Real Life Minimalists

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 pleased to feature Betsy, who tells us how her travels inspired her minimalist journey. Please visit her blog to read more about her experiences.

Betsy writes:

Hello friends. My name is Betsy Ramser Jaime and I blog weekly at www.betsyramser.com. In January 2013, I embarked on an 11 month 11 country mission trip around the world. During that year I lived out of a Osprey Ariel 75 backpack and a Patagonia day back.… {Read more}

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 meet Melissa, who tells us how her family’s new home inspired them to embrace a minimalist lifestyle.

Melissa writes:

My husband and I began our minimalist journey last year when we bought our first house. When we walked into the solid log home, we fell in love. It was staged minimally for showing, and we adored how the gorgeous wood walls and architecture took center stage. We knew that filling it with all of our belongings would destroy that beauty.… {Read more}

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 have an inspirational story from Lori. She and her husband retired early, downsized their possessions to two carry-on bags, and are pursuing their dream of long-term travel. I for one look forward to following their adventures on their blog!

Lori writes:

Upon asking my mom about a picture of a four-year-old me on Christmas morning long ago, she said, “This was a Christmas we spent at your grandparents’ house in New Jersey.… {Read more}

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, Live, Laugh, Clean provides a wonderful account of how she keeps her household streamlined and well-managed. Very inspirational!

Live, Laugh, Clean writes:

My journey to a minimalist lifestyle comes from simply wanting to be organized. I wanted my finances, house, family and my life to be organized and well-managed. With a frugal background that came from my school-teaching parents I saw the benefits from learning to manage your resources well.… {Read more}

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, Gene shares the details of his minimalist journey with us—and a wonderful photo that radiates the joy and freedom of a simplified life!

Gene writes:

Like so many people I had accumulated plenty of stuff. Ok, to be fair much of it was junk. As George Carlin is famous for pointing out, when it’s yours its “stuff” but when it is somebody else’s its “junk”. As in “Move your ‘junk’, I need a place for my ‘stuff'”.… {Read more}

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, Abbie shares an honest, thought-provoking perspective on the psychological aspects behind her decluttering. I’m sure many of us can relate to the issues of control and finding balance.

Abbie writes:

My grandparents saved because of their experiences with economic struggle. My parents saved because they were taught not to waste anything – one could use that or need it in the future, best to keep it until then. I saved because if you get rid of that, someone’s feelings will be hurt.… {Read more}

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 pleased to feature Samantha, who explains how selling their home has enabled her and her husband to live more intentionally and pursue their dreams. Please visit her blog to read more of her writing.

Samantha writes:

It didn’t take me long after buying our house to see how our materialism was eating away at our priorities.

Our spare time, energy and money were spent paying for, maintaining, cleaning and making plans for an edifice to live in.… {Read more}

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 wonderful story from Daniel, The Minimalist Kanaka, who tells us how his Hawaiian heritage inspired his new, pared-down lifestyle. Please visit his blog to read more of his thoughts.

Daniel writes:

Aloha, Iʻm Daniel. I was born and raised in beautiful Hawaii and currently reside there. I canʻt say exactly when I discovered minimalism. The Hawaii lifestyle is naturally a minimalist culture. I remember when my brothers and I were young, our favorite toys were cardboard boxes.… {Read more}

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 meet Sophie, who tells us how a simple home improvement project led to a wonderful new lifestyle.

Sophie writes:

It All Started With the Hardwood Floors

In a small photo album on my bookshelf, I keep a picture from 2006: a huge dining room hutch cupboard, every shelf loaded with knickknacks and totchkes. All of them had to be dusted regularly; all (the hutch included) are long gone. But I’m getting ahead of the story .… {Read more}

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 wonderful contribution from Rine, who writes about the benefits of minimizing consumption, from a personal to a global scale. Please visit her blog to read more of her writing.

Rine writes:

I started practicing minimalism about seven years ago when my partner and I were newlyweds. A variety of factors led to my desire to simplify our way of life. When my partner and I moved into our first apartment, we were lucky to have the generous support of our family and friends who—with a free hand—bought us everything we needed from our wedding registry and even sorted through their dusty attics and dingy basements to give us their spare furniture and appliances.… {Read more}