As I look out over the nature and beauty of South Carolina today, sitting cautiously away from family, preparing for the memorial service of a beloved relative, I am able to reflect on the last 6 months. During this visit, we are socially distancing from family members. There are no hugs, no close contact, limited individuals present. I closely watch my sons, reminding them both not to get too close to other family members. I am overwhelmed with sadness. The countryside of South Carolina used to be the place where my boys could leave the suburban areas behind, the crowded parks, and the busy streets. The countryside and dirt roads was the place where they would roam free void of eagle- eyed adult supervision that they are usually subjected to. Free to be themselves and relax, regroup. This is no longer the case. I watch my Grandmother, their great-grandmother, look out from her chair with sadness in her eyes not only because of the memory of our loved one but because there has been limited contact this year from her precious babies.

In times like these of so much uncertainty, so many changes, and challenges, there is an increasing desire to seek homeostasis. To seek some sort of structure that will allow us to make sense of our lives, normalcy perhaps. Through phone calls, text conversations, and video conferencing dates, I see such a continuum of engagement, social contact, and stress. We are all battling, adjusting, adapting but I can tell you, we are not all handling this pandemic and social unrest in the same way.

For my family and me, minimalist living is not only our lifestyle but has become our coping skill for our mental wellness. Mental health and wellness is having appropriate ways to work through your feelings and enjoy life, even when things are hard. As I watched everyone scramble for toilet paper and grocery store shelves oddly empty, I wondered if everyone knew what and why they were ordering so much. I wondered if they knew exactly what they needed and how long their quantities would last. I suspect they did not and that fear allowed for an unhealthy thought process to acquire more without logical thought of why. More does not mean better. And more does not mean sufficient. I felt the stress and worry through each news coverage and each conversation with loved ones.

Often times, we focus on symptoms and how to identify if we are not well. Do we know what wellness looks like? Feels like? Mental Health and wellness starts with strategies, coping skills, and prevention. Living a life that promotes wellness throughout and integrates self-care within it. I believe that life should be infused with self-care techniques. Life should not be something to self-care “from” but to have an integrated experience of a life that is fulfilling and satisfying especially in the trying times. Minimalist living is an integral part of my self-care and tool for coping with the challenges of life. It is how I achieve harmony and maintain my mental health. My home with open spaces, visually calming rooms, and organization for ease of use, has been the method to maintain my wellness. Minimalist living has afforded me that peace of mind through the work challenges, virtual learning, and various levels of quarantine so that I could focus on and resolve these challenges without feeling overwhelmed. Living a minimalist lifestyle which includes a clean, organized pantry with 2 weeks of food, grocery shopping on a system to replenish for the next two weeks, meal prepping to ensure all meals and snacks were covered, and toiletries stocked for 6 weeks at all times, afforded me comfort during these times. Living with simplicity has allowed us to find our homeostasis with social interactions, work, and school.

I turn back to watch my grandmother and wonder all of the things that she has seen during her 88 years of life. So much more than I will ever see. I owe so much to her including the desire to live simply, honestly, and within my means. This has become my coping skill and strategy for maintaining my mental health.