everyone finds bits of this hard! xx
Happy to hear it :) That's partly why I wanted to make this video in the first place.
Vera, this was a wonderful episode. Watching you grow and mature is very special. I am certain your dad is very proud of you, and of course you should be proud of yourself. I am certain many people can relate to everything you spoke about in this video. I know I did. Till next time! ☮️🌷🌍🤗
Aw thank you so much Jennie, that's so sweet of you to say! 💕🌷
Hi Vera! Oh my goodness do I love this video. I recently have been decluttering an expensive hobby that I was into for about twelve years, a frilly Japanese fashion all about fancy dresses. I realized that it just wasn't for me and I wanted to save money, but also that I had just completely outgrown the whole concept of dressing up in it and standing out so much. Now I've made a bunch of money back by selling all my items, and I'm becoming more comfortable in my own sense of style. This was the hardest thing to declutter as I went back and forth for many years, but now I do feel 100x better! I really love your videos about minimalism, can't wait to see what else you have in store! ^_^
Love what you shared!! I've always really enjoyed Japanese fashion styles on others and I've wondered about getting into it when I was younger. Never did though, it seems like you need to get so many things for it haha. I can imagine getting lots of joy out of them, but also outgrowing the concept after a wihle. Thanks for sharing :)
@@SimpleHappyZen Thank you for the reply!! Yeah, you have to get a whole lot of different things for it and it becomes a big collection of stuff. As I got older, I became less and less comfortable wearing it. I think I was mainly keeping it around because other people like me wearing it! Haha. You're welcome! ^_^
I love you, Vera, your content is soo inspiring and you have changed my life in great positive ways. Your content makes me so happy, thank you for existing. 💜
Aw thank you so much Issy, your comment made me smile 🙂🌺💕 Take care and have a wonderful day my friend!
Im so glad! Thank you, and you too!
I have family members that love to give guilt trips when I declutter things. I try to tell them that I still have the memory without the item, but they do make it difficult at times if I want to declutter items they’ve given me. When my father passed away, it was very touching to find that he had saved every goofy little card I had made for him when I was little, so that makes getting rid of my kids art, etc, hard….. I still have many of their school made gifts. I had trouble, like you, getting rid of stuffed animals, shoes and cards.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I don't have kids but I can imagine it must be tricky to know which of their art works and school made stuff to keep and which to get rid of. Probably just comes down to keeping your favorites I guess :) I do know that there are some parents on YT who talk about this topic.
I really relate to you! I’ve had other people guilt or persuade me into keeping items I wouldn’t miss. It’s really hard.
Love the video! Makes me more introspective about my own minimalism and decluttering journey. Thanks for the Christmas mention. That's an area where I've felt "behind" like the apartment should be more Christmasy. I even put on my calendar to start looking for ornaments in July (!) and finish decorating one month before Christmas (!). Your video alleviates this pressure😆
Haha no pressure! :) It's your home, you decide what feels best for you
Love the herbal tea recipe at the beginning of video. Nice touch.
Thank you Molly! :) It's really delicious. And also, since it's quite fancy in terms of the ingredients used, it could be good to know that you can pour water on the same ingredients up to three times and still get lots of flavor from them.
@@SimpleHappyZenYes, thank you for this Vera 😊 I recognised cinnamon and rosemary - what were the other ingredients please?
@@frockinj I think it was grapefruit and star anice, with a little squeeze of agave syrup 😊
Thank you, another wonderful video! I was sick this week with covid and was finally able to tackle the greeting cards like you mention here. Using your tips form previous videos, I recycled those that did not have hand written messages, and cut out ones with nice designs, as i enjoy collaging. It was very hard as I felt guilty (I had not thrown any away in over 10 years as I felt they had taken the time to think of me), but it truly feels so much better now so have a handful of personal ones and more space reclaimed. 😊
Oh I love that so much!!! Congrats 😄 Hope you feel better too
I’m the same with thinking my stuffed animals have feelings 😅 Logically, I know they don’t but yeah, I still feel bad if I get rid of them
It's so hard!! :) A good reason for me never to get more of them hahaha
Same!
I completely understand your sadness of getting rid of your stuffed animals. I recently made a similar decluttering decision. I now have only one, the little tiger I got on my second birthday, it's an antique now! 😅🐯🐅🙏
Oh, I'm a new subscriber, by the way - I love your content!
