Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive this submission from Leslie. At fifteen years old, she’s the youngest minimalist I’ve heard from yet — and wise beyond her years! Don’t forget to check out her blog; her posts are informative, insightful, and a delight to read.
Leslie writes:
Leslie
So, I decided to go to sleep away camp last year and stopped by a goodwill on the way there. I picked out The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People from the shelf because my cousin had the teen version and I was interested to see what this one was about. Plus it was only $1. My week at summer camp turned out to be a transformative experience. I came back home with a renewed sense of self.
Somehow I stumbled across personal development sites and started digesting lots of information rapidly. Minimalism became very popular recently so it was inevitable for me to find minimalism sites mixed in. They totally changed my thinking forever. I’d guesstimate I began my minimalist journey around the beginning of this year, I don’t remember.
I started by quitting shopping and then randomly bringing personal items to school (I’m 15) to give away to my friends. Hair spray, gel, nail polish, pens, a paper mache duck, miniature bowling pins(just to clarify, I’m not joking), just a LOT of stuff. I even had 11 micro Christmas gift bags I’d asked for from Bath and Body Works when I was younger so I filled those up and gave them away. Mostly little things.
I even brought in some really old scar creme one day and drew a funny picture with it. My friend hung it up in his locker and it really stunk up the place. We threw it away. I digress.
Since it’s summer vacation and my parents won’t allow me to just donate my stuff for free, I’ve just started selling my things on eBay and having success! Yay! Cha-ching! It’s quite liberating but I still have a s**load of stuff. I’m drowning in it. It’s all being steadily cleaned out by me though MWAHAHA.
I just can’t wait to be free of all of it. When I’m slightly older I plan to travel the world and have new experiences so it is vital not to have so much stuff to bog me down. Getting rid of stuff is kinda like a fun game too.
I just started my new website and I put my heart and soul into the articles. I share the lessons I learn during life mixed with personal development and minimalism. I’m still kinda new and stumbling but I take everything as a learning experience. Hope you check it out =)
{If you’d like to read more about minimalist living, please consider buying my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
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wow. this is so amazing. i love it when i hear of someone young doing things out of the ordinary. most girls, at this age, are in the covet zone. so i applaud you and cannot wait to get over and read your blog. and you know that “a lot” is two words! wow.
~janet
Thank you so much! haha yes do know that “a lot” is two words.
Hi Leslie, You are very impressive! I love your goal of traveling the world without stuff. Congratulations on starting your new website. I will be reading your articles!
Thank you for the wonderful words Beth! Yay!
Wow Leslie, that’s awesome! When I was your age, adding stuff was far more of a priority than getting rid of it. I only started getting rid of large amounts of stuff this year, and I’m 31. You’re going to be in a perfect position to live out your dreams, simply because you won’t be weighed down by stuff, and because you’ll be focused on things that are more important than shopping.
haha, yep I agree focusing more on experiences instead of stuff is infinitely more awesome!
Hi Leslie!
What a great story! I wish I was as wise as you are when I was your age! I’ve just finished my first year at university now so we are roughly the same age. I really understand what you went through, I hope you stick with minimalism for a long long time. I can certainly say that my academic life has benefited for it
I wish you the best of luck!
Jessica.
I’d love to stick to minimalism for the rest of my life, thank you for your kind words Jessica!
Leslie is amazing. She is teaching me new things at 55. I’ve subscribed to her blog!
Awesome girl!
Thank you so much Deborah, those words really touch my heart! :’D
I applaud you, Leslie, for your goal of traveling the world. I know how much easier it is when you have minimal stuff to tote along. I lived on ships ten years and learned to pare way down from the amount I started with. Keep getting rid of stuff and working towards your goal. You are wise beyond your years.
Ooo that ship tidbit is interesting Nancy, also thank you very much for the wonderful words!
Great job Leslie! I wish I could teach this to my stepdaughter, also 15, but she’s encouraged into consumerism by the rest of her family and friends. You are an inspiration!
Thank you so much Luci!
Maybe the minimalist movement really is gaining ground. Leslie’s thoughtful living at her age gives hope for the future.
Haha, funnily someone else has told me before that I give them hope for the future, more specifically my generation. Hopefully the minimalist movement really is gaining ground, that would be pretty darn awesome!
15 and not interested in consumerism is pretty cool Leslie. I hope that that you continue with the thoughtful living!
I subtly discourage family members from buying things they don’t really need when they ask for my opinion too. Thanks Reggie, will do!
Leslie is an inspiration for young people to follow hear lead. Bravo!
Wow thank you so much Harold, everyone is so nice!
Congratulations, Leslie! You’ve got your priorities straight at a young age.
Once you have your own apartment, you won’t feel obliged to fill it with lots of kitchen gadgets and other clutter.
Your goal to travel around the world is a great idea – and it will be much easier without a lot of stuff! I look forward to checking out your blog.
Ooo when I get my very own apartment, I’d love that. It would definitely be minimal and have a very clean and spacious feeling. Thank you very much Sheri!
this is awesome, i shared it on Facebook
Haha, yay for spreading the message! Thanks Tabatha!
Leslie, what an amazing story! You are truly wise beyond your years. I too will be subscribing to your blog and can’t wait to see what I can learn from you.
HK
Thank you so much HK! That makes me feel ridiculously awesome!
Leslie, I’m so excited for you and I know that you are going to contribute so much to everyone you meet or that encounters your writing. You are very wise at your age! I wish you great happiness and success.
Dawn Michelle
Thank you so much Dawn! I feel so happy reading your words, and I also wish you great happiness and success! :’D
THANK YOU to EVERYONE who either read this or left a ridiculously kind comment! They make me feel so warm and bubbly inside! I guess age makes everything sound more impressive, huh?
[...] off, I’d like to say thank you to all of wonderful people who read my real life story, checked out my blog, commented, or subscribed. It’s surprising yet heart warming to know that [...]
You are hilarious! And smart!!
Thank you very much Caroline