Though I have always lived a simple life since my teenagehood and held onto the fewer things I had with me, by being grateful to God and being contented, most especially from the neighbourhood I came from.
I learnt contentment when I was very young, living with my parents in a toxic environment where everyone, including the young teenagers of my age, wanted to live a flashy lifestyle, often at the cost of their own futures. They treated boyfriends as status symbols, trading their bodies in exchange for money, thereby being rude and disobedient to their parents.
Sadly, I watched some of them pay a heavy price, with young girls becoming pregnant at such a young age, having to drop out of school, and struggling to take care of themselves after their parents had disowned them. Seeing the devastation of these choices taught me one thing: contentment could save me from the same fate.
Even though I was a stubborn young teenager, I knew I didn't want to compromise my values or lose myself while chasing after things that wouldn't last. My experience gave me a sense of minimalism showing me that a good life could be had with very little. I found fulfilment focusing on my education, and nurturing peace of mind which many around me never knew.
I was able to lead a good example to my younger siblings, too because I was constantly monitoring them while our parents were away or not available at that time.
I also saw this theme unfold with the boys in my neighbourhood. In the case of a boy who was the same age as my younger brother, as at then, he was around 10 years old. I saw him join the wrong circle of friends. On most occasions, he would leave home and return the next day without being scolded by his parents. One particular day, he was arrested and jailed for a week before the parents came to bail him out.
Watching all of these played out taught me a great lesson, even though I am a girl, I was able to observe the lives everyone lived which weren't pleasant and the consequences were severe for them, some who died along the way, while others had to keep struggling to find their feet back on the ground.
Another experience that shaped my perspective was the water scarcity I faced during my college years. Moving to a new area where I am currently, I was shocked to find that water was often unavailable for days. For over a month, I struggled, sometimes unable to find enough to wash my clothes, cook or even bathe. This taught me how to manage the little quantity I had.
This wasn't entirely new to me; I remembered times in my childhood when my mother would give us money to go several streets away just to buy water to fill the big drums and kegs for lack/scarcity. But college brought those challenges back, reminding me of the importance of valuing every drop, every necessity, and not taking anything for granted. Water is so essential that when there is none, the world would be screwed.
Eventually, water became more accessible, but those early days taught me resilience and to make do with what little I had.
In all, my environment and these experiences have shaped me, strengthening my commitment to a minimalist lifestyle - a life that isn't focused on possessions or appearances, but on peace, gratitude and seeking joy in what matters.
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