Preparing to downsize highlights how much ‘stuff’ I've acquired. Assessing what I really need brings back the week in 2000 I spent with the religious community of Brothers and Sisters in Taize, Burgundy, along with 5,000 mainly young ‘pilgrims’. The way of life was simple – a daily pattern of worship, study and work, mostly outdoors – and very satisfying.

We ate outside, on benches at long tables, with just a bowl and spoon. Breakfast was local jam spread on baguettes with the spoon, coffee in the bowl. We took turns peeling mountains of fresh vegetables which, with pulses and a little meat, became tasty casseroles and soups – we were never hungry! We washed up in large bowls (outside), took turns to clean the loos and lead the daily bible study groups. No TV, internet or phone signal, evenings were spent sharing songs, dances and experiences from different countries, under the starry sky – a humbling and uplifting experience.

Coming home felt a culture shock. I welcomed my quiet, comfortable bed – dormitories of snorers don’t make a good night’s sleep! but there seemed so much clutter – ‘essentials’ I hadn’t missed!

Adverts encourage us to keep buying more. Yet ‘the secret of life is not to have everything you want, but to want everything you have’. (Anon)

with love and prayers

Jenny