NEW YEAR, FRESH START

I set one resolution for 2016, and it's an important one: collect moments, not things. Memories and experiences hold so much more value than things. 2016 has a lot of excitement in store for us, so my only intention this year is to reduce my consumption of material goods, and instead consume moments. 

So, where to start? There is power in de-cluttering. Liberating, freeing, and a fresh perspective are just a few words that come to mind when I think about de-cluttering. The best part is that de-cluttering your life can go beyond the scope of physical things - you can clean every aspect of your life. 

When we came back from the Christmas holidays we decided that it was time to go room by room and say goodbye to things we no longer need or want and holy cow, did it ever feel good. It took an afternoon and a few evenings to get through the apartment, but the feeling after was so freeing. It can be hard to let go of things, but we set parameters. If we hadn't worn a piece of clothing in the last 8-12 months, into the donation bag it went. That thing you're holding on to "just in case", into the donation bag it went. We donated 5 bags of clothes alone, alongside a wealth of household items that didn't fit into our lifestyle anymore. 

I'm not an expert, but I will attest to what de-cluttering can do for your space and your mental health. After we dropped our donations off we may have high-fived and then relished in the weight we just took off of our shoulders. I'm proud that we were able to see the need to do this and get it done! In a small space like an apartment, every inch is valuable so there's no need for anything that is deemed unnecessary.

That was the first phase of de-cluttering. The second is saying goodbye to negativity, which is sure to be a challenge. Whether it's ending negative friendships or personally changing my outlook on things, this is a real goal that I'm going to work towards. I've met so many inspiring and positive people over the last 6 months and it's contagious. Positive people are seemingly happy people, and it's desirable.

Did you set any resolutions for 2016? What are you doing to make sure you stick to your goals? I'd love to hear what you're doing to make a change in your life. Here's to 2016! It's bound to be a good year with a fresh start.