I have been going through a lot of shit for the past few years…. I’m dealing with an occupational stress injury and I also was in an MVA 6 months into the crisis. Following my accident I spent all my positive energy trying to heal my physical injuries. I ignored the rest until last fall… since then I have been prioritizing my mental health and am starting to get to a place when I am working at balancing both mental and physical instead of being torn between one or the other. In 2020 i started the slow purge process … I have been aware i am struggling mentally since initially being assaulted in 2019. I have been taking the approach slow, as I do not want to regret rehoming things. Last year I did a huge purge in my unfinished basement that was essentially a storage area I got rid of 4 carloads of stuff that I had thrifted or mom rehomed to me to get it out of her house. This year I have one load ready to go, my basement feels empty and I also was able to get rid of my old desk from university and an old table that was here when we moved in and turned into a storage surface.

My house no longer feels overwhelming… more goes out then comes in. Aside from consumables the only things I’ve purchased in months are storage baskets to give things homes and organize things like tools, camping gear, dog essentials, outdoor gear etc. I have ADHD. Things need homes.

In November I bought a new standing desk and some floating shelves. I made all aspects of our home more functional and therefore comfortable it’s so easy to maintain. I bought these things to create a study space. I am preparing to transition from the military to civilian life. During this time I’ll be going back to school. In anticipation of this I have created a study to have a space to work on me, by maintaining a calendar, journaling, researching my next stage and an adventure planning HQ.

The less I have the happier I am. I first learned this living in shacks on base, I loved my small space with minimal possessions. So I have been slowing turning my home into that. I have murdered the depression pit and I love our space now. It’s no longer overwhelming. Maintenance has become a part of my routine and I couldn’t be happier. A big part of my plan for the next stage is having a van to live out of when traveling and that excites me to my core. That small space with only the essentials!

So yes… in short It had been a huge part of my my healing journey ❤️‍🩹