The burden of Possessions

A brief glimpse into my world of simple living

In her beautiful book “L'art de la Simplicite” Dominique Loreau talks about:

The Burden of Possessions.

She says:
 
"For many people, material wealth is an expression of selfhood, proof of their existence.
 
Consciously or otherwise, they associate their identity and self-image with the things they possess.
 
The more they have, the more secure, accomplished and fulfilled they feel.
 
Everything becomes objectified and aspirational: material goods, bargains, works of art, acquaintances, ideas, friends, lovers, holidays, a god, even the ego.
 
People consume, acquire, accumulate, collect.
 
They ‘have’ friends and contacts, ‘hold’ their diplomas, titles awards.
 
They stagger under the weight of their possessions and forget, or fail to realise, that their acquisitiveness saps their vital energies, making them listless, and subject to increasingly urgent needs and desires."

On the journey to simple living we all have our own paths to walk.

When I moved to Lombok I boarded the plane with one bag containing everything I owned.

Getting rid of all my stuff was a liberating experience.

50 years of accumulating stuff.  Trust me, it’s a lot of stuff.

Of course, you do not have to move to a tropical island to experience simple living.

But living amongst people who live day to day brings a new perspective to simple living.

I have a different sense of appreciation for simple things.

Which has contributed significantly to my personal journey.
 
It’s an inner journey that then spills over into the outer.

The things you spend your time on.

The company you keep.

The things you buy.

Your home.
 
People have been asking me what my simple living space looks like on an island.
 
I suppose people have visions of me living in a shack on the beach. 😃
 
Now this might be simple living for some people.
 
Good for them.

We all need to define what it means for ourselves.
 
I have been hesitant to share photos of my space because well it’s my personal space.
 
But I eventually succumbed,  so here is a glimpse into my personal space.
 
No judgment.
 
I’m still very much on my own journey.

Entrance Lobby

This beautiful bougainvillea is what greets me when I open the door to our outdoor entrance lobby.

Every day when I enter the house I’m greeted by this simple tree which brings me much joy.

You can find this plant all over the island and this one has been trimmed down similar to a bonsai.  

I loved it the first time I saw it.

Lesson: Fill your entrance with something that brings you joy... everyday.

Lounge

So firstly the only things I own in this picture are the TV and the WIFI router.

We are fortunate that we were able to rent a house that was fully furnished.

Not buying big household furniture items works for us as it keeps us mobile.

We re-arranged the furniture in a way that suits our lifestyle.

Although the furniture is bulky it works because we have not brought any other unnecessary items into the space.

Lesson: A lounge/TV area can be uncluttered

Dining room

This beautiful wooden table was badly damaged by the previous tenants.

We found a local craftsman who could refurbish the table and paid for it ourselves.

We now have a beautiful piece of furniture that we use every day.

The management agent initially said we can put a table cloth on the table... HELL NO.

We could have argued with the owner that he should pay for the refurb, not worth the negative energy.

Money well spent.

Lesson: Spend money on refurbing good items that you can use every day.

Breakfast area

Toast with peanut butter and banana... and a drizzle of honey, yummy.

This outdoor furniture was also badly damaged and we stripped it down and painted it a soft grey which goes well will the natural wood.

Goodbye to the dark wood stain and black metal frames.

A set of soft stripe cushions and we have a beautiful breakfast space that we enjoy every day.

Lesson: Create a beautiful simple airy space for your daily routines.

Quiet space

Creating quiet spaces is important on your journey to simple living.

You preferably want these spaces outdoors.

If you do not have an outdoor area at least ensure its airy with as much natural light as possible.

We spent money on buying plants to create these quiet spots.

Nothing fancy, just a simple chair if you want some quiet time.

Lesson: Intentionally create spaces of peace and tranquillity

Bringing nature indoors

Bringing nature into our home was an important element for my wife.

She has created these beautiful spaces that give you an immediate feeling of serenity and peace.

Even though we have bought a lot of pots it does not feel cluttered.

The combination of the different plants just works.

And of course, the cats love climbing into the pots for a nap.

Lesson: Bring nature into your living space.

Kitchen

This is where my wife creates her magic.

It’s a 3x3 m and only had a two-plate gas stove and fridge. We basically had to buy everything else.

Some kitchen appliances including a mini oven for baking, a nice crockery set, good cutlery and 2 sets of beautiful glasses.

I specifically mention these items because we took our time getting things that we really liked.

Simple living does not mean getting cheap things that you will regret buying.

Especially if you are using it every day.

Very importantly we ensure that there is fresh fruit on the counter daily.

Lesson: invest in buying items that you will enjoy using daily.

Important stuff

When we moved to Lombok we decided that we were getting rid of everything.

The process of getting rid of a house full of “stuff” was life-changing.

We have digital memories of friends and family stored in the cloud.

But I brought along this one piece of art that has deep sentimental value to me. It’s a painting done by my dear mother before she succumbed to Alzheimer.

It will go along with me wherever I find myself on this beautiful planet.

Lesson: Find a small simple thing that reminds you of loved ones.

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I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into my personal space and hopefully, you have been inspired to start your own journey to simple living. 

It can start with a simple thing like decluttering that lounge area.

Or creating a quiet space in your home.

Start to create empty spaces.

Enjoy the journey.

Be in this world as if you were a stranger or traveler.

- Nabi Muhammed SAW