I’m getting tired of trying to keep up with things…

It’s stressful living in a house filled with clutter that gathers dust.

It’s exhausting to clean every day.

I no longer want to spend my valuable time doing chores after chores.

I want my home to be filled with things that hold value, and by value, I don’t mean expensive. I mean they should serve a real purpose, not just look good.

My house is not a museum. I don’t think I have the energy to run one. Therefore, I do not need excessive possessions that lack practical or meaningful roles in my home.

From what I wrote in my diary a few years back when I was overwhelmed with material possessions.

I used to be an avid collector of stuff: manga, Hello Kitty, CDS, collectibles, anime figurines, etc. It all began when I was a teenager. When I started saving up money on my own, I would spend it on buying merchandise from idols I liked or purchasing cute action figures because they looked good, and everyone else in my circle was doing it.

At the time, it made me feel good to acquire these items because they brought a sense of novelty and excitement, especially when they were rare or special editions. It somehow showcased my ‘success’ that aligned with the particular lifestyle and group I was part of at the moment.

And then, I grew really tired of trying to keep up with that. I’d feel content one moment after buying something new and bringing it home, but when the novelty wore off, I desired to buy more new things. The satisfaction did not last; it was never-ending. I realised I was doing it because everyone else was, and I was chasing status rather than things that truly made me happy.

One day, while waiting for my train, I chanced upon an advertisement at the MRT station. It was about new book releases from the National Library. One of the books, titled ‘Goodbye, Things,’ by Fumio Sasaki, really intrigued me.

I remember thinking, ‘Why would anyone even write a book about saying goodbye to their things?’ I was curious, so I borrowed it. It was then that I realised I had been doing it wrong the whole time.

What I was doing wasn’t mindful; it was excessive and didn’t align with my personal values. It caused me stress from constantly trying to keep up with my possessions while also taking care of what I already had at home. It was tiring and exhausting. I didn’t want to spend any more time acquiring new stuff just to make my space look pretty while they sat around gathering dust. From that moment, I decided I’d had enough.

I began looking at all the stuff I own to see if they really matter to me. I got rid of many, many things, including those that carried emotional burdens, such as stuff that I only kept because they were expensive or given as gifts that made me feel guilty to toss, even if they weren’t useful to me.

Decluttering isn’t something that just happens overnight; it’s a process that takes time. As I’ve been doing it, I’ve been feeling more free, and I’m also learning more about myself.

Fast forward to today, I’m no longer the same person as I was before I decided to significantly reduce my belongings. I simply have more time to do things that I genuinely love (time that would otherwise be spent cleaning or deciding what to buy next).

It doesn’t mean that I don’t have pretty stuff or decorations in my home anymore; I do. But now I always try to be more mindful when getting new things and I definitely do not bring something home just because I can.

My story may or may not resonate with you, and that’s okay. Different strokes for different folks. Everybody has their own preferences and ways of living, and I think diversity among people is what makes the world interesting and dynamic.

You don’t have to be a minimalist if it doesn’t feel right to you, I’m not here to “convert” you into one (ha!). But I just hope that whatever you are pursuing right now, you will be mindful about it. I hope the happiness you get when you acquire something brings real meaning to your life that aligns with your values.