Things I don’t declutter even though many minimalists say I should… 

Hi, Ana! Discovering your channel has been one of the best things in this 2021. Each one of your videos is precious and a simple ode to simplicity and beauty of Life. Thank you for sharing your philosophy of life. Greetings from Italy!

“Some items in our life are poems, some are like short stories and some are mundane boring tweets.” I love how you said you like to keep the poems. I’m inspired to look at my most loved things as poems from now on. ❤️

I want to remember forever your comment about saving the “poems”. You are such a dear human being, Ana.

This was very warm and almost validating in a way. The traditional minimalism tells you to throw things away, and even though I would consider myself minimal I still take a lot of pictures on film so I can print them and have documentation of my memories

I could never claim to be a minimalist, but I do believe in keeping life as simple as possible. I have so many old things from the past. OLD photos, antique oil lamp that was my great great grandmother's, old cast iron pot etc. It's ok to own things ...as long as they don't own you! Love your balanced approach!

The tiny ornament is so precious. I have many sentimental items. The one thing I would never get rid of is my teddy bear (Goldie) who I have had for over 50 years! My Nan bought it for me and it has traveled on all my childhood holidays abroad with me to Spain and Yugoslavia. She would make it a new set of clothes for each trip! I don't know what happened to the clothes! Hope you have a lovely weekend Ana. x

What a wonderful video! This has spoken to me and is beautiful in its sincerity.

Your blouse is beautiful, as soon as I saw it I thought it wasn't just an item of clothing...and then to hear how meaningful it is to you...here we'd say it's priceless. Babushka Zoya's figurine is charming. How lovely to hear the story about you helping her. Thank you for this video, I am thinking of you and I hope you are feeling peaceful and happy.

Hi Ana, it's Lily, from Italy. I found your channel on RU-vid just yesterday, i felt immediatly enchanted by your videos. I'm so happy that in this strange world, some sweet soul still exist. Keep going ❤️

I was asking myself a lot of times, "should I declutter this?" when looking at my photos. But there is no way I can let go of the old photos from my Russian ancestors, that were kept safe during WWI, the Russian Revolution, and WWII. Some of them are 250 years old. I love looking at them and feeling the connection to my ancestors. Decluttering your soul isn't an option.

My parents recently moved out of my childhood home of 25 years and while looking through stuff We haven’t seen in so many years it felt conflicting wanting to keep so many of them. Conflicting because I don’t want to have a lot in my own home but I couldn’t bare part with them. So many photographs of my childhood, my parents when they were young, old stories I would write for school, small projects etc. I’ve been very fascinated with capturing moments and when looking at my parents old pictures and mine, I wanted my own future child (if I’m so lucky) to have memories they can look at and feel. I’m so happy my parents took so many pictures. They hold so much love and wonder.

Awe, I remember Karlson on the rooftop so well. I grew up with the stories of Astrid Lindgren and when we had our first TV set in the seventies, we got to watch some children`s stories in the afternoons. They were usually on for only 30 minutes to an hour back then. :-) They showed Karlson as well. I watched it in german, and it was called: Karlson auf dem Dach. :-) I also loved Pippi Longstocking, Michel (Emil) from Lönneberga, The children of Bullerbü and Holiday on Saltkrokan. I have a lot of things and memories in my house. I love to surround myself with items that have all those memories and of course beauty. As an artist, teacher, mother and author, I find inspiration in everything around me. Most of the material things I have were given to me. I was allways lucky in that matter. It seems like they were drawn to me like a magnet, lol. I love to give things away sometimes, as presents, or when I do not need them anymore, I will sell them on Ebay, give them to the good will or to friends. I gave a lot of fabric and haberdashery to an elementary school in my town. They were so happy about the extra crafting material. But it seems, that as soon as I make room in my house, the universe fills it back up again with more things, lol. I find, that things ground me, that they anker me somehow. I am often a lot in my "head" and my feelings, because I am an empath and also a highly sensitive person. I could never be a "real" minimalist, because I would be "off" with the fairies otherwise, lol. It is funny, that I was drawn to your channel last week, because I am not a minimalist at all. But I do like your approach to life and your wisdom, I love your friendlyness and I think you have the most wonderful eyes. It is like looking in a saints eyes, I can`t explain it in words. But back to the material thing: I see everything as "play things" now. As long as I am here on this earth, I get to "play" with it, and when I leave this planet again, everything will go it`s way. Everything will be shifted around again, find a new home maybe, with my children or other fellow human beeings. Some things will be threwn away and become "earth" again. It is the circle of life. Let`s "dance" with the "matter", and when the "music" ends, the matter will be transformed, like a mandala, made of coloured sand.... transformed, but not lost. Huggs from Rose-Cottage, Schurwald Forest, Germany.

