I found out about the minimalist community when I was reading through my feed this morning and stumbled on a postby 
The contest involves answering any of the Three questions stated, so I picked the first
How has minimalism improved the overall quality of your life and well being and why?
I have been a minimalist for the longest I can remember.
At age 11 I was sent to a boarding school and if you attended one you know how boarding schools can be with the items you could bring and the tiny corner given to you as a bed space. Going to school I carried only the essentials because I knew taking things I didn’t need would mean crowding my space, so I ensured everything I carried was important and in small quantity enough to last me till my parents visited.
I kept this up for my 6 years in school till I went to the university. now I had a bigger space, no rules that would determine how much I can bring to school or what I can own but still, I enjoyed having little possession and I ensured no matter what I will own less and maintain what I had and used them judiciously.
I remember a day when we had a fire outbreak scare in school and my roommate made a comment
she said
If it was actually a fireoutbreak, she would lose most of her things because there would not be enough time to take everything important to her unlike me that it feels like all I own can fit into a box and in a few minutes everything I own can be secured
I smiled.. Cause well it was true
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We have almost the same things but she tends to have excess items that ain't even necessary anymore. She then used the word “Aunty minimalist” oh That was the first time I understood the word. I see it a lot on Pinterest and Instagram but I assumed it is about decoration till she explained.
she was so interested in how I do it because at the time we were already in year three and I could see that she still kept books and items that we may never need again, she had clothes from year one that she has outgrown and so many silly items and she claims they were important. The fire scare was an eye-opener for us both.
we decided to take out the rest of the day to sort out her items, we found missing things she looked for, items she bought that was never used because they were somehow lost in her things and we gave out books to some year One and two students that we may never use again and after we were done she was so excited, relieved and happy.
I sincerely thought I just loved decluttering but I then realized that I do more than that, from Me wanting to own too much, putting lots of emphasis on quality over quantity, giving and prioritizing till I understood that I was just me being a Minimalist and sincerely it is the best kind of lifestyle.
I would partially give credit to attending boarding school as a child, which somehow shaped my thinking and mindset but at the same time, I applauded myself for consistency and sticking with the lifestyle.
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Now I am married with a child has I hear it can be difficult especially as a first time mum but thanks to being a minimalist it has been easy and enjoyable.
Because I choose to own less, it gives me the luxury of spending less time cleaning my house. My mother always wondered how I did it, having a new baby and taking care of the home and still having lots of time to rest which I need for my mental health. I just smile and tell her it is easy you just need the right lifestyle.
I know how people say having a baby can be expensive, but I have somehow saved more money, well maybe because we are still in the early stage but being a minimalist has taught me discipline.
Normally if you enter into a baby shop you would want to get all the cutest things money can buy for my baby but. I ensure I discipline myself to get just what is needed and important at that time, I think of how it may clutter my space and some other factors and let some items go even in my personal shopping I apply same discipline and it has been life changing, I spend less and save more.
I have learned to appreciate even the tiniest things in life: it is very easy to get distracted by the big things we see and ignore the things that even has more value to our life.
It is also very okay to let things of no importance in our life go, from our items to even people around us, it frees our minds and space of that cluster and give a big relief.
would you encourage everyone to embark on a minimalist journey?
Ooh yes!!
I preach and shout the minimalist lifestyle to my friends all the time especially when I get to visit their homes and those who started this journey have nothing but great things to say about it. One common notable comment I hear then say is how it has become a self-discovery journey for them. It is not just about what you get to keep, give away, or throw away, it is about values, knowing what your values are and ensuring you live by it, saying no to what doesn’t align with these values, and living the best life out of it.
Living a minimalist lifestyle is nothing short of a breath of fresh air
I am inviting 
