Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you enjoy the video ( I apologize for the audio quality in advance 😅)

About ten years ago, my town went through a massive tornado and had major destruction. My home was not hit, but I watched my neighbors lose everything. One family, I will never forget, was hanging around the foundation of their home, cleanup of the house needed to happen, but they were in borrowed lawn chairs around a small camp fire they made, and the only possessions were a few flowered plants that somehow survived, replanted in pots, and they were making hot dogs and just talking and laughing. Yes, they lost everything, but everyone was safe and they could rebuild. Seeing this changed my view of my possessions. I can honestly say that if I would ever be in that situation, I would act the same way as them.

My dyslexic behind read that as, "I minimized my life into a crayon" 😂

Great video. My father always said: “the more things you own, the more they own you”. I have found that to be sooooo true.

I've been a minimalist for many decades, holding on to a few things that held value to me - photo albums, a small box of sentimental items from my father. A few Scandinavian chairs, an indoor hammock - and a handful of Japanese dishware. Two months ago my 17 year old Bichon Havanese dog passed away. I realised that all these years of minimising should have been done in one go - after my little dog passed in January (she was the love of my life), I came home to an empty apartment. The few things that I have kept had lost all meaning. She was the heart of the apartment - all material possessions pale and ultimately mean nothing when you lose something living and tangible.

I did go through a period where for 9 months I was backpacking with just one backpack. This helped me realise how little I needed. I still call myself a minimalist, but I definitely have too much stuff. But I also Iove having my little things. I love having that sanctuary. You're an inspiration x

Every time I see something like this I think it's so cool, but also I don't think I could ever do it. I rotate most of my hobbies and even if I haven't practiced one in a while I will usually come back to it at some point. A lot of my "things" are hobby related e.g. art supplies, crochet and knitting needles (+yarn), cameras, climbing/workout gear, instruments, bike, camping gear (stove/tent/pots), etc. to name a few. I've decluttered stuff before and had to buy it again because I became interested in a hobby again and essentially paying double. I personally find that feeling of freedom in having the things I have, the freedom of picking up an old hobby or freedom of having many creative outlets available whenever I feel like expressing myself. I don't think the meaning of freedom is the same for everyone and a lot of people seem to equate freedom with just the freedom to move/travel. I think minimalism is beautiful, but I honestly don't think it's for everyone and I think it's maybe even slightly condescending describing people as being "stuck" in their lives when they don't chase the same kind of freedom you do. Their definition of freedom might be different than yours and that's perfectly ok.

Right there with you. It is easy to get rid of things that truly don’t matter. We gain so much more. I had cervical cancer at 38 and I am nearly 41 and I am clear! But during the time when I was sick, I got rid of a lot of stuff. I’ll never run myself into the ground again. It isn’t worth it x

Your videos are literally the most relaxing thing. Every time I watch I can feel my blood pressure go down and my heart just relaxes

I didn't even care much about my wedding dress because if my husband is with me and happy then that's the greatest gift from that wedding that happened.

I love hearing about your Minimalism experience, Sophie! I resonated so much with this video. I, too, went to the extreme in the first couple of years of my Minimalism journey. I’m an Artist and I’ve never met another Minimalist Artist, so I had a tough time getting rid of my art supplies. Eight years in, I’ve found my happy medium. I now have the perfect amount of supplies for what I create. We get so caught up in other people’s way of living a Minimalist lifestyle, that we forget to focus on what brings value and joy in our own lives. There’s no one size fits all, and I love seeing other Minimalists live their life most authentic to them. Everything we’ve learned in the beginning were meant to be experimented with. I feel like if we set strict rules for ourselves, it’s no longer enjoyable. At least, that has been my experience. If something is not in alignment with who we are, then we can let it go and take what resonates the most. I hope your move back to Hawaii is a smooth process! Also, I hope to somehow bump into you in San Diego 😊

I really resonated with your thoughts ❤ thanks for sharing. You told me smth that I have never thought about before or haven't seen in this angle. I do appreciate your work for us, your subscribers ❤

I e been minimizing for years now and I’m finally stuck with dealing with my childhood items. I tell myself “if my house were on fire, would I run into the house to grab these things?” The answer is no, but it’s still so hard to part with them. I will get there. Thank you for always updating us on your beautiful journey ✨

I have been inspired by your way of seeing "things". The intention for each "things" make you be more mindful. It give "things" purpose, and because of that purpose, I gain satisfaction. Thank you for helping me realize minimalism in my own terms and translate it to my own version. Cannot wait to see you in your new destination!

