miss minimalist

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 think you’ll find this story from Kelly quite inspirational. To read more about the impact of minimalism on her life, please be sure to visit her blog.

Kelly writes:

My journey to minimalism started twelve years ago. That was the year my then-husband and I moved from Texas to Ohio. We filled the largest possible U-Haul we could find and still left behind boxes and boxes that would be transported later by my parents. After getting settled in a much smaller rent-house, the book Clutter’s Last Stand by Don Aslett came into my life. I spent a week in a daze as I cleaned out and cleared out. Six carloads went to Goodwill and I felt lighter than I had in years. Fast forward to the year 2007. During that time Aslett’s lessons fell by the wayside and we had upsized houses twice and were living in a 2500 square foot abode in the nicest part of town. And that house was full to the gills with junk. I had also had two babies in that time period with all the associated baby and child junk that goes with them.

When my marriage ended, I decided to move myself and my daughters to something smaller. I bought a 1200 square foot house and, with the help of good friends, moved all that I needed to move in one day. This house actually had room to breath. That was the real beginning of my minimalism journey. I read every book I could get my hands on to fan the flames of it and read related blogs daily. I was always getting rid of things and teaching my kids to do the same. This past summer I decided to move again. Our new rent house is 900 square feet. Even though I had gotten rid of a lot of stuff the previous move, I still managed to leave behind a garage full of junk.

I think we will be staying in this house for a while. But my ultimate goal, once my kids are out of my house, is to build or buy a tiny house that is 150-200 square feet. That won’t be for another 10 years or so. In the meantime, I am always conscious of what impact any item might have if I were to acquire it. Every thing that comes into my life must pass the acid test of whether or not it will eventually fit in my tiny house.

My life is much simpler now than it was a decade ago. Take my wardrobe as an example: In the cold months my uniform is a black shirt and jeans. I have 3 black shirts and several pairs of jeans. In the warmer months, I keep no more than 5 outfits which allows me to have a little wiggle room on doing laundry twice a week. My bathroom supplies consists of a toothbrush, a hairbrush and some sunblock lotion for my face. Getting ready in the morning takes 10 minutes tops.

I have always loved books and I thought long and hard about how they fit into my lifestyle, particularly how they would eventually fit in my tiny house. I decided to keep one nice wooden bookshelf and I only keep the books that can fit on that. I find it to be a good balance in allowing me to have something I love but at the same time keeping the acquisitions in check.

I’m not at the level of the 100-thing challenge but I do love an observation by the “guy named dave.” He says that simplicity cannot be pursued in and of itself for very long since nature abhors a vacuum. We must have some greater purpose that living a simple life frees us up to pursue. I find this so true in my life. I had to focus on getting down to the basic, minimal stuff but then that freed up a lot of space, time, money and mental powers to focus on other things, things that I find are of lasting importance such as my spiritual pursuits and my family.

If I could leave your readers with one thought, it would be to allow that the pursuit of minimalism is not a one-time thing. It’s an on-going thing and sometimes you will take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. But other times you will make a huge leap forward, a leap to the next level and those leaps are what make it all worth the continued pursuit.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

Today, Nina tells us how she grew up surrounded by too much stuff, but is now forging her own minimalist way!

Nina writes:

I want to thank you, as well as your inspiring readers that have shared your minimalism stories. Hearing that other people strive for simplicity, space and a clutter-free life was such a relief! I find continuous inspiration in the essays and tips that you provide on your blog.

Here is my story:

I grew up with sweet, but misguided parents who believed “if one is good, three is better!” We had a somewhat large house, and every drawer and closet was filled to the brim with stuff. Guest bedroom drawers were too full for guests to use them, the pantry was so full that half of the food would expire before anyone could use it, and – this is the worst of it – my parents had a storage unit to hold their Christmas decorations. A whole storage unit. And not a small one. I spent a weekend helping them find things in their own personal Christmas store and was left with the overwhelming feeling of “This is so unhealthy, and this is NOT what I want for myself.”

As soon as I moved into my first apartment, I wanted to have as little stuff as possible. Of course, my well-meaning parents brought me extra furniture and appliances of theirs since they thought I “needed” to have a popcorn popper and a large computer desk. It was sweet, and came from a place of not wanting me to go without, but I had to learn to say “no, thank you”. Otherwise their stuff would overwhelm me in my new home too. My method now is to smile and say “that’s thoughtful of you, but I don’t need it.” And then I change the subject.

