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 introduce you to Haley—she and her family have embraced minimalism to embark on a yearlong RV trip. I’m looking forward to following her adventures on her blog!

Haley writes:

Nearly three years ago, with our second child on the way, my husband and I finally moved out of our small condo in Atlanta and into our 2,500-square-foot house in suburbia. It was just what I had always wanted–a great house with room to grow in a kid-friendly neighborhood.… {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, Bethany shares a touching story about a beloved relative, and the ultimate lesson he taught her about the important things in life. Surf on over to her blog to get to know her better.

Bethany writes:

In October 2015, I lost my wonderful, supportive Granda to Mesothelioma – cancer of the lung which is caused by asbestos, a material he had worked with as an engineering apprentice. It wasn’t until January 2015 when he developed a cough, that we discovered the devastating effect the asbestos had on his body.… {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 so grateful to Sarah for sharing her story with us. She describes how life circumstances took her through a period of hoarding, and how she dug her way out to lightness and freedom.

Sarah writes:

My story is one of extremes. I grew up in a house filled to the brim with interesting things, books, teetering piles of items. My parents are artists and so saw beauty in some things most don’t and I can relate to that as an artist myself.… {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 an update from Layla, who was featured in this series two years ago. She’s been on her minimalist journey for quite some time now, and shares some wonderful advice she’s learned along the way.

Layla writes:

Hello again,

After discovering minimalism five years ago, I expected that once I got the distractions out of the way it would simply become clear to me what was important.… {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 such an inspirational story from Evans! She explains beautifully how minimalism doesn’t mean living a certain way (like out of a backpack, or in a tiny house). Rather, it’s a mindset that helps us live intentionally in whatever situation we find ourselves. Visit her blog to read more of her experiences.

Evans writes:

From the outside looking in you would never guess that in my heart I’m a minimalist.… {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 Cindy. I love how she shows that minimalism isn’t something that happens instantaneously, but a continual process of refinement—as she says, “like peeling an onion, one layer at a time.”

Cindy writes:

I have been minimizing different aspects of my life since 1999 – I was 34 yrs. old. My journey began with a speeding ticket. I remember the moment. I was aggravated with my job, the 45-minute commute to this job for which I didn’t particularly care, and I was given a well-deserved speeding ticket that I couldn’t afford to pay.… {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, Muntaha reminds us of what it’s like to be at the start of our minimalist journey—full of awareness and intention to live a simpler life, and figuring out how to make it happen. I think we can all relate to being a little less minimalist than we want to be, so let’s give her our support and encouragement as she joins us on this path!

Muntaha writes:

I’m an aspiring minimalist.… {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 Elisabeth, a 25-year-old from Austria. She tells us how studying abroad inspired her to pare down her possessions and embrace the minimalist values with which she grew up.

Elisabeth writes:

I remember when I was a kid and I wanted some fancy snack wrapped up in too much plastic and heavily advertised, my mother would say: “We don’t have money for that.” Because of that, I always thought that we were poor or at least that money was tight.… {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, Michael reminds us that we don’t have to reach certain milestones to become minimalists. It’s an ongoing process of living mindfully each day.

Michael writes:

For about six months I’ve thought: “When I become a minimalist, I’ll submit my story to Miss Minimalist.” Gradually, however, I’ve come to realize that minimalism is not a destination. Minimalism is a state of mind cultivated over the lifespan.

I don’t share some of the surface features common to some more popular minimalists–I have a wife and kids, a mortgage, and a 9-5 job.… {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, Frangipani Bloomfields celebrates her simple lifestyle with us—rightly noting that we don’t have to count possessions to call ourselves minimalists. Read more of her story on her blog.

Frangipani Bloomfields writes:

It has only recently dawned upon me that I am a minimalist. I have been reading Miss Minimalist for quite some time now and while I have thoroughly enjoyed the posts by other real life minimalists I have always thought I stood just outside the box.… {Read more}