Thank you for the video 😊 I’ve recently started a no buy year (no clothes, makeup, etc) and it’s been difficult. Watching your videos helps reset my mind and recenter my priorities! ❤

Thank you for your inspiration and balanced advice. Your content resonates for me in so many ways. You help me to continue to stay focused on my own journey. Happy travels! Look forward to more when you are back in Hawaii

Very important lessons. When I started minimalism, I went to the extreme too, and ended up having to buy some stuff back that I had gotten rid of. Now I have balance and peace in my home, even though I ma moving in a month, but I know moving will be easy, since me and my spouse don't have much. Beautifully made video, thank you!🌟

Very authentic you are. Wishing you good luck in settling. I can't agree more as I moved with my suitcases only. No regrets at all. Life is a journey. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Sophie! Your videos brings calmness every time. I’m so glad I found your page! Can’t wait for your next video ❤

This is such good stuff, thank you for sharing your life lessons with us! Really good point about the day to day of our lives not changing much if we lose certain possessions. Yes, there would be a sadness and perhaps even grief at the loss, but we would recover and move on way faster and easier than if we lost our health or family. As long as we have the essentials, our stuff is not of primary importance. But glad that you didn't lose your sentimental items in the end all the same! A few years ago I lived out of a small carry on for a few months - it was one of my most free and creative seasons. I think our stuff probably subconsciously gets in the way more than we realise.

Perfect timing as I get ready to de-clutter my home. Thank you 🙏

Hi Sophie😊 I always find my self going back to your videos especially when I am overwhelmed with all the stuff in our home. Already started decluttering. It feels a bit lighter now. Thank you for the inspiration❤ Erin

Honestly today was crappy. I felt terrible. But then your video came. Damn I realised how much I had and how happy I can be with what I have. I love being a viewer of this channel and navigating my life through your videos

Thank you deeply from Moscow ❤❤❤. You constantly radiate calmness, lightness and awareness. Not to mention all the incredible aesthetics that are priceless.

Thank you for sharing your insights! I've moved around a lot living from just a suitcase and a small backpack, and I really resonate with what you're sharing 💛

I remember packing 2 suitcases filled with my kids clothes and a couple of their favorite toys when we decided to leave the States and move back to the Philippines. My kids were still young, ages 8,5,and almost 2. I told myself I will try to see if we’ll like it there and stay for 6 months. 6 months turn into 1 year then 2 and now 6… We let go of a lot of things.our house, cars. Simplified our lives, and realized we didn’t need much to be happy as long as we’re all together. Now we get to visit other asian countries, experience their culture, food . My kids are learning Tagalog( filipino language) I have my own garden lots of cats which we rescued. And I’m the happiest I’ve been all my life.😊

Following a house fire we lost all our belongings, very suddenly. At first it was so traumatic, just horrible, but now 6 months later I have a lot less *stuff* but honestly feel so much more free than I did before.

Thank you for this content. I am timorese and portuguese and in three months I will be moving from Portugal to UK. These last few days have been so frustrating for me just worrying about getting rid of almost everything at once and at the same time fearing of letting go some materials possessions although I know and practice minimalism for 6/7 years now. This video just taught me that I don't have to go that extreme because it can turn inconvenient and that life doesn't change even if I let go of those possessions when i have good health and also will have my family next to me, my boyfriend, friends and experiences. I really appreciate your videos, thank you Sophie.

I lived for 3 months out of a carry on and a small duffle bag. It was so freeing. Love your channel. Safe travels and settling in to your new place.

