Minimalist

My name is Holly, and I am a minimalist.

Just kidding.

I DID read three books on minimalism this summer though, and I think that means something. 😜 I bought in, completely. Life isn’t about stuff! I don’t need more storage bins and closets, I just need less stuff! I got super inspired and started going through a lot of things that we don’t use and don’t need anymore. This created some angst at home, as the natives worried that their “beloved” items could make it to the dreaded give-away pile, or even the trash. (I will admit the angst is warranted)

I first went to the attic where we stored unused bed frames and older mattresses. I went through all the books and crafts and anything else I could find. Making a pile to donate felt like I was losing weight. My motivation soared. I cleaned out files and closets and extra school supplies. I started listening to a minimalist podcast.

Let’s do this!

I scheduled a pickup with the Salvation Army. The appointment was a few weeks away, which was perfect. I would donate a table and chairs, beds, mattresses, and my childhood dresser. YES!!! Truthfully, I like donating—almost everything Brian and I owned when we were first married came from a second-hand store. I still go thrifting. It feels like a win-win situation. I get rid of extra stuff I don’t use, and someone gets stuff they need.

Well…

I never said I was a good minimalist. I LOVE the idea, but the execution is challenging. Those weeks of waiting were just enough time for me to decide I didn’t want to get rid of my dresser. I had it as a baby! It was so cute. I had to keep it—just in case. 🙄 And then I bought beads to make some jewelry for fun. Those books I went through? They are sitting in a big bag on the floor in my house. I haven’t moved them. Sigh.

I’m a terrible minimalist. 😂

The appointed day was almost here. I enlisted my family to carry all of our potential donations down the driveway and onto the grass in front of our house. The ominous sky threatened rain, so we covered everything with a few big tarps. I hoped the storm would be mild and went to bed.

DONATION DAY!!

I woke up early, feeling excited. I took the tarps off and attached a big sign that read SALVATION ARMY. It was a Tuesday, which only matters because our neighborhood has a bulk trash pick-up day on Monday. MONDAY! Always Monday. I purposely scheduled our donation pick-up to be on a different day so there wouldn’t be any confusion. At the last minute, I added two nice (but unused) bikes, one kid bike and one adult bike.

Then I went on a bike ride around my neighborhood. I saw a garbage truck.

“That’s weird, “ I thought.

I finished my ride. And this is how the rest of DONATION DAY went down:

• Salvation Army came with their truck while I was biking. They only had room for the table and four chairs, which they took.

• I came home and my daughter told me they would be back later with an empty truck to get the remaining items.

• I got ready for the day and went to check on the donation pile. It was gone. YAY! I was so glad and felt great.

• I ran some errands. While out, the same daughter called and told me the Salvation Army truck was there and wondered where the items for donation were?

• I realized that the bulk trash came on the wrong day, ignored the Salvation Army label, and chucked the donations into the garbage.😫🥺

UGH!!!

I felt terrible.

I still do.

I may need to reread those minimalist books. I’m almost positive I’m not doing it right.