In the Beginning: Part 2

Hey blog! Caroline here. I thought I would give my take on this little experiment before it began.

Like Becky said, I've been talking about simplifying my life on my youtube channel (shameless self promotion: www.youtube.com/user/wakefuldreams). Then Becky contacted me about doing this challenge. At first, I was nervous. I like to talk about simplifying, but to actually do it is a little more intimidating. But I liked the idea of doing it with someone else, and it's been something I always wanted to do, so I agreed. I'm also hoping this will help me when I have to pack for Australia this February (I'm study abroad there for a semester and only get to take one suitcase!)

I have been taking a good hard look at the stuff I own this summer. I'm still in college, so I move around a lot and pack my entire life into boxes at least twice a year. This summer, I went through all the boxes in my closet. These boxes were stuff I had packed up before my freshman year of college (my jerk brother took my room, so I had to move all my stuff). I had donated a lot of stuff before college and these boxes were the stuff I wanted to keep, but not take to college. This very important stuff has been sitting in my closet for two years. Turns out, I didn't want to keep most of it. I donated about half of it. I also donated a good deal of clothing. It made me realize just how little I actually need.

How have I accumulated so much clothing over the years? But I hate getting rid of it because good clothing is hard to come by. Also, being a girl, I feel the need to own a lot of clothing. Unlike my younger brother, I cannot wear the same five shirts and 3 pairs of shorts week after week. I feel the need to mix it up every now and then. I also have clothing for lots of different occasions: relaxed, cute yet relaxed, church clothes, work clothes, band concert clothes, work out clothes, pajamas, fancy party clothes. It's ridiculous. Who decided we need to wear different clothes for different occasions? Stupid social norms.

Though I was nervous in the beginning, I'm now getting very excited for this project to start. I have a bit of a hippie streak in me and enjoy not following social norms I don't believe in. At the same time, breaking social norms is really difficult. So I'm glad Becky is doing this challenge with me, even though she's half a country away.

Only one more week until the challenge begins!