Aw that's so cute :) And welcome to the channel!
I had kimonos too - I bought them in Target ha. After many years, they had to go as I didnt wear them anymore. It took ages, but the memories of the joy I had with them at the time is still there. Another one is my hobby of painting terricotta ordaments and pots. It took a few years to declutter as though the interest was not there i thought I would change my mind. I did the declutter gradually and have kept one pot - big relief . I think I was nervous and emotional of letting go of what meant joy for many years - loved your encourging video with sharing your experiences in your journey with items as well as tips for us 💛
Thanks so much for sharing and I'm happy you enjoyed the video! :)
I would say letting go of a significant portion of my movie collection has been a difficult process. I did try to make myself believe that I would actually sit down and watch them when in reality I had no desire to do so. It used to be a hobby I quite enjoyed, but now when I do it I suddenly feel tired and lose all interest. So most of them are either getting sold or donated.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Just got home from throwing away some broken wooden furniture. They could have yielded good material for my woodwork hobby, but I decided that what I had already in my stash was going to be (more than) enough. Opened UA-cam and the first video that came on was this!😁
Ah great timing!! :)
Thank you for sharing how difficult it can be to get rid of things that have meaning to you but still take up space. I always look forward to your videos and your insight Vera.
Ps. I'm going through a difficult time with deciding on what to declutter as well.
So happy you enjoyed the video! :) Feel free to take your time with your decisions, after a while your intuition might let you know what to do :)
I just came back to working in the office after 2 years of remote work. This is the first time my suites don't fit me. I feel so shocked. I know I've gained 23 pounds since turning 35 because I've been feeling down about my career and just like eating out of boredom. I want to give myself a year before I let go of these clothes that defined my style. My big sister told me "You can't be a size zero or one forever and to not focus on clothes size" I know I need to keep things that make me happy but I just want to give it this year and see if my lifestyle changes make a difference. Moving back to the city I do have to walk to work and everywhere else we need to go, so even that is a change in the activities I do.
I've been enjoying and learning a lot from your videos for a couple of months so far.
It's my first time to write a comment on your video.
I'm glad to hear that you've come to Japan.
(I'm Japanese)
I love how you look happy to talk about Japanese tea in some videos💕
Thank you for your creations, I'll keep watching them.
This is so timely currently decluttering and have the same problem to let go all of those you mentioned except for 4 . Thank you for this video very helpful . More power !
So happy the video was helpful for you :) Happy decluttering!
This was a great video! I have decluttered a lot from my childhood (including my journals and toys). I haven’t regretted it at all. I still have my wedding dress but I have thought about letting it go numerous times. Still can’t seem to part with it. I know no one will ever wear it again and I have been married for early 30 years. Perhaps when we downsize I might be able to part with it. We have also pared down our Christmas decorations quite a bit and tried to only keep what I love and feels meaningful but I would still like to get rid of more. I find it feels fine when things come out at first but after a few weeks it feels a little cluttered. Plus I have to store 6 bins in the basement all year to only be using the stuff for a few weeks.
Yes that's such a funny thing isn't it, I'm always kind of relieved when Christmas is over and I can go back to my regular, clutter free surfaces hahaha
Hi good morning
Honestly, I relate to the stuffed animals being hard to declutter. Sometimes I give them to my dog to play with so that I could still see them…
It's not easy :) I don't know how I'd feel if my dog chewed them up though hahaha
This is an amazing video. There was a lot in here that I used to know but forgot in the last few years. I appreciate your thoughts more than you could know, and the timing was perfect.
Yay, so happy to hear it!! Have a lovely Monday!
I think the hardest thing for me to get rid of were some old dolls and my teddy bear that I had had since I was a baby. They were all at my mom' s house since she was saving them for my daughter to play with but, she decided to get rid of them because my daughter is now a teen going on 22. It was hard but, it still felt like the right thing to do. In the end MOST things can be replaced like your TV, stereo, etc.
Ah yes I can imagine!
That's a good idea, take a picture of things for this stuff. Thank u so much😊
Happy to hear you enjoyed the video!
