Hello!
To properly introduce this site, I’d like to share my story.
At the age of 24, I developed palmoplantar pustulosis (later complicated by osteoarthritis), and was eventually diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivity as well.
There was a time when I had reached my physical and emotional limits and had no idea how to move forward with my life.
Over the years, I gradually let go of many things—my possessions, my work, my daily routines, my relationships, my ways of thinking, my habits, and even the worries and inner conflicts I carried in my heart.
With each thing I released, both my body and mind became lighter.
Eventually, I discovered what I truly wanted to do, left my corporate job, and started my own business.
From the ages of 24 to 36, I worked full-time while living with chronic illnesses.
Because I was constantly pushing myself despite being in pain, I had no emotional capacity left.
Even the smallest things would easily overwhelm me.
Although I took two extended leaves of absence from work, loneliness and anxiety made it difficult to truly rest.
During that time, I realized just how challenging it can be to allow yourself to slow down and recover.
As I searched for ways to improve my situation, I tried many different approaches. Eventually, I found one that suited me perfectly.
Now, as I turn 40, I can honestly say that I’m enjoying life more than ever before.
What surprised me most was that this approach wasn’t anything extraordinary.
In fact, it was something I had already started doing when I was 24.
All I needed to do was apply the same idea a little more broadly.
That idea was simple: letting go.
It all began when my allergies prompted me to declutter the things around me.
Before I knew it, I had adopted what many people would call a minimalist lifestyle.
Every time I let go of a possession, I also found myself releasing the attachment, anxiety, or emotional burden that came with it.
As my living space became clearer, so did my mind.
My body felt lighter, and my thoughts became calmer and more focused.
That feeling was so refreshing that I came to genuinely enjoy tidying and cleaning.
Household chores became simpler and much less stressful.
I also realized that even things meant to enrich our lives can become burdens when we own too many of them.
Looking back through history, I think it’s only quite recently that people have come to own so many possessions.
I once read a line in a book that said:
“It was only after people began owning large numbers of possessions that the concept of housework was born.”
If that’s true, then it’s only natural that having fewer belongings makes housework easier.
And with the time and energy you save, you can focus on what truly brings you joy.
Later on, I gradually realized that letting go isn’t only about physical possessions.
Releasing invisible burdens—unnecessary commitments, unhealthy thought patterns, and emotional baggage—is just as important.
By letting go of things, obligations, and mental burdens alike, my life slowly began to change for the better.
At first, I didn’t think very deeply about it.
But over time, I came to understand that “letting go” isn’t simply about having less.
It’s a way of making room for what truly matters.
There’s a passage in the international bestseller Essentialism that says:
“Eliminate the 99% trivial and focus on the vital 1%.”
I don’t think it’s easy to reach that point overnight.
But if you consciously practice letting go in your everyday life, I believe you’ll naturally move toward a life that’s more authentic and focused on what truly matters.
That was a rather long introduction!
In this post, I’d like to look back at 10 of the most significant things I let go of during my 20s and 30s—and what I gained in return. 😊
What I Let Go of #1: My Possessions
When I was 24, I developed palmoplantar pustulosis while working as a researcher at a chemical company’s R&D laboratory.
I genuinely enjoyed my work, had wonderful colleagues, and felt excited about my future.
I was full of motivation and eager to build my career.
But despite my enthusiasm, my condition continued to worsen.
I managed to keep working by controlling my symptoms with medication, but they became increasingly severe and eventually began to interfere with my everyday life.
Even so, my job was my emotional anchor, and I was determined to keep going.
Then one day, I came down with bronchitis.
I had a fever, and I couldn’t stop coughing.
Even after it seemed to improve, the cough kept coming back.
Dusty environments would trigger coughing fits, making it difficult to breathe.
Looking back, I believe I was having allergic reactions to things like house dust.
At the time, I was living alone, so even when I felt unwell, I still had to work full-time while keeping up with household chores.
Cleaning was especially exhausting.
Every time I vacuumed or dusted, I had to move countless household items and decorations first—and then clean the dust that had settled on those items as well.
That’s when a simple thought crossed my mind:
“Wouldn’t cleaning be much easier if I owned fewer things?”
So, on my days off, I slowly began letting go of unnecessary household items and decorations.
The difference was incredible.
Cleaning became so much easier.
With fewer belongings, both the time and effort required to clean decreased dramatically.
Before long, my bronchitis cleared up, and the clean, uncluttered space made me feel refreshed—not only physically, but mentally as well.
Summary
What I let go of: My possessions
What I gained:
- Cleaning became much easier.
- My bronchitis eventually went away.
- I felt refreshed and at peace in my living space. ♪
What I Let Go of #2: Foods That Didn’t Agree with My Body
Not long after developing my illness, I began to notice a connection between what I ate and how severe my symptoms became.
One day, I went to an Italian restaurant for a company gathering and ate dishes such as pasta that were prepared with a generous amount of oil.
Almost immediately afterward, the rashes on my hands and feet flared up dramatically.
The itching became so intense that I scratched my skin until it bled.
On another occasion, the same thing happened after eating Chinese food.
I also found that fatty meats such as beef and pork, as well as processed foods made with oils and fats, triggered particularly strong reactions.
As time went on, I carefully observed how my body responded to different foods.
Eventually, I realized that restaurant meals and processed foods, in general, tended to make my symptoms worse.
So I began avoiding them whenever possible and shifted to a simple, Japanese-style diet.
My meals became centered around rice as a staple, along with vegetables, fish, and soy-based foods prepared in simple ways.
That has remained the foundation of my diet ever since.
Gradually, the severe rashes and inflammation that had spread across my body began to improve.
Summary
What I let go of: Foods that didn’t agree with my body (especially restaurant meals and processed foods)
What I gained:
- Gradual improvement in my rashes and inflammation.