I think it's ok to keep some sentimental items but you have to be careful not to carry a lot of things with you just because you feel guilty to get rid of. It's important for me that these are things which I love to go through and let memories come. I could never get rid of my granddads wedding ring and an old golden cross of my great-great-great grandmother and the foto where she's wearing it. It gave me a lot of emotions to look at these things. Thank you Ana for sharing your opinion with us 💚💜💛

Ana, I think you have an old soul, and I mean that in the best possible way. My childhood home was sold earlier this year. I try not to dwell on it, but it makes me very sad that I can never return there. As time passes, the few things that I have kept over the years mean more and more to me. I try to live minimally, but there are a few things that I will always hold onto. Ever since I was a child, a part of me has believed that objects have souls as well. This is not a very "American" point of view, but something I've just always felt and believe without really consciously thinking about it. Thanks for sharing.

This video touched my heart! I am in no way a minimalist, but i love so much having old precious things of people (strangers) who are gone. I agree that you can feel the warmth of those objects. I have a box of paper keepsakes like postcards and napkins and brochures from an old magician that was obviously precious to him. I have no use for these things but i sometimes pull it out just to look through and wonder about someone's life. Love the little figurine story!

Thanks for the video, Ana. I like to have only what I need at home, but I keep some vinyl records and important books, just to remember who I am when I need to remember it. Greetings from Brazil :)

My best friend gave me a skirt before she died and I kept it in a box for about 20 years because it was too small for me. I finally let go of it and gave it to my friend's niece who is an adult now. I hope that she can enjoy it. I understand sentimental clothing though, I think I have let go of most of mine except yukata from when I lived in Japan. Actually I remember I have my favorite hat and some dress up clothing from my childhood. I was hoping to have a child to give them to one day.

I love this video, Ana. I like your deep sensitivity and the way you cherish simple, but meaningful items. It is truly crucial to love items such as these. I understand about the beauty of sentimental things. I am very connected to my special belongings. I am not a minimalist, as I love too many items! But I also am very tidy and organised, so there is never clutter in my room. It is essential to me to be surrounded by my beloved things. Thank you for showing your dear and adored things, and telling their charming stories.

This is a great video. I love that you talk about how decluttering is getting rid of the things that no longer have meaning to you, and that it is okay to keep some special sentimental items. xoxo

Awww Karlson! ❤️ Books are portals through time. I find that I can relive the memories of past reads when rereading a beloved book. In a way it helps recontextualize difficult memories and being new life to joyous ones 😊

I tried Marie Kondo's approach to decluttering. It worked for many things. I did regret letting go of certain items, though, because I found that I needed them in the future for new hobbies that I never imagined I would get into. I recommend that people take that into consideration.

Hey Ana! This is just to say that I love watching your vids. They have a calming effect on me. And I've rediscovered semolina thanks to you. I also like reading the comments, it's such a lovely community. Would you be willing to make a vid on your stay in Georgia? I've been obsessed with this country ever since I visited it (and my boyfriend at the time) back in 2006. Oh, and I like how you talk about different writers in between the lines. I read Les choses many years ago, but I still need to look into the other book you mentioned. Anyway, Please keep on being creative on yt, your perspective is like a breath of fresh air.

Aw, that book is so special. It gave me a warm feeling! :)

Thank you Ana - I so appreciate your insights and the sharing of your ideas.

The way you express yourself is so beautiful. Thanks for the video. Big hug!💕

I agree with you on photos. I have many that are over 100+ years old from my family. I also have a glass small bowl that my friend who died in 1999 at age 95. She did the same thing. Ask me to pick something from her kitchen cabinets. I picked that bowl.

