The Best Things in Life Aren't Things At All

Sometimes people view minimalism as just decluttering or getting rid of "stuff" or things. I believe minimizing your stuff is only a small part of what minimalism is as a whole. You should minimize your stuff, but only as a way to have more time and energy to focus on what's important in your life.

In my life, what's important isn't the "stuff". The best things in life aren't things at all. The best part of my life is my people. That's what I want to focus on. That's what important to me.

We have a saying in my house. Love God and love people. This is our focus. I teach my kids that their family, their friends, their teachers, their classmates, and the people around them are more important than any toy, video game, or "thing" in their life. This is a hard lesson for them to learn at times. They are still so young and self-focused.

But let's be honest. This is a hard lesson for everyone to learn. I'm still learning it myself. I need reminders at times.

I need a reminder when I'm washing the dishes and trying to clean up the kitchen and my daughter wants to tell me all about her stuffies and what adventure they just went on.

I need a reminder when I'm sitting and reading a book and my son asks for my help in figuring out his video game.

I need a reminder when it's been a long day and I just want to go to bed and my husband wants to chat about his day.

The dishes aren't important. Neither is that clean kitchen.
That book isn't important.
Even sleep isn't as important as the person in my life who needs to talk.

Everyday I work toward this lofty goal of people over things. A friend calls while I'm out on a run. She needs a friend's ear to vent and discuss worries about things happening in her life. I miss out on my run but connect with my friend. I'm reading an article and my son asks for my help. I stop reading and help him. I can always read that article later. I'm hoping to sleep in on a Saturday morning but gladly welcome early morning snuggles from my growing 9 year old. He won't soon want to snuggle with his mama like this.

Once I was teaching the kids about safety and what to do if the house were to have a fire. My daughter was very upset that this could happen and asked me what if the whole house burned down with all of our things, how would we live?! I calmly looked at her and explained "We can replace the things and the house, but we can't replace you. And you are all that matters."

Remember the best things in life really aren't things at all. Who are the best "things" in your life?