What I Let Go of #3: Clothing That Didn’t Suit My Body
Because the rashes had spread across much of my body, I began choosing clothing that would be as gentle on my skin as possible.
For example, I stopped wearing synthetic fabrics because they didn’t absorb sweat well and often irritated my skin.
I also replaced all of my underwear with 100% cotton options that were soft and non-restrictive.
Even slight pressure or tightness would make my skin itch, so avoiding anything that felt constricting became important.
Once I switched to clothing that was kinder to my skin, I could actually feel a sense of relief.
My focus was simple: reduce anything that caused even a small amount of irritation—or stress—to my body.
Combined with the changes I made to my diet, I believe these adjustments played an important role in improving my rashes and inflammation.
Summary
What I let go of: Clothing that didn’t suit my body (synthetic fabrics and tight-fitting garments)
What I gained:
- Further improvement in my rashes and inflammation.
What I Let Go of #4: Skincare Products That Didn’t Suit My Body
Just as I reconsidered my clothing choices, I also reexamined all the cosmetics and skincare products I applied directly to my skin, with the goal of reducing any unnecessary burden.
First, I tried various products, including additive-free soap-based products and those marketed for sensitive skin.
However, no matter how many different products I tested, none of them worked well for me.
The reason was that, at the time, even coming into contact with water itself felt like a burden on my skin.
My hands were especially affected by severe eczema and inflammation, so I spent most of my time wearing cotton gloves.
When I took a bath, I would put vinyl gloves over the cotton ones and secure them tightly around my wrists with rubber bands to prevent water from getting inside.
Even then, if water managed to seep into the gloves, it would touch the open wounds and cause such intense pain that I felt like crying out.
So using soap or shampoo was simply out of the question.
I even went to beauty salons and barbers just to have someone wash my hair, but the shampoo they used often didn’t agree with me.
My scalp eczema would worsen, my skin would become flaky, and it was also expensive.
I struggled with this for some time until an acupuncturist introduced me to something called the “Utsugi-style skincare method.”
In simple terms, it is a skincare approach based on not washing.
The basic idea is to gently rinse your face, body, and hair with lukewarm water to remove dirt, and use only a small amount of petroleum jelly for moisture.
At the time, it was completely normal for me to wash my face, body, and hair every day with soap and shampoo, and to use toner, lotion, creams, and other skincare products.
So when I first heard about this method, I was shocked.
But when I tried it, I was amazed at how comfortable it felt.
“Wait… I didn’t need to wash this much all along?”
I still remember how relieved I felt when my skin was finally free from almost all irritation and unnecessary stress.
About 8 years have passed since then, and even today, I simply rinse my face and body with lukewarm water during my evening bath.
I haven’t experienced any problems from doing so.
In fact, despite not wearing foundation or sunscreen, I have received more compliments about how clear and healthy my skin looks.
I believe this is probably because I no longer use cleansing products, face washes, or many cosmetics, meaning my skin is exposed to very little stress.
Reducing the frequency of shampooing has likely helped reduce the burden on my skin as well.
For about 5 years, I also followed a “no-shampoo” lifestyle, washing my hair only with water.
However, I now have long, thick hair, so I have started using shampoo again.
During winter, I shampoo once or twice a week, and during summer, two or three times a week.
The shampoo I currently use contains gentle, natural amino acid-based cleansing ingredients with mild washing power.
For the past year or two, I have been using “Shizenha Shampoo.”
I previously used “uruotte (unscented),” but I switched when the store where I usually bought it stopped carrying the product.
Both are natural amino acid-based shampoos.
If you are currently using a strong cleansing shampoo, your scalp may be producing excess oil as a result.
In that case, suddenly switching to washing only with water or shampooing once a week may leave your hair feeling greasy and uncomfortable.
Instead, you might try gradually changing to an amino acid-based shampoo first, or reducing your shampoo frequency from every day to every other day.
I have heard from people who reduced their shampoo frequency or switched to water-only washing that their hair became thicker, fuller, and stronger.
I think this is a hair and skincare approach that is gentle not only on your body but also on your wallet, so I highly recommend giving it a try.
By the way, I also believe that eating a diet high in animal products and oils can make your hair and skin more prone to becoming oily and can contribute to unpleasant odors.
Combining a “less washing” lifestyle with dietary improvements may create a synergistic effect and significantly improve the condition of your skin.
There were other wonderful benefits too!
Because I stopped keeping bottles and products in my bathroom, cleaning became incredibly easy.
In fact, after taking a bath, all I need to do is quickly wipe down the tub with a bath sponge, and that’s it.
Even without doing anything special, my bathroom stays clean and dry.
My sink area also became much more organized.
Traveling became easier too—I only need to bring a small container of petroleum jelly.
I don’t wear much makeup anymore, but I sometimes use an eyebrow pencil or tinted lip product that can be removed with warm water.
This “no-washing” skincare routine has made me feel incredibly light and free.
I don’t think I can ever go back to my old routine!
Summary
What I let go of:
- Skincare products that didn’t suit my body
- Washing my face and body with soap
- Daily shampooing
What I gained:
- Healthier-looking skin and hair
- Shorter bathing time and less effort
- A clean, uncluttered bathroom and sink area
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That concludes Part 1 of “10 Things I Let Go of in My 20s and 30s—and What I Gained in Return.”
Originally, I planned to write everything in one post, but it became much longer than I expected, so I decided to divide it into two parts.
In Part 2, I will share how I gradually began letting go of more invisible things as well, and how doing so helped me feel even lighter—both physically and emotionally.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Part 1!
I hope you’ll look forward to Part 2. 😊
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Thank you always for sharing your thoughts and feedback!
Your kind words truly encourage me and mean so much. ✨
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