The childhood book I will keep forever is my copy of When the Root Children Wake Up by Sibylle von Olfers. But I also read Pippi Longstocking many times.

I keep a lot of cards. When I look at one given to me by a deceased loved one, it's like a part of them when I see their writing.

You are such a special person,, I feel such a connection to you.. I believe in keeping truly sentimental items. I'm getting rid of the rest. I love my family and my friends and my memories and that is what I hold near and dear to my heart. At my age of 63, I know that my family which includes my children my husband my grandchildren are what matters most I really don't give much thought to anything else. Life is great, And thank you for your channel.

When I moved to my tiny apt I had to get rid of lots of things because there was just no room for everything. I refused to rid of my books since they have so much meaning and I do have a collection of kids books that were special gifts. I have my kids baby clothing that they wore and the blankets I wrapped them in. And lots of pictures. Having my children and raising them was the best time of my life so these things are precious memories. It was easy getting rid of furniture, dishes, etc. but these things can't be replaced. I was noticing your top all through the video and think it's beautiful 💗

'It seems they have decluttered their soul'. So totally agree! Many thanks for this video!

Greetings from Finland. Love your videos! Have a nice day!

It doesn't matter what any other Minimalist says, everyone's life is different and the items they choose to keep will be different. Stay true to yourself and your life.

I love the analogy you used re poems, stories and tweets! From now on I intend to employ the same method to sort my own “keepers”. Although I’ve simplified my life I have kept what I call my “treasure box” and I keep all the sentimental items like photos, things my children made at school, greetings cards etc that I want to keep in it. There are things in my life that I absolutely refuse to part with because they bring me peace…and it’s a big box 😁 💛🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Oh wow Ana, that was my comment! I'm so happy it inspired a video for you in this bleak winter gloomy time. ❤️🌲💕🌷

Your photo of the lovely lady made me think about my brooch. In an antique shop I found a beautiful Edwardian brooch, the one I dreamed of and it was very cheap, as nobody wears such an old fashion jewelry now. But there was a portrait of a lady in it. The seller said, just remove it, and you can put a new one. I couldn't do that! I'm wearing it almost every day, with the unknown lady with her unknown story. I'm glad I'm not the only one to keep a stranger with me:D

We would read Astrid Lingren's Children of Bullerbyn and Pipi the Long Stockings at school and I always loved the books. Thanks for the reminder, if I ever have kids, I will read from it to them.

I loved this video! I especially loved the story at the end of the video!!! I ☺☺ I'm definitely a minimalist, but my photos are important to me. I don't think I'll ever digitize my childhood albums, but I've digitized some photos from trips I took as a young adult. I'm very into e-books, but I have a couple physical books that are sentimental. One is a book signed by my favorite author. The author actually came to a city my brother was living in, and my brother went to the book signing to get the book signed for me! 🤗 So the book means a lot on many different levels.

Hello. I just discovered your channel today. This posting is poetry. The internet is full of superficial material; finding someone who’s not afraid of being genuine and vulnerable is refreshing and beautiful. I’m not a minimalist at all, I live away from home (Mexico) and having Mexican things around me makes me feel home. Your explanation about keeping sentimental things forever made me feel validated, no to clutter but to not feel guilty for being attached to a few material things. Thank you for your deep and beautiful reflections. Ps. I have been lucky to be in Russia and I absolutely loved it 🧡

I loved your video, the story about Babushka Zoya made me cry. I'm half Russian and I would love to visit Siberia one day. :)

This is so beautiful. I love to get the honor to know about your beloved items. ❤️ Thank you

Hi from Chicago, Illinois USA! Love your channel. Thanks so much for the insight and information. I will keep watching. 💯. You were awesome

You touch my heart every single time I watch a video of yours 💛💚💙

You are so eloquent. Thank you for this.

Great video. Thank you so much. I love your old videos ❤

Que bonita es la muñequita Anna! Pobre Babuska que te dejo elegir la muñeca soviética. El tiempo pasa tan rápido, yo guardo un vestido de mi hija cuando tenía 3 meses, ahora ya es mayor y no vive conmigo, pero recuerdo aquel día que llevaba ese vestido perfectamente.Un placer oírte Anna.

