The author, Marissa, shares her personal journey from being a recovering hoarder to embracing minimalism. After the loss of her parents, Marissa struggled with emotional hoarding and cluttering, amassing a large collection of sentimental items. However, after discovering Marie Kondo's book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," Marissa began her five-year decluttering journey.
She started by letting go of items that no longer brought her joy and found solace in the kind words of those who purchased her items. As she continued to declutter, Marissa felt a sense of freedom and peace. She and her husband eventually decided to sell most of their possessions and move to Europe, where they now live with their children.
Marissa's minimalism journey has allowed her to focus on what truly matters – her relationships, happiness, and well-being. Her home is now filled with light, laughter, and meaningful possessions that hold sentimental value. Marissa's story serves as a testament to the transformative power of embracing minimalism and letting go of clutter.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The author's mother died of cancer when the author was nine years old.
2. The author's father would often say "just in case" and "to remember her by" when keeping items.
3. The author's home was filled with clutter, including boxes and collectibles.
4. The author's father died when the author was in their early 20s.
5. The author inherited many possessions from their father and felt overwhelmed by the clutter.
6. The author moved from a 900-square-foot condo in Chicago to a 1900-square-foot townhome in Indiana.
7. The author's neighbor had downsized from a 5,000-square-foot home and made $30,000 decluttering and selling their possessions.
8. The author read Marie Kondo's book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" and started decluttering.
9. The author sold many of their possessions, including their father's collectibles, which sold for less than their original value.
10. The author and their family decided to get rid of everything and move to Germany, where their husband's family lived.
11. The author's children would finally be able to be around grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
12. The author's life is now "peaceful, loving, and free."
13. The author spends less time cleaning and feeling stressed and more time playing with their kids and relaxing with their husband.
14. The author's home is filled with light and laughter.
15. The author collects moments instead of objects.
16. The author kept some sentimental items, which have a special place in their life.
17. The author uses their father's knife set to cut fresh bread and shares stories about their grandparents' treasures.
18. The author's children eat off the same plates that their parents received when they got married.
19. The author is a recovering hoarder turned minimalist mom.