Denouncing materialism

How much do we really need? What makes you joyful?

I’ve had this fascination for minimalism for several years. I think it began when I started exploring capsule wardrobes after my weight loss and body transformation right before my 40th birthday. I had to buy a whole new wardrobe for my slimmer body which I hadn’t done in years. I was exploring my new identity as an athletic woman in her 40’s and wasn’t really sure what my style since my age bracket had shifted since my last decent shop.

It then led to a fascination with Kon Mari technique, popularised by The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Japanese organising expert Marie Kondo.

Then there was the remodel of our rental home in Bahrain and exploring my interior decor style and joy I got from minimising our possessions.

Next up was the pandemic, lockdowns and #stayinghome. So began my preoccupation with #vanlife accounts on Instagram; mostly young adults and a few families who’ve shunned the societal norms and downsized all their worldly belongings into a small caravan (trailer for my American friends). All whilst preparing our own exit strategy to move back home to Australia after being expats for 16 years.

For the last 8 months whilst we’ve been moving between 3 different homes, we’ve been living out of several suitcases and to be honest, we’ve worn the same clothes over and over and our unpacked boxes still sit in our container and shed, patiently waiting to be opened and found a new home in our house. 

The problem is, our home is much smaller than we had thought when we bought it online, but we’re not unhappy as we are living in our dream location, and we have room to improve over time if we wish. But in the meantime, it’s helping us reassess what do we actually need to be happy.

We’re extremely grateful to have fresh food, water, and a roof over our heads and be living in our home country with family and friends close-by. This accidental downsizing is forcing us to minimise but also to count our blessings.

The more things we own, the more I feel burdened and also the harder it is to find things, or the more mental work it takes to come up with homes for “things”.

How much do we really need? What makes you joyful?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on materialism and consumerism. 

Another thing I’ve been having fun with these past few months, is leaning into the “Art of Frugal Hedonism” - and have already seen my grocery bill reduce by $400 a month - with a little creativity and pre planning. But that’s for another time - hit reply if you want me to share more about this in my future updates, but here’s just a little bit of how I’ve been not been sucked in by false convenience.

Tonight, I’ve pre-made this week’s lasagna (likely 2 nights dinner) with way more veg than meat, I’ve pre-cut all the veg for tomorrow night’s stir fry, the rice is already cooked and cooled, all I have to do it throw all the ingredients into the wok including the meat. And I’ve made pizza dough and mini pizzas for the kids lunchboxes. The pizza sauce has been made with all sorts of veg and bone broth and the wouldn’t even know. They love it!

I hope you’re enjoying my little shares, as I’ve missed writing and while now I’m a little more time poor with our new life, I hope to make more time to share with you our learnings, updates and even what’s not working as we navigate this next chapter here in Australia.

Have a great week, and chat to you soon.

Robyn xx

Wondering why you received this email?

I started this newsletter in 2010, when I was known around the inter webs as Girl on Raw, a raw chef sharing raw vegan education, recipes and life living as an Aussie on a compound in Saudi Arabia. You may have later signed up to receive updates from me, during my blog coaching program with Vegiehead, Adele McConnell. Or maybe you joined one of my health and wellbeing challenges or you found me through my books, most recently The Body Plan, or weight management and mindset coaching. Regardless of why you’re here, I hope you’ll stay as I continue the story of a family of 4, re-integrating back to their home country of Australia after 16 years living abroad and all that entails.