Another great video, thanks 🤩
I moved around a lot (living in different countries) so luckily I don't have any particular attachment to childhood toys, clothes or memorabilia. I think most of my things were donated to charity or other family members with small kids. Only exception are photo albums, and those are really precious to me so I'll always keep them. 😍
Clothes that no longer fit resonated with me on a deeper level because I get attached to clothes and tie them to moments I lived in a specific outfit. But between 15 and 30 years old I gained around 10 kg so gradually I would not fit into some of the clothes. It was both terrifying and freeing to finally let go of them and realise that it's normal as a 30 year old woman not to weight 47kg anymore or fit into my teenage clothes.
Exactly! :) Happy this video resonated with you :) Take care and have a happy Monday!
OK, Vera, OK, I'll donate those items in the two boxes in the corner of my bedroom. They've only been waiting for a year so far. The hardest thing I've ever let go of was one piece of jewelry of my wife's and to this day I regret getting rid of that one item.
Ah that kind of breaks my heart a little... Do you have other things from her still?
@@SimpleHappyZen Hi Vera, yes but very little which is fine. However, I should have kept a simple Virgin Mary medallion she had since young as a Spanish Catholic (which I am not). It's not the medallion as such, it's more like I didn't understand what that meant at the time. We make mistakes, we go on. 🙄
This is an excellent video. I can resonate with the stuffed animals - and dolls like Cabbage Patch Kids too! I do wish I kept a few. I have a video idea for you - is there anything you've accidentally decluttered that you realized later? (Example- I was decluttering papers from my yoga teacher training and realized later I'd also had with them my personalized Vedic astrology reading, which I'd mean to keep. I also love your concept of decluttering standards- awesome, Vera! Thank you!
Thanks so much Kiki! Hmmm now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever decluttered something by accident... If I did I haven't noticed haha. If I declutter paper, I will always tear it up into a million pieces first, just for privacy reasons I guess, and because of that, I'll hold everything in my hands first. So it'd be hard for something else to sneak in there that I didn't mean to recycle. Have a great rest of your weekend!
@@SimpleHappyZen makes sense!
Love your videos Vera!
Thank you so much Eliza :) Have a nice weekend!
Hi Vera, I've been watching some of your videos and want to comment here (the newest one) so you can read it easily. Just by looking at your room/background I immediately feel better (it's clean, neat, and bright), such a good vibe. You're so gentle and sweet. And you know, your "pale skin" that you once mentioned made you feel insecure - I can say that your skin is what 99% Asian girls dream of (here in Asia we love white skin:D). You are beautiful!
Aw thank you so much for your kind comment!! And I'm so happy my videos are helpful for you in feeling better. Have a wonderful day!
Hi Vera
I watched all your videos.
Sending ❤ from Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA🇿🇦
Super nice video...As I don't drink water as I should have, I will try your recipe with the fruits and herbs, it looked attractive 💚
Great, let me know how you liked it!! :)
Hi Vera... Very nice. Honestly acceptance of our origin is the answer which received from this video. Great.
Enjoy moments 🎉🎉
So happy to hear it :) Thank you, have a nice Monday!
The things I've decluttered alre always hard to let go of but I rarely even remember them. The only thing I've ever regretted was a yellow sundress I got rid of last year (probably for a reason) and I'm sure it's only because it's almost summer now and I haven't found a replacement 😂
Hahaha I can relate 😄
Wow nice, good morning PBM
I had a collection of D&D novels. They were a big part of my life for several years (as was the community around them). But recently, the combination of the fandom and decisions made by the company that I didn't like, I found that holding on to them was just making me sad. So...I finally let them go earlier this year.
It's funny how things can change in the sense of how they make us feel over time :)
Reading is fun, good morning
@@mattford3030 I love reading. I still have a lot of books, it was just that particular collection I had to part with.
the last one is the best! I love it ❤
Thank you so much, glad to hear it! :)
Hardest thing I "decluttered" was my former circle of friends. I was moving in a new direction and we didn't have anything in common any more. It hurt. A lot.
Ay yes, I can imahine.. I actually had a similar experience when I was younger. Thanks for sharing and I hope you'll be able to find some new friends with whom you have more in common!
. . . Most everyone we 'cross paths' with -
for a shorter or longer duration , are , meant to be just 'that' ... for a certain while - only . It is a part of growing - up
to both realise and accept that truth .