Now I purge stuff ruthlessly, have edited my wardrobe down to the items I love and wear most often, and have recycled/donated/Craigslisted my furniture down to the a comfortable pieces of furniture that I need. When friends come by, their responses to my simplified home are typically, “This space is huge!” and “Your place is so fresh and tidy!” No one has ever commented on it feeling sterile or empty. Oh, and even my parents think it looks pretty nice. Maybe they’ll come around?

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

This week, we have a lovely contribution from Cheryl and Roland Magyar, who’ve been inspired by Nature to pursue a simple and sustainable lifestyle. Please visit their blog to learn more about their homesteading experiences in Hungary.

Cheryl and Roland write:

Cheryl and Roland Magyar we are, a couple in our mid thirties currently living on a farmstead in Southeastern Hungary with Csermely, our wonderful gift from life little daughter in lap.

Especially during the span of the six and a half years of homesteading on our own, very much on our own, we have taken deliberate steps towards not only living, but living a conscious, experiential, intentional and an overall truly fulfilling life.

While doing so, both of us have curtailed many a thing we had each hauled with us to the present as a burden in form of either a misplaced sentimental attachment to the past or very tangible physical clutter that ”belonged to us”.

Cheryl and I have come to firmly believe, that one should never feel enslaved by one’s past. Respect toward our heritage and inheritance can only extend into our current lives as far as it can be kept in line with our continuously evolving principles, which in turn should purposefully become a set of values that is spiritually (ethics included) and materially ever more noble.

As well seasoned soul mates who have already spent eleven years in happy marriage, undergoing our several ups and many downs together, we are fortunate to be very much in tune with each other, having the same career endeavors and goals for the future. The same is true to our tastes – they synergically harmonize.

When I say noble, I mean neither baroque type flamboyance, nor sterile puritanism. We believe both are harmful to the soul: one leads to over indulgence, the other to over abstinence, the result being the same – frustration.

We chose Nature to be our constant inspiration and, of course, each other living in it. See, nature isn’t frivolous and most definitely isn’t frugal.

How this translates to our own human lives? Well, never taking our eyes off the ”muse”, we learn that redundancies are safe, therefore good to have, but too many of them lead to confusion and are counter productive. Our individual needs are different, but with respect to our fellow human beings’ needs and, just as importantly, to all other living organisms, akin the mutual respect that instinctually works within the inter-species relationships of the animate world (not to go any further this time around), we all could have our fulfilling share from the natural bounty.

Nature doesn’t recognize synthetics – only human chemists do.

The realm of nature that is most supportive and fit for human existence surrounds us with organic shapes, but not so-called perfect geometry. It abounds with curves and has virtually no straight angles.

As we are almost ready to give up our present physical livelihood and embark on homestead search anew, the modern pioneers’ way, we decided to basically not take anything material with us other than a loom, two spinning wheels, a cast iron frying pan and a stainless steel spatula, however take everything we have learned and experienced first hand.

If we have enacted stylish eco-simplicity so far, we have found ourselves at the threshold of being able to carry out a life-leap to sustainability through the gateway of eco-minimalism.

So take it away – we are offering it wholeheartedly to you – and peek into our life journey every now and then. Let our inspirations become yours, too at www.handcraftedtravellers.com.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

Today, Regina explains how an object with an inspiring quote led her down the path to minimalism. Please visit her blog to read more about her journey.

Regina writes:

Photo by Regina

I was walking down Columbia Road (London’s Flower Market) one Sunday about two years ago when I caught sight of a wooden board hanging in shop that stopped me in my tracks. It was a reclaimed wooden board printed with William Morris’ quote: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” It spoke to me so intimately and resonated with me so strongly that I knew it must have connected with something deep within me. I decided I must have that board and it became mine…after a couple of rounds of bargaining and a fair amount of money had changed hands.

I brought it home and parked it against a wall (there was no wall space left to hang it) and looked at it every so often. I know quite a bit about the self help topics such as the law of attraction and positive thinking and visualization and so on and they have helped me tremendously. I guess when you start looking within yourself for growth, you become more attuned to what aligns with your inner self and what feels right in terms of life direction. I knew next to nothing about simple living or voluntary simplicity then (it’s how you have to live when you don’t have enough money?) or minimalism ( stark white furniture in home decor?). I was working in the corporate world and earning a good corporate salary and spending money and accumulating possessions accordingly. But deep down I was mostly unhappy and unfulfilled and that reclaimed wooden board was my harbinger of change.

Two years have gone by and Morris’ words have spurred me to look at the stuff I have and to de-clutter; it has led me to read and learn about simplicity and minimalism from people like Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, Francine Jay of Miss Minimalist and The Minimalists. Since then, I have done a few rounds of simplifying my life and de-cluttering my possessions. After each clear-out, I would feel so much happier, lighter and say ‘This is it!’. A few months later I would look at my flat and think ‘I still have too much stuff!’ and I realized that simplicity and minimalism is a process, a journey and not a destination. The destination changes as one changes.