Hi Sophie! I just love you and your amazing videos. Today you seem ever so relaxed in your speaking and left us with a very insightful and personal piece. Your journey is truly something to treasure, keep going girl, you’re on a good path❤

I am new to to your channel and so glad that I found it. What a profound difference decluttering and balancing your perspective can make in your life. Thank you so much for sharing. I look forward to your videos.😊

Your videos are so great! You are so wise, Thank you for sharing your wisdom. 😊

Hi Sophie 👋, I think I should be thanking you simply because I feel like I learned a lot from you, especially when you and your husband embarked on your journey to move to Portugal. One lesson from one of your previous videos that I will never forget is, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Sending you lots of love!!! ❤️❤️❤️🤗

This was so interesting. I really enjoyed your sharing how stressful over minimising can be as well as some of the downfalls (laundry all the time). This still doesn't take away from the positives but just give a more realistic idea .

Safe travels to Hawaii! I enjoy your videos and you are a great inspiration!

Not sure why this showed up in my 'feed' but glad it did! Just hearing some of your most basic comments and suggestions were incredibly valuable to my current life circumstances. Please continue with this most valuable work...

”Detach from people to adjust and pursuit something better” Yes! This is what i’m doing right now and finding I have space and energy for creativity ❤

Just wanted to say how much I have appreciated your calming videos and life chats over the past few months since I found your channel.❤ Seeing your insightful ways of viewing life's circumstances has really helped me more than you know!

I’m always so excited to watch your videos. Thanks for sharing your journey with us❤

That's great how you're acknowledging that extreme minimalism isn't a great idea either. Not owning what you need is definitely not fun and is a common experience for people going through hard times. I had a life trauma which meant I had to suddenly move into an unfurnished rental place. It wasn't v clean so I spent months cleaning it and getting things fixed, then I had to furnish it. When I moved here in terms of furniture I only had a blow up air bed, one wicker chair, a £5 ikea coffee table and a small bookcase. I remember sitting in that chair with my cat on my lap huddled in blankets as it was snowing outside and the window was broken. Eventually I furnished it, got things fixed and it's lovely now. It started to feel cluttered though so I'm currently decluttering to get the balance right.

I have severe pain and symptoms similar to a urine infection since 2015. And Malama helps me a lot with my anxiety. When I think of her I think of the good in this world. Malama is like a flower. So beautiful and so healing. Her courage, her voice and her words are so helpful. Thank you Malama! For your videos and your help. I too hope to be a minimalist that I am able to fit everything in one bag one day.

My husband, our four kids, and 1 live full time in an RV. It’s been in the shop since the end of January. So we’ve been living in suitcases for almost 3 months ourselves. It’s been such a wonderful experiencing having to live with less and developing a capacity to enjoy less. I completely agree with how resourceful and resilient you become when you have less. And how stuff really doesn’t matter. The essentials truly are the simplest things and the other things we can borrow and enjoy without owning. Whether in hotels, with family or friend’s in their homes, we’ve used their things and never felt any lack. I do agree that it can feel inconvenient and at cost more at times, but also watching my children play with anything and nothing, has been teaching me not to see less as an inconvenience but an opportunity for creativity and contentment. I’m really interested to see how we are both going to re-enter our spaces keeping these new perspectives with more space.

Wishing you all the very best for your transition. Thank you for your videos.

honestly this is goals! I love the inspiration and really need to try to minimize my life in a lot of ways!

Thanks for making this video. I feel grateful for the people around me my lovely family and friends. Rest nothing matters really. Thanks so much!

Hi Sophie, I love your philosophy about the balance of minimalism. When I immigrated from Indonesia to Canada, my life was packed in one suitcase and since then I tend to be essentialist. It's less stress, easier, and faster for dusting, cleaning, and organizing. Have a safe flight back to Hawaii! My son was there two years ago & it's still in my bucket list.

Your videos are always so inspiring, happy and safe travels to Hawaii, may you enjoy your new home!! Also, your doggies are too cute 🐾

I hope you have a safe and smooth journey to Hawaii! I have also had transient times in my life when I had to scale down for luggage, but I didn't know about minimalism so I almost never decluttered. It made travelling difficult 😅 I'm looking forward to seeing how you expand from your carry-on to your new home!