" And Truth is Sad " - Neil Diamond
Oddly enough, I’ve gotten rid of a lot but the hardest was my high school graduation tassels. Growing up, for my brother and I it was a big deal that my mom had hers. I got rid of them during a declutter, and now I feel kinda sad. I wish I hadn’t.. but I know it can’t be undone. I just wish I had given that some more thought. I don’t know if that’s a big deal, or if many others keep them, but in my family it was a big deal 😔
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
Thank you for the vídeo, Vera ♡
Have a nive week!
You're very welcome, you too! Have a happy Monday!
I think decluttering is not about having to get rid of as many things as possible and 80% of your past self (or selves :-)). It's about gaining literal and mental room in the space you live to breathe, function and thrive in. Consequently, how much you declutter is going to mean something different for everyone. Therefore, I don't necessarily agree with the fact that it's silly you'd want to hold on to certain items, particularly from your past. I think it's perfectly natural that an item that once brought you joy/love is hard to let go of. In the end, it's a balancing act. I declutter whatever makes me feel lighter, but I don't feel bad about keeping some 'emotional items' that bring a smile to my face. Someone who also posts videos on minimalism suggested to put such items in a 'memory box', which helps as it does make me very mindful on what to keep because I don't want to end up with a house full of memory boxes.. :-) Oh and you are totally right about the clothes in several sizes. Finally got rid of those!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I can't agree more :) All the things I mentioned in this video stopped putting a smile on my face and became something more negative instead, so I let them go in the end. But I still keep many things, just because they make me feel good/happy/comfortable. It's all about deciding what you want to keep, not necessarily what you want to get rid of. We get rid of things that don't serve us anymore, so that we can enjoy what truly matters more :)
Thank you Vera❤️
You're very welcome :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I understand I’m the same way, I feel like I hurt their feelings and make them feel unwanted 😅
That's the worst haha :) In the end, they're just objects though.. But in the end, it's all about what makes sense for you. If I didn't have plans to move somewhere smaller, I might've made a different choice.
I'm curious about the tea, that you made, from fresh ingerdients and dried herbs, in your intro. Looks simple, but do you mind, listinf all of thr ingredients ? Your video expressions and tips, bring peace, relaxtion and practicality, to me. Thank you.
Thank you so much Kathy! The tea was made with fresh rosemary, ginger, a cinnamon stick, star anise, and a grapefruit wedge. Sweetener is optional, I used a bit of agave syrup. The cool thing about this tea drink is that you can pour water on the same ingredients 2-3 times and you can still get lots of flavor from them. So no need to throw them out after one use. Let me know if you try it! :)
Hi vera, great video! Your video has inspired me to declutter some items I was struggling with or too lazy to tackle. However, I still hold on my piano and guitar although I haven't played in months. I have a really hard time decluttering them because I still love music and could play nice pieces on them. Yet, I don't have time (or don't make time) anymore for this hobby. I got better at decluttering gifts though.
I think that the fact we hold on to certain items has something to do with us thinking too much about what other people are going to think. What will people think of me if I declutter a gift from my grandma? What will people think of me if I don't own Christmas decorations? What I've learnt with minimalism is to live my life according to my beliefs and passions without caring too much about the opinion of other people.
Have a nice day and take care 🌼
I love that lesson! So important to think about how WE want to live our lives, instead of on what it will look like to others. Of course we can keep others in our minds and make compromises, but in the end, when it's our home and our stuff, we get to decide :) And we don't owe others an explanation. Have a lovely week and a happy Monday!
Personally, I've never regretted decluttering something. However, I'm sure that I would have regret not starting decluttering in the future. So if you don't declutter because of this fear remember that things can be bought again most of the times, but years of waiting in order to be sure one day, never return. 💙💚💛
So true! Thanks for sharing Irene :)
oh thank you for these words.. very inspiring as a reminder and a confort to keep on focusing for the dream projects Now and to do concrete actions steps for it Now, as learning concrete steps for new dream work path, diving into passions and projects i always dream to create.. and even collecting info for a dream travel i always dream to do too, a few months travel and learn a new language with it.. all in the same time seems crazy.. as i am in a real life transition, changing job, feel to change all.. but step by step, implementing the roots and bases for these dreams for the now, and i finally feel ready to let the past :) was not easy but so freeing liberating even if positive or not.. even being too attached to positive past was not helping to move on, i can keep the joy it has been but others lovely things will be now ! :) and this community helps to sense I can move on , thank you :) 😘 a lot of positive inspiring words in this community :) thank you everyone 😘☺️✨
I hope this year brings happiness and blessings to you and your family...am originally from Denmark Maine but currently living in Houston Texas because of my work .. where are you from if I may ask ?