Another lovely video so real and down to earth - thank you. I find your videos so calming and also uplifting. I am no minimalist by any definition or standard. I have moved a lot in my life. Every time I move I declutter in the process. But I hang on to things that mean something to me, like the old wrought iron lamp (big and heavy) my grandfather used years of the second world war to make, the tableclothes my grandmothers and other relatives have embroiderd, artworks by my friends and favorite books. I love beautiful things and to touch and feel them. I have two beautfully made smallish boxes where I store photos and letters (like one of the only letters my paternal grandmother sent me) I used to declutter much more when I was younger. Thanks to a book I kept I found that precious letter used as a bookmark . As I go through life what I value changes and as I am getting older some of the sentimental memories means more. For the people they remind me of no longer are in this world and some of them I am the only one alive now to remember. But maybe when I get really old I let go of most of my belongings and become a true minimalist - who knows? :)

This was such a beautiful message and content! Being in my forties, I can relate absolutely to everything in here... Thank you for sharing!

I love what you said about letting go of things from past relationships to make room for current ones. I have an issue with holding onto people who are not in my life anymore, and I have been struggling to let some go, but I think what you said helps immensely. Things like social media can allow us to keep in touch with people we haven't seen in a long time which is sometimes comforting but other times makes us realize we hardly know each other anymore.

Loved this video! I’m a regular now 🥰 love hearing your stories - Thank you for sharing. the story about Babushka Zoya.

I could never get rid of the books ,letters from my parents and grandparents and old photographs (especially the ones with my grandparents before the WWII). As for clothes I have a dress that my mom wore it while she was pregnant with me, in my teens I tailored it to my size,wear it a lot and now my daughter that is almost twenty wears it some time! Lovely video!

The little indigenous ceramic figure is so cute by the way! ❤️✨

Dear Ana & Ulysses 💞💜💞 Thank You for another wonderful chat filled with love and wisdom and love and light 💜 Your channel means so much to me Ana - Thank You 💜

I totally agree with you. How wise!!!

Completely agree with your philosophy of intentional minimalism. It's not about having few stuff. It's about having only what is meaningful and getting rid of the meaningless junk. But it is so important to keep the things we find meaning in. Great video!

Love, love this channel. Cooking the lentil patties soon.

What a lovely video. I think it’s great that you still have the book from your childhood and especially that you still read it sometimes. I read books with my kids and there’s something very special about them. 💛

Thank you, just thank you ❤

As always, so nice to see you. I hope you are doing well today. Your honesty and simplest way of looking at things is so very refreshing. Thank you for sharing parts if yourself with us.

Hello, dearest Ana! I too am kinesthetic. Other people don't always understand... I need to TOUCH and sometime NOT touch. I experience the world thru my hands lol. This video was especially on point.

I enjoy your channel so much. I really enjoy your view on living a minimal lifestyle

Hello from Tbilisi, Georgia. Love your content and down to earth peaceful mindset 💫 wish you all the best

You have articulated my thoughts. Thank you!

Hi Anna, I discovered your channel last week or so and have been enjoying binging on your videos! Thank you for sharing your ideas and way of life with all of us. :)

You are totally right 😊

Just want to send greetings and aroha from New Zealand . you look stunning in that blouse : ) Loved this video , it was inspiring to me because often i look at something that has reminded me of a strong good / bad memory and these objects help me to grow , and also remind me of how I have grown ( or not grown ) from the experiences they hold

This was so beautiful. This is what I needed to hear, I have grow tired of the decluttering cycle. Thank you

I just recently found your channel, I was ill over Christmas and New Year and spent a lot of time on youtube. I love your videos and found this one in particular especially moving. I really admire your honesty, courage, and authenticity. Thank you.

