How to Have Everything

It reads like a clickbaity title, atypical for me, but don’t we all wish to have everything in life, whatever our personal definition of everything may be? I have the answer for how to achieve that, how to have everything. Read on…

Contentment

Do you remember the little framed bathroom quote my mom had in my bathroom as a kid? I wrote about it in this post titled Contentment.

The Stoics apparently have a similar notion:

The Wants

Do you spend more time thinking about and wishing for the things you don’t have than enjoying what you do have? My kids do. Even with limiting their exposure to media, they are somehow still gripped by the Wants. And then the moment a Want becomes a Have, they are on to the next Want. Does it ever end? Is there ever satisfaction? Or is it a never-ending loop of dissatisfaction and lack of gratitude? A forever parade of Amazon wish lists?

We Have Everything

Since settling into our second home, a minimalist loft, both Mason and Willa have independently noted how much they enjoy being here. Yes, it is new and exciting and has fluffy beanbags and fuzzy blankets, but their joy is about how pared down and simple it is. There’s everything we need plus a few things for fun – and it is PLENTY! At our full-time house home, we have TOO MUCH. They like the simplified space better because of its simplicity.

There is less in our second space. We all want the less. As a result, we feel that we have everything. It is a richly satisfying experience to spend time in such a space. There’s more room to think with better clarity, write with laser focus, and for each of us to enjoy the most important things for each of us. There’s nothing at the loft that I don’t find to be useful or beautiful and it is an environment primed for success with habits, focus, and accomplishing goals.

It is a lot like going on vacation. You don’t take very much stuff with you, at least not everything you own. (I hope!) Have you ever noticed how good it feels to be free from all your stuff? It isn’t simply the vacation feel-goods, it is the lightness that comes with freedom from things!

Bring it Home

Ironically, it is with the addition of a second home (more) that the appreciation for less was born.

It is time to take this all to our house home. Majorly pare down once and for all and create the space for wanting nothing so we can have everything, being truly content everywhere we live. I’ve written about Minimalism before and am a huge fan of The Minimalists, one of their Patreon supporters, three-time champion of The Minimalist Game, but we have never succeeded in creating the space in our house that feels as good as our second home does. Oh, how I’ve tried! But I found it nearly impossible to accomplish as an army of one. I think now that the kids have had a taste of what a freer space feels like they may be more willing to participate.

This is our golden ticket to having everything – now to sell everyone on the work involved.