Always impressed
Thank you so much :)
Your videos are so helpful! Thank you so much. 💕💕
Thanks for a really good video 💖
You're very welcome Anna :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
The hardest thing I decluttered was my late mother's sweatshirt with all the grandchildren names written on it. I am 61 and still have two special stuffed animals. My kids will have to handle that, but I can't let them go.😢
The hardest things I declutter was my Japanese textbooks. I major in Japanese and I hold on to my Japanese textbooks for 10 years. Not landing the job I wanted in Japan I decided it was time to move on in life and find different career path. I still love Japanese language and Japanese culture.
Ah yes I can imagine!! コメントを残してくれてありがとう！良い月曜日をお
thank you for this inspiring content ;) 🙏😘 I let go a lot of activities and the material in link with (books, accessories going with these practices) and material from my old work as I feel to move on. I kept them for a while as I invested 10 years in these practices and work.... and after years, I felt to let go all of it and I felt sooo liberated then.. :) it was not easy and I hesitated a very long time but since, I felt more ready and so much free to dive into my passions, new dreams, and felt even lighter, even not so worrying about life.. ;) in fact.. letting go helps me to make me ready to move on :) but i felt it, step by step :) courage for everyone in process 😘✨ and sincerely i felt good to go by step, slowly to sense the moment, to be sure if struggling with some things.. ;) until we feel the moment ready for letting it go ;) 👌⋮
Happy to hear it worked out for you! :)
@@SimpleHappyZen thank you :) step by step.. :) not yet there, but people like us is comfort to the heart to keep it up :) thank you to share your kind advices :)
I constantly struggle with letting go of clothing that I want to fit into or fit back into. it's so so hard especially when you truly buy good quality classic pieces! Thank you for this video I need to really work on this and declutter these pieces out asap! Since you took Tai chi for so many years you're the right person to ask ... Can you recommend a good beginner app or UA-cam channel. My husband's very interested in Tai chi. But it would have to be a gentle ease in as he is 66 years old and a little stiff. Hoping this will help with his balance and loosen him up a little bit. Would appreciate any advice. Thank you
Yes exactly.. it's tough :) If you do decide to let them go (which you don't have to, totally your decision 🙂) it might make it easier to know that those high quality pieces will be enjoyed by someone else. For example, I like to donate my 'dressier' clothing items to Dress for success. That way I know that they can be helpful for others. Of course, there are many other good options. You could also host a party and give them away, or sell them online to make some of the money back.
About Tai Chi, I actually don't know of a channel or app... I went to an actual class for all this time. So I never did it through a digital source. I'm sure there are tai chi for beginner videos out there though :)
@@SimpleHappyZen thank you very helpful! Thanks for taking the time to answer one of many comments!
Enjoyed this one a lot. Brought up a few of the hardest things for me. I still have a watch that was my mother's. She's been gone 2 years and not only do I not wear watches but her wrists were larger than mine. Definitely sentimental yet it sits in a drawer I don't even look at. Plus it's a beautiful piece someone would enjoy.
All 10 were areas for me too ... Stuffed animals were not easy to let go. I had a hearty sized teddy bear collection! They have a face! Yes
High heels. Ugh.
Got rid of a lot of Christmas stuff then ended up with Mom's!
Left groups, clubs, & organizations that no longer resonated.
Thank you for your beautiful videos and messages.
Loved your video !
👌👍👏👏👏
Thank you Teresa!!! I enjoyed making this one :)
I’m exactly the same with smaller clothes, you’ve inspired me to let go 😊
Can I ask what’s in your drink? It looks delicious!
Thank you so much, that's nice to hear! :) About the drink, it's a fresh herbal tea kind of cocktail. I used fresh rosemary, grapefruit, ginger, a cinnamon stick and star anise. Sweetener is optional, I used a bit of agave syrup. Enjoy!
My father gave me a stuffed rabbit when I was a kid. Im now 50 and have finally been able to let it go❤
Pure soul♥️
What are all the items being added to the tea in the intro? Looks like grapefruit (?), ginger, cinnamon stick, rosemary, and star anise?
