Beginnings.

So I bet some of you are wondering why I even started this whole minimalist thing. Well I will tell you. Figuratively speaking, ever since I became an adult, money has managed to burn a hole in my pocket. For me I have always wanted to acquire things to make myself either appear cool or successful. Whether that was a new car, shoes, clothes, furniture, electronics...etc, I bought it. I even acquired a wife (whom I did love) and a kid (whom I cherish). I thought I had it all. Yet, I was not happy. Not happy at all. Fast forwarding a bit, I had a roommate named Han that moved into my place earlier this year. The huge place filled with furniture, shoes, clothes, odds and ends, and such. Han was Korean and a scientist. Han never said much. Han had a family back in Cali that he would be reuniting with later this year, but needed a place to crash till then. I obliged. When Dr. Han moved in he did so in a few trips up and down the stairs. Here is a list of things Han brought in the apartment:

Hide a mat (for sleeping)
Small folding desk
Macbook
Chair
2 pairs of shoes
3 or 4 outfits
Rice cooker
Toiletries

That's it. Me and my other roommate scoffed at Han when he first came, because to us it seemed ridiculous. What kind of doctor sleeps on a hide a mat? We later learned, a smart one! As time passed, my relationship with my wife started to dwindle and because of this we sent my daughter away to stay with my mom for a bit. This is when I really started to question life and what exactly I was doing wrong. Eventually we separated/divorced, and my journey began. I thought back to Han and how he lived happily with basically no possessions. I began to look at everything I owned with regret and so I started to get rid of it all. The 40+ shoes I owned, gone! The furniture, gone! The 52" telelvision, (sniffle) gone! Apple iMac, gone! Xbox, gone! I literally did not hold back when selling all these items on craigslist, even if I didn't make a fortune. For me it was all about losing the attachment, and getting it out of my face. When it was all said and done, I had a completely empty apartment, and a smile on my face. It was the first time in 6 yrs that I truly felt happy and accomplished. Why accomplished? Well that's a different post, but let's just say it was a new beginning...a second life!