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 excited to share Amber’s story with you. She’s embracing a minimalist lifestyle to realize her dream: living out of a backpack and traveling around the world. Surf on over to her blog to follow her adventures.

Amber writes:

In 2007, fresh out of college I moved to Tokyo with a suitcase and carry-on. I didn’t have much accumulated and what I did have I sent back to Seattle for Storage.… {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 Carol from Brazil. She’s dreaming of a tiny house, and enthusiastically embracing new challenges in her minimalist journey. Very inspiring!

Carol writes:

The first seed of minimalism was planted in me in 2008 when I came across an article about Jay Shafer’s tiny houses. At that moment, I was exhausted juggling two kids, work, home, among other things. I suffered with this fixed idea that I could only be satisfied if I had nothing pending at all.… {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 hear from Alex Gonzo, a 21-year-old college student majoring in philosophy. He’s also a fellow minimalist and runs a witty humor blog when he’s not studying.

Alex writes:

My interest in minimalism was an accident. Trust me, I hadn’t the slightest clue what downsizing was, because my friends always invited me to go out and buy things with them. We’d go to the mall and buy hats, shoes, ties, DVDs, and a bunch of other junk.… {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 Tim Lewis, whose minimalist journey started right out of university. He tells us how he decluttered his excess possessions, and is embracing a life of freedom and travel (check out his blog to learn more). An insightful and inspiring story!

Tim writes:

I believe that I have always enjoyed having less since an early age and like to think that I had minimalism born into me. As a child I used to love to hang around with my friends in the fields and forests of my home town and have many fond memories of travelling the country with my family and going on holiday in some fabulously remote parts of the country.… {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.

I think you’ll find this week’s story from Lorilee very inspirational. She tells us how minimalist living has brought her family a new sense of freedom and joy—and I just love the beautiful family photo she’s shared with us! Check out her blog to learn more about her journey.

Lorilee writes:

I love simple and minimalist living! It has been a process for us since the beginning of the year slowly getting rid of 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.

Today, we have a wonderful submission from Megyn. I love that she addresses the issue of buying (and wanting) less—because stopping the inflow of stuff into our homes is just as important as decluttering! Please visit her blog, Minimalist Mommi, to read more.

Megyn writes:

I grew up in a house full of covered surfaces. A mom who loved to shop. A dad who loved to save. It was an equation for a house full of a chaotic mass of “stuff.” As a child, I went along with it swimmingly.… {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.

I think you’ll really enjoy today’s contribution from Sheri. She tells us how and why she’s embraced a minimalist lifestyle, and the transformative effect it’s had on her life. Be sure to check out her blog to read more of her story.

Sheri writes:

The most difficult times in our lives often help us grow the most.

Last year, I volunteered to help my grandmother, a hoarder, clean out her house.… {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, Ruthie tells us about a huge transition in her life, and how adopting a minimalist lifestyle made it a rewarding experience. She also shares the five lessons she learned, which I think you’ll find quite inspirational!

Ruthie writes:

Some people say they were born minimalists. I am not so sure about me. I have always practiced a healthy detachment towards possessions — my mom taught me “you can’t LOVE an inanimate object!” — but I also seemed to accumulate a lot of them.… {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 a great contribution from Sandi. She first experienced the joys of minimalism two decades ago, and has recently rediscovered the peace and serenity of a pared-down lifestyle.

Sandi writes:

I’m ashamed to admit that it took me almost twenty years to learn my minimalist lesson but it all started when I was on active duty in the military and stationed overseas. I was in my thirties and a single mother of a one month old son.… {Read more}