Autumn heralds the shedding of the old year and for repose before nature starts its cycle once more. I am in the process of another ‘simplify and de-clutter’ exercise (This is the big one I always tell myself). I thought writing a blog (www.simpleandminimal.com) would be a good platform to share my journey and motivate myself and others on a similar quest to live happier, simpler, freer and more fulfilling lives.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

This week, Jess tells us her story: how she overcame her early hoarding tendencies, and is now pursuing a (wonderful) life free of clutter and excess.

Jess writes:

I have always had hoarding tendencies. As a child, I had many, many toys, dress ups, books, a gorgeous cubby house complete with a plastic tea set. I loved all my things, and couldn’t wait for Christmases and birthdays to get more stuff. When I was 6, my family sold almost everything we had, including the house my dad built, bought a caravan and set about Australia on a four year trip. It was a magnificent time, and we lived with just the things our family of five could fit in a 22-foot space. I took the toys I really wanted, slept in a small bunk and had a tiny cupboard for my things.

We eventually came back to our hometown in 1999 and bought a house again. I, for some reason that none of us can now fathom, got the big room and it was soon full of stuff. I became known amongst family and friends as a mini-hoarder, room full of possessions, piles and piles of papers across and in my desk, knick knacks and books galore, dangly things hanging from the ceiling and walls, lots of furniture, toiletries and loads of clothes. I always packed too much when going on trips and this fact was commented on by all who saw the luggage.

In 2007, all my year books and twelve years of school work packed into several boxes, I set out on a volunteer trip to west Africa. As you can guess, the experience profoundly impacted me, the mixture of travel and poverty bringing me to the realisation that I have TOO MUCH STUFF, most of it not appreciated. There is a diary entry from this trip detailing things I wanted to get rid of which was written when one night I was laying in bed thinking of my room. as I went through each thing in it, unnecessary and outgrown items were added. When I got home, I began a long process of decluttering and minimalising. There were growing pains, including a year living out of home in which my stuff occupied two rooms, and a wardrobe that was bursting because I thought buying secondhand meant that you could still have a huge wardrobe. But the culling began again, especially when I had to move four times during the first year of university.

Earlier this year, I came across your and other blogs which inspired me so much to achieve the freedom in having little I had begun to desire five years ago. My wardrobe and accessory stock is 3/4 smaller, CDs, DVDs and books culled, bathroom gear to the basics, a few trinkets, furniture which is all used and appreciated. My family all pitched in to buy an investment property which I would live in and manage. I choose the small bedroom, because I have only just enough stuff to fill that! My parents, a far cry from what they thought of my stuff as a child, were annoyed with this and questioned it, saying I am the owner, I should have the big room. This way of thinking makes little sense to me anymore, because a) I don’t have enough stuff to fill that room and a housemate needs to bring all their things into an already furnished house, and b) I am achieving lagom, the right amount; the room I’ve chosen is that philosophy, and because I’m doing this for my freedom, nobody’s opinion will affect it. I love my little room.

I became vegetarian; minimalism was a core influence on this decision. I travel so very lightly now, just bringing what is needed. I still have a bit of stuff, but everything I have is now appreciated, has a purpose, but I am not attached to it. I feel free and it is wonderful.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

Today we hear from Ryan the NewAgeNomad, whose minimalism led him to a unique lifestyle. Surf on over to his blog to learn more about his experiences on the road.

Ryan writes:

Four years ago at the age of 33, I began giving or throwing everything I owned away. I had no idea what minimalism was and knew nothing about it, all I knew is all this clutter made me very flustered.

So after getting rid of everything I owned 2 cars, snowmobile, boat, atv, and even the kitchen sink! Yep got rid of my house too! Moved my dog, 9 medium sized plastic bins, and a desktop computer to southern Arizona.

Upon arrival I downsized even more selling my last vehicle and turning them 9 bins into 6, then my next adventure was about to begin finding my new home. Knowing I wanted to keep my future home small and simplistic. Small homes are much more affordable, and a heck of a lot easier to clean, after searching for sometime I decided to try out VanDwelling.

I ended up buying a 19ft van and converted it so it had all the creature features of a home, running water, refrigerator, and of course a TV. I would watch a laptop, but seeing how my vans electrical system is 100% solar powered my TV pulls half the power as my laptop. The solar, and van dwelling lifestyle also allowed me to downsize on my bills. I have one monthly bill left my insurance is every 6 months and since the van is registered as a RV, that bill is once every 5 years.