Safe travels to you and your beautiful family! You inspire me ❤🫶🏽

Your videos always help me to not consume, I go watch them every time I’m tempted to buy something I don’t need.

Thank you for your perspective on our things. I'm a very sentimental person but definitely stress out when it comes to certain items. I feel obligated to hold onto so many things and I don't want to feel this way. I feel relief and some permission to let go of these burdensome feelings and items. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I found you last week and you are so inspiring to me. ❤

Thank you Sophie and good luck on your journey back to Hawaii! 🌺

Thank you for showing us we can be happy w/o stuff... Safe travels along your new journey.

Hey, hey, I'm glad everything is working out for you! Keep moving forward!

Hi from India, I have been watching your journey when you started making videos initially. Love the way you bring up the videos to us. Best of luck for your future ❤

So excited that you are going back to Hawaii! Great video, I agree that going too minimal can be problematic - as with all things, balance is essential.

I followed you for a while now and it's always your vlogs that bring me calm and peace. Just happy feelings. 😊

Such enlightening lessons! Thank you for sharing!

All these things that I learn from your journey

I love your videos! Thank you so much for sharing these bits of wisdom. ❤

I love your videos, they always put things into perspective. I wish I could practice what I get from them more. Sending you and your husband lots of love!!!🎉😊

Wishing you a very safe, pleasant and enjoyable journey to O'ahu. Alway a pleasure. Thank you for being such a positive inspiration. The greatest tribute I can give to you is by following your lifestyle in tidyness and lifestyle. God Bless You. You're simply the best. 🙂

Sophie thanks a lot for showing us so much and I’ve learnt a lot from You .

I think something that doesn't get enough credit / acknowledgement in your videos is that everything we seek in life ultimately requires conscious sacrifice. There is much more panache in the nonchalance of not getting attached to things, but adapting to life's vicissitudes by giving up the things you've put much more time and effort (not just money) into, than getting out of, can be a very frustrating struggle. It takes an enlightened mind to constantly choose to give up or let go of old comforts, in order to allow room for new enriching balms to enter your life, and for that, hats off to you.

What an adventure! I had three cross country moves in three years with two kids and several pets at one point in my life. I can say that only having what we use made it so easy for me to pack and unpack (and pack and unpack and pack and unpack! Lol) the movers were always astonished because I would have 90% unpacked and put away before they were done unloading furniture! I agree, there would be things I would miss if they were lost, but my life wouldn’t be altered at all.

I have been binge watching your videos for the past 2 weeks . I'm so glad I have found them. They are so relaxing and informative. Continue doing what you do best 🤎🤍😊☺

It is really awesome that you are able to fit your life into that small of a case. I have done that in the past and it feels so nice. It is good that you learned so much through everything. That is really scary to ship things out but not know if they arrived or not. I am glad that you have learned that you have what you need with you. Glad they did arrive! Great values that you shared in this video. Thanks so much for that. Have fun in Hawaii!!

You inspired me a lot and this video is one of the most that i can resonate with…Enioy the journey of life❤️🙏

This really moved me. Thank you for sharing. Love your content.

Thank you for sharing your journey. As always, your content is very inspiring.

Oh my goodness. Was starting to wonder what had happened. I love your videos. They really do stick with me long after watching. You make me consider possessions from a different angle. You have helped me consider what I value most from my late mothers things, which is not the things that have cost value but rather a personal value - a big brown jug that she would put daffodils in every spring time. Which I now have. It greets me every day and is a comforting way to carry on traditions . Look forward to the next video in Hawaii. ❤

Oh, your videos are just too short, I almost watch them twice !You always inspire me, thank you❤

Much mahalo and aloha for your ideas that shift ways of thinking. Been following since you left Oahu, excited to see your follow up coming back--to state the obvious, things are not the same. Safe travels to you and yours.

I appreciate your video clips. I am into the minimal life these days. I want to focus on my precious things more by getting rid of useless things in my life.

