About a year and a half ago, I found myself at a crossroads, questioning my life and my purpose. In search of clarity, I began thinking deeply about what I truly wanted to do. That’s when the idea for my adventure came to me: walking across the Sahara. There’s something uniquely special about traveling on foot—you’re forced to carry everything you need, and that naturally imposes limits. It compelled me to focus on what was truly essential.
During my preparations, I stumbled upon the concept of minimalism. I discovered others who were living simplified lives, and what struck me most was how much happier they seemed. It sounded so easy: get rid of unnecessary stuff, and with it, much of life’s stress. Yet, I quickly realized that many of the things we own are tied to beliefs or emotions, and letting go wasn’t as simple as I initially thought.
After returning from my three-week trek through the desert, I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff waiting for me back home. That’s when I decided to take minimalism seriously. Having just moved in with my girlfriend, I made a commitment to only bring the things I truly needed. I started questioning every item I touched: When was the last time I used this? Had I missed it? More often than not, the answer was no.
From then on, I kept a couple of eBay auctions running at all times and gave away what didn’t sell. Gradually, I felt lighter.
One of the most influential resources I found during this process was a blog called The Minimalists, which documents their 21-day journey towards minimalism. Here’s a quote from their experience that stuck with me:
“It’s amazing to realize that we often don’t need the things we think we need. And it’s equally amazing to consider the true cost of owning those things. It’s not just the price tag—these items also cost you time and space. You spend time earning the money to buy them, time maintaining them, and they take up space in your home, which in turn costs more money.”
That statement hit me hard. How often do we cling to things, convinced we can’t live without them, when the truth is, they weigh us down? Whether it’s the gadget you had to have but never use, or the car with 42 more payments to go—most of it is just stuff. And though owning it doesn’t make us bad people, it does mean our priorities might need some realignment.
The bottom line? It’s all just stuff. What really matters is living a life that aligns with what we truly value.