Letting Go & Packing Up our lives

Letting go of everything you own and all that you know and love is a challenge to say the least.

Funnily enough, this is not the first time we’ve done this but it is the first time I’ve documented what can arguably be described as one of the most stressful events in one’s life.

It took a great deal of tenacity and resolve to record the footage of the chaotic process and often tense situations that come with clearing out one’s entire collection of possessions.

But in a way, it was also a really beautiful experience. Especially when it came to editing this video and piecing together the story that unfolded over a period of several days and weeks into a 20 minute documentary. Somehow it felt like I had the opportunity to reflect on and process the enormity of what we had achieved and the scale of the change we had made.

It feels valuable to share this story, not only for others who might be embarking on a change of this scale, but for our future selves who will look back and be reminded of what we endured to get to where we are…

Leaving South Africa & Extreme Clear Out

Watch now: We sold everything we own in one weekend – LEAVING SOUTH AFRICA

In this video…

The crazy timeline leading up to our departure from South Africa
What it looks like to get rid of all belongings. Could you do it?

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When something you want is hard won, it’s precious.

Juan K

Husband of VEGAN, MINIMALIST NOMAD OVER-40

Letting Go of Stuff

We’ve long described ourselves as ‘Minimalists’ given that we’ve also chosen to live in smaller sized homes that force us to keep our belongings to a minimum. But the thing is – over time, those belongings find a way of multiplying if you’re not paying attention.

In 2020 when we moved to the Klein Karoo, our exodus was made more easy because we left most of our belongings behind. In hindsight, I can see that we were perhaps fooled into believing we were more minimalist than we actually were.

We got a sense of this realisation when we moved into the Silo, but we were more focussed on settling into our quirky new home to notice. Now that we were forced to sell up and pack up our belongings, the truth was revealed to us.

I’m grateful that this opportunity has catalysed a new way of life as an extreme minimalist and we have taken the lessons from this experience.

Letting Go of Identities

In the video, I shared my conundrum of my journals and not knowing what to do them. This particular problem was actually highlighted when we first moved into the Silo. These old journals felt heavy both in who the represented and also in the physical space they took up.

It’s these sentimental items that become your biggest challenge when you choose to embark on the minimalist lifestyle.

Given that our choices were limited and very real limitations on what we could keep and take with us were guiding this process, this felt like the right time to rid myself of my old journals.

In doing this, I realised that I was closing a chapter. Saying goodbye to a past version of me. A version who desperately desired change but was in fact still too timid to affect it.

Over the years these journals have helped me clarify what it is I desire and in many ways, I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

But this new chapter requires and extracts a new version of us if we’re to make the most of the opportunities that come our way. We can no longer hold onto the past. We have to let go to have our hands free to receive all that is intended for our future selves.

I do still journal – but now I use a digital format on my ipad which has actually turned out to be far more user friendly. I’m able to search my entries by keyword and as a result I actually do go back and read what I’ve written.

A major life change like this requires a change in personal identities – a personal renivention. And what we’ve realised through this process is that it doesn’t matter how old you are – you can always reinvent yourself, if you’re willing to let go of who you’ve been.

Let go and Fly

This whole experience, as stressful and disruptive as it’s been has been a beautiful one. It’s brought Juan and I closer together, through the highs and the lows. We have embodied our marriage vows and supported each other through the small decisions and the big. Whether this journey brings us back to South Africa or not, we know for sure that for us, there’s no going back…