City walks and mindfulness

As an aspiring minimalist, I've found that being connected to my surroundings in all their forms, is not only easier but becoming vital in my daily life. 

It's warm here in Copenhagen at the moment - unseasonably so in fact - and that has meant spending time outside is much easier. While I do enjoy walking at all times of the year, there is just something magical about walking around a city in late spring/early summer. The streets come alive again after a cold winter and very wet spring. Cafe's and restaurants set up more seating outside, people smile much more and are in general just much more friendly. I love this time of year.

While walking all over the city (usually no less than 1.5 hours a day, but most days around 2-3 hours) I feel like I know my neighborhood and the surrounding inner city area pretty well by now. But the beauty of walking (unavoidably) past many of the same places day in and day out, is that you notice the small things that change from day to day or week to week. This idea of mindfulness and complete immersion in my local community is one of the greatest parts of my daily walks. I notice new and incredible things every single day. Whether it's clear bird song on an early Sunday morning walk in the park or a strange and overlooked little piece of street art that I feel only I have discovered while being surrounded by others, it all adds to the intimate experience that's possible every day. 

Being a minimalist, for me, has meant a significant downsizing of personal belongings (although that is still a work in progress), and this means that most of my belongings are black, white and grey. For a lot of people this palette will seem boring and totally uninspiring. To me it is the complete opposite. It gives me such a sense of calm and relaxation, that it truly does sharpen my focus and expand my perceptions when I do go outside. 

While I try to limit my spending in general, I have also placed a self imposed moratorium on buying any new clothes until my birthday. This has only strengthened my conviction about minimalism and confirmed towards myself, that I have made the right decision in embarking on a life of "less". While walking through town on one of my daily walks with my dog, I particularly like to go into the heart of the shopping area here in Copenhagen, in the early morning hours. Depending on what time I get pushed out of bed, we will sometimes hit the streets well before any delivery trucks or tourists are out and about. If we walk a little later, the enjoyment of seeing the town come alive always reminds me of being on holiday. Do you know that feeling of walking early in the morning in a new place because of jet-lag, travel fever and pure excitement? Some of my best experiences in New York have been in the early morning hours, walking through Central Park with only the most dedicated of joggers. Having coffee at the only little breakfast place on the block with some of the locals and just breathing in the everyday life. That's how I feel in Copenhagen every morning. It's great and it means a shot of espresso is chased by an equally uplifting shot of serotonin from the beginning of the day!

Being mindful while walking can take many shapes. I have become obsessed with listening to news and informational/educational podcasts at the moment. While for some it may seem counter intuitive to  being mindful of my surroundings if I have someone droning on in my ear, I have noticed that I tend to see things differently when I'm listening to something interesting. My brain will make connections in more or less subtle ways, linking what I'm hearing to what I'm seeing. That in and of itself is interesting. On some days though, I will purposefully silence my phone and put it in a pocket, focusing on my breathing and on one perception/sense at a time. For example, "this place always sounds really funny when you walk around the corner, going from complete silence (almost) to roaring traffic" or "this is where the shadows through the leaf canopy looks like rippling water when your are far away, down the path in the park". 

Being mindful and adhering to a minimalist lifestyle is such a natural relationship in my eyes. I hope many of you have had the same experience - otherwise I certainly encourage you to get outside, every day, and experience the wonder of repetition and the deep knowledge of the area you live in every day.

A whole other post can be made about novel curiosity, exploration, travel and seeing new and inspiring sights - which I also happen to love! - but that's for another time.

The Bernstorff Park (north of Copenhagen city) where I often take my dog, because it is an enclosed dog park where they are allowed to run free and play with all the other dogs. It's a wonderfully large area that I can easily spend an hour or two walking in. 

Why less is actually more

Starting over.

Deciding to be a minimalist means different things to every one of us. Whether it's a step by step process of eliminating physical possessions and growing into a meditation or mindfulness routine, or simply rebooting your life from one day to the next. 

It doesn't matter which way you do it. It doesn't matter how minimal you become. It doesn't matter that you don't live like the minimalists usually portrayed in social media. 

Being minimal is relative.

I started my process in a slow and organic transition - that was helped along drastically when the moving van with about 50% of my possessions burned up in transit. Yeah, that'll do it. But still, to this day, I am in evolution. I work daily on finding at least one thing I can donate, sell or simply throw out. I don't live in the minimalist home of my dreams yet - but for me the process is gradual, and that's okay too. 

What I have changed completely over the past couple of years, is my commitment to mindfulness and meditation. Every day. It's not forceful or a cause of bad conscience if I happen to skip my evening meditation for one day - but it rarely happens. Simply because it has become such an integral part of my life now. Slowing down, looking inwards, breathing deeply and noticing the little things are all part of my minimalist lifestyle. Not spending too much time on social media (that's a process too!) and enjoying being me, with me, for me.

Living with less has brought clarity to so many aspects of my life, not only the feelings of claustrophobia in a crowded home (mine was never particularly crowded, but it felt that way to me). It has given me clarity in rediscovering the person I somehow got away from when my spending power increased. Instead of homemade purposeful gifts, I would resort to superfluous retail. How much of that stuff ends up in your friends and families garages, attics and garbage cans? Stuffed in the back of a closet, used once and forgotten.

Stop it. Breathe. Think. And give a gift from the heart. It doesn't even have to be a "thing". Give your time, your care, your tenderness. Give LOVE.

Seeing the world from a place of "less" allows me to notice the beautiful, quirky, overlooked and underappreciated things that surrounds us all.

What it also gives me, is the increasing ability to feel free. Free from constraints when I think about my career, life choices and goals for the future.

I am free to move, with few possessions. I am free to seek employment that stimulates and interests me. I am free to go out travelling with just a single bag/backpack. 

I am also free to love and appreciate all the beautiful things created in this world, and never having to feel the pressure to purchase. I simply don't want it.

One of the biggest game changers for me, a highly visual and formerly shopping addicted design junkie, is Pinterest. Yes, I know, it sounds strange. But being able to gorge on beautiful pictures of designs, both new trends and old classics, and being able to assemble them in neat folders (boards) and even to do so for free, any time, any where, TOTALLY cured me of my need to shop. You see, it wasn't about the "owning", it was about the hunt. The visual satisfaction of appreciating beautiful designs and the feeling of having been thoughtful and innovative in the selection. 

Kindle is another of my favorites.  Not reading is not an option. And though I LOVE books, it simply isn't the most practical to purchase and store these any longer. Buying a physical book now, is reserved for the most special and deserving. The ones that add beauty and interest to my home - and even then, they do sometimes burn on the back of a truck. And guess what? Life goes on. Not owning so many possessions is also the safest way of not losing them or the money you spent on them and their insurance. 

Look at food. Buying what you need, instead of bulk stocks will let you be creative, in the moment when you look for beautiful fresh groceries. Buying what you need makes you simplify your needs. It makes you look at your spending. But most importantly for me: My appreciation of good quality, simply produced and prepared food is much greater. Appreciate what you eat to nourish yourself. Become mindful and absorbed in the experience. Make it simple.

For me MINIMALISM is the thread that ties all areas of my life together.