This was an interesting topic. I must say I’m not a minimalistic, although I like to keep things neat, tidy and orderly. My sentimental items are two rings, one from my nana and one from my aunty. Though plain, they are very special to me. I wear them every day. Also, I have a teddy bear I got one Christmas when I was about 6 years old. Sadly, it’s squashed in my top cupboard, much neglected. I agree with you about permitting ourselves, as adults, an hour to pursue and revisit activities from our childhood, such as reading children’s books. Earlier on in the year I read, ‘The Little Princess’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett (first published in 1905). It was a delightful book. The only child like activity I miss is swinging on a swing. I loved swinging so high, to try and touch the clouds. It was freedom, with the wind blowing in my hair. Such wonderful memories. Thank you for a thought provoking vlog and sharing your sentimental items, including the photo of your parents, the story behind the ceramic figurine, the story behind the photo of the unknown lady and even your wedding dress 🙂

I ocassionally purge my life of unnecessary items, and sometimes I do so haphazardly and regret some of my decisions. But I really don't like clutter. I guess I just need to listen to my heart more and my head less when decluttering. I keep my favorite saying on my fridge, "The best things in life aren't things" 😉

What a beautiful shirt Ana, I can see how happy you were on your wedding day. So precious to keep the beautiful memory of that day. Im sure every time you wear your blouse you feel special and loved.

Season’s Greetings, dear Ana. I consider myself a minimalist and have gotten rid of many items from my past. One thing I will not declutter, however, are the many letters from my “penpals” from Germany and England, We started our correspondence in 1978 and remain friends to this day. In fact, I have visited them a few times in my life. I, too, was a homebody and a bit of a loner in my 20s. I was married but did not get my driver’s license till age 27 so I was often home alone while my ex-husband worked the night shift. Writing letters made me feel less alone. We no longer exchange “snail mail” although we communicate now via e-mails. Another thing I will never declutter are photos although I have downsized quite a lot from that area. Thank you again for another amazing video. You give me so much joy, inspiration, and calmness.

Most profound and meaningful video ...you really touch my soul..thank you so much...God bless you.

I have found your channel few days ago, since then I have been watching your videos everyday, I do not want to miss any one of them....what a positive vibes and relaxing you give to the listener....thank you very much, Greeting from Syrian lives in Malta..😘

Why is it that the more I watch your videos the more I feel that I've encountered a sister I always wanted to have! If you ever feel sad because of hateful comments just remember that there are people supporting you! I agree that minimalism should be reasonable and that humans are not robots! We all need emotions and to get rid of things that are connected with emotions from the past (like photos, book, letters) isn't right.

Love this approach! I thought I was the only minimalist who determinedly keeps certain special items. Subscribed immediately.

This video touched my heart... made me cry in a happy way (I hope that makes sense). It was very touching. Someday I'll come back and explain why. For now, just know that you touched my heart. Thank you. ❤

I just found your channel today. I love your content so far! I’m just exploring minimalism and I love your content.

It's good to listen to people who are not obedient to fashion. Before the must was owning, now it's disowning and where are you? the real you? Somewhre in between or not at all around those issues because you are concentrated on some things that are more important to you than calculatin how much or how little you're going to have. It's refreshing to hear people who are aware of their real needs and who reject formulas and dogmas.

That was beautiful snd so thoughtfully spoken. Though my home is quite simple, I have many things that represent different moments of my life that I won’t part with for many of the same reasons as you. The little figure the babushka gave you to remember her by is so sweet.

Such a lovely video, happy I found your channel 😊

Oh I am a book lover and your relationship with your childhood book really spoke to me!!! And what a kindness you shared with the woman who gave you the figurine. Thank you for sharing so much of your beautiful heart !

I consider myself a minimalist, however for me minimalism means having what you need and also items you may not "need" but that you love/are important to you. I will hold onto certain items simply because they bring me joy, such as books close to my heart or even something as simple as a lid from a drink I had during a very special moment (ha). I've gone through phases of decluttering many of my belongings and stripping my room of all art etc, but I've now found my own middle ground and I love it ! I don't like excess, but I also don't want my life to be empty of everything besides the essentials. Great video as usual ! I hope your weekend is going well and wish you an amazing week ahead

I love your shirt!

I guess decluttering is just a way to be more concentrated. I am focused more on free space, and it was my best decision to start getting rid of many unwanted stuff. It makes me comfortable. We lost much more, i keep saying when somebody tells something about my way in cleaning up everything...))))