Been living this way for almost 3 years now and love it, I can go anywhere I please, almost everything I own is in a 19ft van, the van is still very roomy, and very organized. I still have two medium sized bins, and a desktop computer at my folks house which I plan to get rid of this winter, while I am there over the holidays.

Pictures of my travels, and my blog are located at www.NewAgeNomad.com. Hope you enjoy!

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

This week, Michelle tells us about her minimalist journey—from its beginnings over a decade ago, to her current “less is more” lifestyle. Please visit her blog to read more.

Michelle writes:

My process of becoming a minimalist is quite weird and interesting for me to look back on. I started out fond of collecting things – post cards, figurines…my belonging held a poetic sense of significance to me. However, even back then an image in my mind would keep popping up – an image of a small room with only a bed and a little table in it, and on the table was a cracked vase with flowers. I resonated with this image, but I left it tucked away in the quiet corners in my mind.

Then something inexplicable happened. I read The Lord of the Rings and by the end of the last book, I suddenly became incredibly sad. I was about 13 years old at the time and this feeling lasted for two weeks. I learned later that everything I experienced and exhibited during that period matched all the signs of depression. One of the things that happened is I lost all attachment to the objects I cared about. That was when I started throwing and giving things away.

I am 24 years old now and even though my beginnings as a minimalist were a bit melancholic, my way of life as a minimalist makes me happy. Through the years, I have slowly pared down to a very minimal wardrobe (why keep clothes you rarely wear anyway?) and eliminated many things from my life. I do have a library of books, but I am comfortable with leaving them behind as I’ve already started developing my ebook library. When I do have something that isn’t completely necessary, I look at the object as something that is simply passing through my life – not something that I need to find a permanent “home” for in my life. I do own journals, but (and this might sound extreme) when they are full, I throw them away. I look at a journal as a tool that has helped me grow, but at the same time, it contains a version of me that I don’t want to identify with anymore. The act of throwing the journal away for me is like an affirmation that it’s time to write more future, not read over the past. And that is what minimalism means to me. Every time I let something go, I feel like I am creating room for new experiences and deeper relationships. I’m putting my focus where it really matters.

And it’s funny, because I didn’t even know what a minimalist was until I stumbled on this blog.

My blog is www.secretowl.org.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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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.

Today, I’m happy to share an update from previous Real Life Minimalist Gigi. We first heard from her last July, while she was traveling through Europe with her little dog Luna. Read on to find out where she is now on her minimalist journey (for more details, surf on over to her blog).

Gigi writes:

After four months of full-time travel with just a backpack and a dog, I’ve become even more of a minimalist. So, when I returned to Colorado this fall to sell my car, re-pack my bag, and plan for my next adventures, I also took on an even more ambitious minimizing project.

What if I could take the eight or so boxes in my friend’s basement and reduce them to two?

I started with my clothes, trying everything on. The things that had gotten shabby during my first four months of travel, the things that were now too small, since I’d dropped a pants size on the road, the things that just weren’t me anymore…they all went to the consignment shop and/or Goodwill.

This eliminated at least one box. Maybe more.

Then I tackled my paperwork and electronics. For something like ten years I’ve been backing things up on CD—and, dear god, do I have a lot of those backup CDs. So I bought myself a high capacity removable hard drive and transferred all those backups onto one much smaller electronic backup device (and one that I can actually edit, even better!). I also took scans all of my photos and typed up my favorite recipes so that I can toss my photo album and recipe books, and still keep them electronically.

This eliminated at least two more boxes.

Next I tossed all the things I was keeping “just in case” my grand ideas of living and working on the road didn’t work out (because, after four months, I’m feeling braver…this thing really is working out!). This included blankets, spoons, towels, and electronics with American plugs. I rent furnished places and spend most of my time in Europe and/or other abroad locations, so I just don’t need these things. And if I do decide to come back to the states someday, I can always re-buy spoons and hair dryers. They don’t have sentimental value for me, so there’s no need to store them.

At the end of my five weeks back in Colorado, I’ve reduced eight boxes and a backpack to just one box (which I’ll keep in my friend’s basement), one small bag (which I’ll take with me to California for my two months there and then leave behind with a friend outside L.A.), and one backpack (which will go back on the road with me).

I’m more minimized than I’ve been…well, ever. And I feel amazing. Free. Excited for what comes next. Unhindered.

While not everyone can reduce their things to a single box, bag, and backpack (if you have a home, obviously you’ll need to keep your spoons), for me it was the right move. Now, when I get that visa for Italy or Switzerland, I can jaunt off unhindered. And if I ever want or need my things, they’re just one UPS shipment away.

{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}

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