That’s what I did only I could fit all my sentimental items in a checked bag and shipped it! The cost is also cheaper to do it that way, I agree with you 💯 take great care safe travels

Your videos are so beautiful ✨️ I always admire everything you say, stuff is just stuff and I remind myself daily that health & my loved ones is everything I need to be truly happy ❤ can't wait for the Hawai videos 🌿🦋

I had a hard time getting rid of things then something traumatic happened and now it’s easy to get rid of things people you love are more important than things! I’m not a slave to my stuff no more and it’s freeing! It really is ❤ God bless you all take great care xoxoxox thanks for the video ❤

Love how you were able to live out of a carry-on! Inspiring. Can't wait to see you in Hawaii ~ wishing you the best in the transition ❤

This made me reflect back to the time lockdowns got implemented in our country. It was March 2020, everything happened so fast. We ended up getting stranded in the island where we went for a 3-day hike. We ended up staying there for almost 2 months with only our hiking bags. Realized that I really don’t need that much stuff to have a great life.

I love the perspective you bring with this video.

Love your videos, make me peace and happy 😊!!! Always wait your videos

Love watching your videos and wise words. Beautiful outside & inside 🙏🏻

When I lived in Oahu I had two suitcases. Ten people in a two bedroom apartment. It felt (when I moved) like I took nothing and when I got there it felt like too much. I wasn’t there for too long, but day-to-day we don’t need much. I like the idea of having not a lot of “crap”. Makes it too easy to get distracted, to lose things.. I try to keep it simple, but not always easy to keep that in the forefront

your video learn me so much, and make me feel so good. Thanks for all

Wow - This sounds like a strenuous process. It's admirable to see you following what feels right for you! Thank you for sharing!

I think i am a minimalist, in progress haha. I don't simply spend money, but along the years i still found there are items which i do not use it frequently. Now i have 7-8 working attires that i will wear during my 5 working days to allow some changeover, for more than 5 years. The simplicity makes me feel less burden, feel clean and tidy. Your video will still give me idea along the way. And i must say thank you, because you are brave, you "opened up" my view and concerns on couple of things. And you always reminded me to prioritise myself but not only on my work...hope to see you soon in KZfaq. Have a smooth journey back to Hawaii. Good night.

Thank you Sophie for posting this week. I’ll see you next Vlog.❤

You are right, Sophie! The loved ones and moments matter because we can lose our belongings in a second. I know how you feel. In the last year I lived în 4 cities so I'm tired of packing all the time.

Wishing you all the best in Hawaii and looking forward to your your new adventure. Lots of love and hugs.

This video was so essential for me especially because I am also moving soon! Same city, just different place. And boyy, I am so overwhelmed of how much things I have 😅 Glad your packages arrived safely 😊 and safe trip to Hawaii!

I love your honesty 💕

❤❤❤❤ IT WAS NEVER EASY TO LET GO MOST OF YOUR VALUABLE STUFF but from 4suitcase im down to 2suitcase now it feels great just to have the things that are essential only thanks dear

Just love your videos always inspiring 😍 and I am learning everyday to live every moment and living life with minimalism 😊.

Your videos are so great Sophie ❤ pls keep them coming

For real your voice/tone is calming af

yeah, I am still on the way exploring since I started my simple life from 2020 inspired by Your vedio Dear Sophie❤ It is really such a beautiful journey till now, I can see my grow both on materialistic and mentally /spiritually. I am experiencing understanding deeper and deeper my own preferences, and what I truly need or want is an amazing path . Thank you soooo so much Dear⚘️ and longing for your further sharing soon.

Here's to a new chapter in your lifebook! Hope you get to settle real fine in your new place and still find time to share your thoughts soon! Be well...from the 🇵🇭!

While I am a minimalist, I still want to down-size to my goal of no more than 3 carry-ons. But just like you said, it can be so difficult & I don’t want to go too far & then have to “add back” some items (particularly clothing items).👍

This was such a soothing video..my soul loved it ..I had to comment ❤

I am overwhelmed right now since I am moving to a new city w 3 kids. Wish me luck as this is a new opportunity for me, us, to re-arrange our lives and adopting minimalism.