I have a lot of photo albums including my dads and grandparents that I would never part with, that’s there history and mine. I also have child hood books of mine my dads and sons that are precious. I’ve kept a lot of miscellaneous items as well as they are part of mine and my families journey so I can’t part with them.I think we have 4 large memory boxes in the loft but there staying and have moved with me a few times! Lovely vid Ana… thank you 😊

I love the poem analogy! I am not really sentimental with clothes, so i don't really keep them except kids clothing for the little ones. I do have books i keep, pictures because it just isn't the same to show my toddler my grandparents on a screen as in a framed photograph. And i have all letters, my best friend from school send me when we moved away. Those are really important for me. There is nothinf that can replace the feeling and smell of an old letter, feeling the imprint of the ink from writing and smelling the perfume the person spayed on it to show me her new favorite scent. Funnily i still have pictures and stuff from my ex, we are still friends and have an child together, so i put our pictures into an envelope and sometimes my son asks to look at them. I don't really have any bad feeling regarding him, and he is a part of my past so i keep those things. I also still have the neglace he gave me and my engagement ring, maybe my son wants to give it so someone at some point, idk. Before him i only was with my 1. boyfriend and we were only dating for 8 weeks, so there wasn't much to keep or dispose of lol. Now we are dating again, so i do have stuff from him around but i don't think it's a good idea to get rid of them right now😂 obviously i am still verry young so my view on this might change, but so far i never had to declutter anything from my ex partner.

Greetings from Sweden and "Karlsson på taket". Of course Karlsson thinks he is the best in the world, but he thinks your are great and second best. We really love your channel and watch it together in Karlssons little house on the roof.

Hello, I found your channel today and I love your views of the world, consumerism and I think you are absolutely right. I couldn't agree more. Love your honesty and how open you are about your lifestule, family, money, ..... Love your creative style. Your vídeos are fantastic. Thank you só much for sharing só openly and honestly. O subscribed immediately after watching the first vídeo.. Greetings from Portugal. Wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas time.

Ana, I love your channel. It is so inspiring and relaxing. Thank you for inviting us into your world, lady. Merry Christmas and blessed New Year to you and your family.

Lovely video, I really enjoyed. I started to declutter a few yrs ago and I honestly can say I don't miss a single thing, except my mother in laws sewing machine. I made curtains and reupholstered our first little caravan, made clothes for myself and 2 children for yrs. We're retired now in a lovely bungalow in the countryside in Ireland. I never thought I'd use it so I gave it away. I have so many happy memories making ends meet back then. I still have too much but I've always a bag by my bed to fill with stuff I don't need and I donate regularly to the charity shop. I too received some small pieces of porcelain from a very old dear friend. I shopped for 10 yrs for her. I'll never forget her, a true lady. New sub. J

I ❤ this channel 😊

Labels are so constricting and really don't help us understand the Person behind those labels. Your lucid and articulate conversations with us share so much more than your personal ideologies and beliefs and how you modify them to fit you as a person... If labels correctly identify who we are, we are not that interesting... Be curious :)

Just another good one, Nastya) Have a great day!

New subscriber here from USA. I’m loving the content and your view of minimalism. I love learning about Russian and Eastern Europe culture. Your channel is a keeper. Many thanks.

Прослезилась на моменте с бабушкой Зоей. Спасибо Вам огромное за такие теплые, спокойные и действительно душевные видео. Я храню украшения, которые дарила бабушка, которой нет больше со мной, открытки от друзей, браслетик с концерта любимого исполнителя и много фоток на телефоне с друзьями, с которыми я по тем или иным причинам не общаюсь, но это крутые и радостные воспоминания, я понимаю, что все-таки иногда они забываются, а фото - отличный способ представить ту атмосферу, те моменты

Lovely thoughts.

Hi Anna! Greetings form Ukraine! Just recently found your channel. And the content is so good. As someone who love and learn English, I was wondering what is your personal journey with the language? It would be so interesting to learn how you've achieve that fluency :)

Your videos always seem to come at the right time 💛 I recently decided to keep quite a few photographs, clothes and other items from a very close relative who passed away at the beginning of this months. It would break my heart to throw them away. I think we should keep the things that are truly meaningful to us. :)

Hello, I love your videos and the way you speak. I am a strange minimalist, because even if I have limited possessions, no mess or clutter, I have colorful walls, and books, souvenir trinkets, drawings, photos, puzzles, ... It's because my house is clutter free that I can keep these objects. See you on your next video, kiss from south of France