{"id":94,"date":"2016-03-01T20:39:51","date_gmt":"2016-03-01T20:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/messenger\/?p=94"},"modified":"2018-09-17T20:48:28","modified_gmt":"2018-09-17T20:48:28","slug":"simple-joys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/living-simply\/simple-joys\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Joys"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently helped a friend pack before a move and was impressed by how loosely she held many of her possessions. When we went through her closet, she pulled out a pile of clothes to donate. \u201cThey\u2019re not my style anymore,\u201d she said. We filled two boxes with books for the resale shop because, \u201cIf I haven\u2019t read it by now, I\u2019m never going to.\u201d In her kitchen, she left a whole set of knives for the incoming tenants who she knew would need them. \u201cAll I need is one great chef\u2019s knife,\u201d she said, \u201cand now is the perfect time to upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n

My friend\u2019s mantra was simple: She would take only the things she loved, so her new home would be filled with things that brought her joy.<\/p>\n

Having less \u201cstuff\u201d is freeing. Fewer possessions usually means less to worry about, cleaner space, less clutter, and plenty of openness to comfortably think, learn, and create. On the other hand, having few possessions is practical only if they are of a certain quality.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard it said that plain-clothes Brethren spend a fair amount of money on clothing because they buy quality wool suits. These folks are an excellent example of how \u201cplain\u201d does not equal \u201ccheap.\u201d In the same way, spending more on a purchase once is more efficient than spending less and quickly replacing it. It\u2019s similar logic that would argue for supporting local businesses, farmers markets, and small publishing houses (like\u00a0Brethren Press<\/a>), backing up your values with your dollars.<\/p>\n

When my friend moved, the movers finished in three short hours and she was completely unpacked 48 hours after that. Her new space contains only simple possessions that remind her of loved ones, high-quality tools to do her best work, books that she regularly relies on, and clothing that fits her and her style perfectly. Her space has fewer things, but they were thoughtfully purchased and are bringers of simple joys.<\/p>\n

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Clean sweep<\/h2>\n

As we near the end of winter, take time to consider the things that fill your space. If you were moving tomorrow, what would you take with you? What have you forgotten about in your basement, attic, or garage that could be sold or given away? Here\u2019s a short list of ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n