From Pack Rat to Minimalist

Borgman, Jim, and Jerry Scott. Web. 18 Aug. 2015. http://zitscomics.com/comics/september-20-2013/.

We have a fun topic to discuss this evening. Seriously. I cannot possibly be the only person on planet earth who made this transition. Back in my middle school and junior high days, I was a pack rat. I collected rocks, stickers, stamps, dolls, and stuffed animals. I colored pictures, bought posters of my favorite quotes, and printed photographs of my favorite celebrities and put them all over my bedroom walls. I never got rid of anything. In my tween brain, everything had “nostalgic” value. The cherry on top of the hoarder sundae was my messiness. To this day I am organized in spurts, but more often than not, my environment is chaos. As I made my way into those not-so-delightful high school years, I felt an intense desire to purge. I got rid of trash bag after trash bag after trash bag of stuff, JUNK that had been sitting without purpose for years. I am glad I was able to let go of all that stuff, but I do have a few regrets such as ripping up my first diary. I had a very personal, emotional reason for doing so, but I desperately wish I had been strong enough at the time to hold on. My bedroom style went from “Tweenhood Explosion” to ” European-Bohemian-Shabby Chic.” My style has not changed much now that I am an adult so I will describe the basics in my current room:

White furniture (One used bureau/cabinet, two used sidetables, one new 8-cubby shelf)
Zebra bedspread layered on top of a purple bedspread & a multi-colored, multi-patterned blanket
Black, white, and purple pillows
Europe-inspired decor including framed illustrations and a Paris-patterned bench/trunk
A few stuffed animals including Scooby-Doo, Mike Wazowski, and Sulley (Yes, I am 21)

It is fun to laugh at my once-cluttered living space (in terms of stuff, not cleanliness), but the evolution of style isn’t something to be ashamed of. When I was a child, I had the freedom to be young and impulsive. I didn’t care about outside opinions. My bedroom was a space where I felt safe and happy, and that is all that mattered. My tastes naturally shifted. At the time, I was embarrassed by my room and wanted a change immediately, but really I was just maturing. Nothing new under the sun, and nothing to be ashamed of. At the risk of turning this discussion into a major cheese-fest, I encourage all of you to be yourselves. I am a writer, and it is important for me to have a space where I feel comfortable and inspired. Cover your walls with posters and proudly display your stuffed animals if that is who you are. Think of it this way: Your bedroom is usually the last room you are in before closing your eyes and going to sleep; you should be excited to end up in that space after each and every day.

(Image Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6S0YfpgKD98/TwCYlDnggpI/AAAAAAAAGXk/1Ajl3mUSaDA/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-01+at+10.31.22+AM.png)

Wow! This post started out lighthearted and took a turn into the “Serious Zone.” Nevertheless, I hope the message resonates with you. “See” you soon readers! :)

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– Lauren Michele <3

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