On March 31 of last year I went to the doctor to get some MRI results. I had been having some weird headaches and dropping things all the time and shaking a lot. I was in the doctor’s office, with both of my kids on my lap, when she told me I had lesions on my brain.
Fast forward to November 2017, and after SO many doctors appointments and my symptoms getting so much worse, my neurologist told me that I had MS. This wasn’t that big of a shock to me but it still really sucked to hear it out loud.
She told me to make some pretty drastic diet changes (goodbye Dr. Pepper and red meat) and she told me to try to minimize my stress and physical work.
So I came home…to laundry, dishes, and my life.
I had already been cleaning out my house for a few years but when I got home, I had this new passion to eliminate all of the excess from my home that could cause me more work or stress. I had seen a documentary from The Minimalists on Netflix and I had really loved their message about how freeing it could be to get rid of most of your stuff. I had been listening to their Podcasts and reading their blog so when January 1, 2018 rolled around, I decided to give their minimalist game a try.
Over the next month, I got rid of over 500 items which was very hard to do because I had already cleaned out so much. I let go of so many things that I was holding on to for no good reason and it felt so good! I had empty spaces in all my cabinets, a clean closet, and my kid’s toys weren’t completely taking over every corner of the house.
Here are the 500+ items all together:
My journey towards minimalism had begun!
Now I know what you’re thinking. She has one of those cold, empty houses with just one chair in the living room now. 🙂
We still have stuff. I have things on the walls. My kids still have toys. I still have a craft closet.
The only thing that’s changed is that I don’t keep things anymore unless I really like them or they serve a purpose. I don’t keep stuff out of guilt or “just in case” anymore. I let it all go.
I am also more aware of the items that come into our house. The days of McDonald’s toys in the bottom of the toy box and stacks of mail are over.
Over the past few months, I have also read some books that have given me some great ideas for decluttering and maintaining your minimalist home that I would highly recommend to anyone considering a switch to a more minimalist lifestyle.
Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver (who also has MS)
The More of Less by Joshua Becker (he gives a Christian perspective that I love)
I wrote this post to let you know about the beginning of a new chapter in my life and if you have any questions about any of this, please comment below. I will be writing more about my version of minimalism in the future but I will still be writing about DIY and lettering too! 🙂
Praying for you friend. I love the direction you are taking and also loved Joshua’s book, so good. Excited to read more of your journey and love your intentionality. xo
With my Fibromyalgia, I do am TRYING to begin a minimalist! But I’m sure I’m not the only one driven by guilt…of letting things go, but with your simple writing today…TODAY i’M GOING TO START THAT ROAD!
Deonna, I’ve always admired you….Thank you for encouraging others with your diagnosis, your truthfulness, and most importantily the way you show others Christ living in you! Love and miss your sweet family! Michele
I admire your courage in the face of your diagnosis. I love what you are doing with your home !!
WOW! God Bless YOU & your road to healing & minimalism!!! You are in my Prayers!!! As I’m sure you know, this is NOT a sentence, it is only a change to the way you’re living! I Believe in YOU!!!!
So excited to read more of your minimalism blogs and checkout the links, I know I could use this in my life 🙂