It’s hot here in Cuba, which is why I’m wearing these air-conditioned trousers. Proof that I’m a fan of the minimalist lifestyle. 😂
Alright, jokes aside—I wanted to take part in this #Kiss entry while I still had time. At first glance, it seemed simple enough. But then my thoughts started spinning and things got complicated, so it’s not that easy for me to talk about three things that connect to everything. I just can’t see them as something detached from reality, from our surroundings, from our own history. Still, I’ll scatter some cerebral dust around here… 😜
What are my top three priorities, and how can I align my minimalism journey to support them?
First, I should say I’m 45. Life at this age isn’t lived the same way as when you’re 20. Lately, I’ve felt more alive, for instance, than I did 25 years ago. And I can picture you raising your eyebrows, waiting to hear what I’ll say next to back that up. It’s nothing extraordinary—it’s just that I’ve gathered a bit more wisdom, and I think that allows me to value and live life in its proper measure. One more thing: at 45, I’m also freer… and perhaps that’s why I feel more alive.
No regrets, no laments—I tell myself. Because I’ve looked back and wished I’d had, much earlier, what I have today, both materially and mentally. Or that I’d had, back then, a closer guide to help me make certain decisions. I didn’t. It came when everything shifted, when the gears aligned at just the right moment for me to get what I’d longed for. I shaped myself, stumbling, falling—often (more than I’d like) in solitude, even though I’ve always been surrounded by people. I had to work hard…
On the other hand, through this healthy exercise of looking back, I’ve come to the conclusion that—even with tools to grow and be free—I was still living boxed in, like a caged little bird. You can probably tell by the tone of my musings, and the path they’re taking, that freedom is one of my top three priorities.
Assuming that true freedom begins in the mind, I can’t yet say I’ve achieved it fully—but I’ve made considerable progress. Living alone, having my own home, managing my time as I please—especially since I left an abusive and poorly paid job months ago—makes me feel freer. But I still carry mental remnants that hold me back. It’s not a matter of lacking resources. What I have would be enough to start a freer path, but I haven’t quite managed to align them with that purpose. My house, for instance, can’t be an anchor or a passive asset. It needs to generate something—there’s space for that. So I’ve been thinking for a while about what to do. I’ve considered turning it into something beautiful, useful, and minimalist. Ideas flutter around in my mind, but each one requires further effort and investment to take shape. On this point, I should probably think of the plan as something simple—just a matter of finding the right help and the right partner. Still, my story—as I mentioned at the start—the decaying environment, or rather my tendency to keep looking in that direction instead of the opposite, and ultimately what amounts to lingering mental baggage, continue to weigh down my goals.
Health is another of my priorities—and I mean both physical and mental health. Every time I’ve found myself bedridden with… whatever it may be… I’ve come to truly value my health, my energy. I have to be grateful for the strength I carry, that willpower which, despite everything, hasn’t cracked. I like being that woman on a bicycle, with strong legs, unafraid of anything along the way. I can’t imagine happiness without that—energy and good health. Mentally… I don’t know… maybe I’ve got a screw loose somewhere; we all do. But so far, I’ve found inner strength to face every moment of crisis. To be healthy, you also need resources. It takes good nutrition and healthy habits. Saying it is easy—achieving it comes with its own challenges here… I just hope the Universe keeps sending me the wisdom I need to stay in good physical and mental shape.
Self-love is another of my priorities. It involves deep inner work, where choices must be made consciously and, above all, grounded in balance. Detachment is also important, as is valuing reality for what it truly is. All these ideas are closely tied to minimalism, don’t you think? In minimalism, energy flows beautifully—precisely because it’s about choosing with intention, making space to embrace what is simple and, at the same time, truly meaningful in our lives.
There’s no point in being surrounded by people who don’t value or respect you, who offer crumbs when you’ve given your whole self. Today, I can say I’m closed to that kind of exchange. I believe that, energetically, it’s vital to know we are enough, that we are worthy—and from within, with that truth, we’ll begin to see outside the truly enjoyable colours of life. Self-love also means choosing yourself and taking care of yourself. Because you simply can’t give others what you don’t have. So there’s work to be done—a lot of it—but it’s comforting to know I’m on that path, and I’m walking it awake.
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