Living with less. A lot less

About a month ago there was a piece in the New York Times Sunday Review titled "Living With Less. A Lot Less." written by Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger (although he has since sold it), among other things. He talks about making money in a successful internet start-up and being consumed by things. I'm not sure it matters so much how he got to the place in his life where he decided to simplify (it involves a woman and traveling around world), but what does matter is the freedom he found in it. Immediately after reading that piece I started to purge my own apartment of all the unnecessary things I could find. Four big black trash bags later (sort of incredible since I live in a 475sq ft. apartment) and I felt a little bit better - lighter actually. Now there are things I won't give up, I love being surrounded by art and books so living with less has its limits for me but it is amazing how much better you feel surrounded by what is necessary for you - things that make you happy - and no judgement if that happens to be a closet full of shoes.