You had them all right 😄 Grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary and star anise (the brown spiky thing) with a little sweetener (optional, I used agave syrup)
@@SimpleHappyZen lol I had just edited my comment to include star anise and then saw your reply. Thank you! Loved the video. 💕
I got rid of all of my heels too (I still have some wedges that are very moderate) but the “sexy” shoes had to go. I can’t do it anymore, I need comfort. 😂
I am the same with stuffed animals, I just can’t bear to throw them away, even though they are extremely cluttery items, you actually feel like they are alive and they will be sad, 😫
How long do you keep birthday cards , Christmas cards??
I keep them for a few weeks, displayed on my dresser in my living room. Then, I decide if they'll get recycled or if they'll get transfered to my little box where I keep sentimental papers.
Stuffed animals are harder when you realise you don't have them for your kids.
That has been the hardest for me. I don't have things to hand down to my daughter.
I think minimalism and decluttering are becoming overemphasize today. Keep the things that are important to you. Because if you do toss them, you're going to end up regretting it. I know that I do. I think it's more important to have a functional home with as much or as little stuff as you want. The amount doesn't matter. The quality and the importance of the items do.
Definitely keep what's important to you :) Getting rid of things that truly are clutter can help us to enjoy what we love even more.
Thanks for your content! Have you ever decluttered photos and digital materials? I'm struggling a lot about them
I’m not sure I could say any particular thing really. I think for me the “levels” become harder as you do more and more of it. I’m focusing now more on trying to see it as a self discovery adventure rather than seeing the sad girl who amassed so many things Bcuz she was so insecure. I forgive myself tho. I just didn’t know who I was eh? And I didn’t have a lot of faith about even being able to find things that fit me like a glove or suit me to a tee. So when the ads came at me for all these products promising to “change my life” I was like ok why not try it?
I guess the happy part is that now I can discover a lot more about who I really and truly am and it’s def a lot of fun to me when you find those awesome bomb a$$ things that you love using and having. It has a way of helping you not even want what all you had before. (Which were more like “experiments” I guess). I think so much of it too is how I didn’t really have a grasp on something being “so right for me” Bcuz I had so many “make do” things and your brain starts to think “mediocre make do” is as good as it ever gets...when that’s not really true. Recently it was me noticing a bomb a$$ body scrub and how all these others are quite a joke. I’m over here like you call that a scrub? And some mineral makeup that was also amazing. Silly things I know (not at all sentimental etc) but these little things matter Imo. “Life changing” isn’t all the various products tho. “Life changing” is when you find “the ones” that fit you like a glove and really deliver.
Really enjoyed your comment, thanks for sharing! :)
@@SimpleHappyZen Lol. Thanks for bearing with my momentary long winded paragraphs. 😅😅
That’s why all mine are still in containers lol. Can’t do it yet
😄 No problem! If I didn't have plans to move somewhere smaller, I might've made a different choice.
@@SimpleHappyZen we were going to downsize a couple of years ago as well, but we didn’t, and boy did we get rid of a lot of stuff and it felt great. But I parted with a bookcase my dad built and now with not moving I regret that decision. But I have other pieces he made that I’m never letting go of😁
@@Peanut1965 Ah yes that makes sense. Definitely keep the other pieces then :)
It was so hard for me to give away my food processor, but I never used it. It had to go!
Ah that sound a bit like a fantasy self item :) Same with my juicer, which I let go in the end too
🥰💐thank you.
🤗🌺
I’m glad to know that how much you love kimono as a Japanese ! 日本人としてあなたがどれほど着物が好きか知れて嬉しいです(^-^) How many times have you been to Japan?
コメントを残してくれてありがとう！🤗 私の人生のなかで、三回日本に行ったことがあります。いつも日本をすごくたのしんでいます。💖
@@SimpleHappyZen どういたしまして！あなたのこの文章は完璧です。楽しみながら日本語の勉強を続けてね(^^)！
そうですか。嬉しい😄 もっと練習が必要だけど🙂 良い週末を！
@@SimpleHappyZen あなたもね(^^) You too!!
Hi Vera, I just have to comment on your tea. I have some extra ginger root I didn’t know what to do with. Your tea looks so yummy! I’m making some tonight 😍🌼
Happy to hear it!! Let me know how you liked it :)
@@SimpleHappyZen Delicious! Great for when I am waiting for my mint plant to regrow 😊🌼