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100 Possessions: Laptop

When you live with as little as possible, every item has to pull its own weight. And the more needs a single thing can satisfy, the greater its value in a minimalist household.

With that in mind, if I had to pick my most “valuable” possession, it would be my laptop. It’s a true minimalist workhorse; not only has it enabled me to purge scores of other items, it’s also greatly reduced the amount of living and workspace I need.

How has my laptop helped simplify my life? Oh, let me count the ways! This one little device has eliminated the following physical things from my home:

1.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Sarah Parro

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.

It’s my pleasure this week to introduce you to Sarah Parro. She and her husband are steadily tackling their clutter, and making wonderful progress on their minimalist journey. To read more about her experiences, please visit her blog.

Sarah writes:

My husband and I live in a 900-square foot, one-bedroom apartment. Our first apartment was significantly smaller, and when we first moved into our new place we wondered what we’d do with all of the extra space.… {Read more}

Get Your Mujo On

One of the central tenets of Zen Buddhism is the concept of mujo. Mujo means impermanence, transience, ephemerality—in other words, everything is changing in every moment, nothing ever stays the same.

As minimalists, why is it so important that we get our mujo on? Because when we see that everything is impermanent, we become less attached to possessions and consumer goods.

When we embrace mujo:

* We let go of sentimental items and other reminders of “who we used to be,” instead of clinging to our past.

* We accept that our bodies change, and don’t hold on to the clothes that no longer fit us.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Sheri

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}

One Less Thing: Fashion Trends

It’s hard to believe now, but back in my early twenties, I was something of a fashionista. I had two closets full of clothes, and regularly browsed a number of fashion magazines (each fall, I eagerly awaited Vogue’s phonebook-size September issue). I spent far too much time, money, and effort dressing for some imaginary spotlight—embarrassing to admit, but true.

Fortunately, somewhere along the line I tired of the excess—the stuffed closets, the barely-worn clothes, the pieces that were “out” just months after I bought them. The whole endeavor seemed an exercise in futility and waste. So I called it quits on my fashion habit, and unloaded the vast majority of my wardrobe in a no-holds-barred eBay extravaganza.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Ruthie

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}

Minimalism and Religion

I’ve always been fascinated by the philosophical aspects of world religions. As I mentioned in a previous post, I see many more commonalities among different doctrines than I see differences—and one of those happens to be their emphasis on simple living.

Across the board, the great spiritual leaders were not known for their riches or worldly possessions; rather, they led simple and humble lives, rejecting material goods in favor of teaching and service.

Jesus, usually depicted as owning little more than his robe and sandals, is quoted as saying, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Sandi

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}

No Regrets

I’ve been decluttering for a long time now, and have pared down my possessions to quite a minimal level. Consequently, people often ask me if I’ve ever regretted getting rid of certain items. Surely, in over ten years, there must be something I wish I hadn’t purged.

It may seem unbelievable, but to be perfectly honest, I have no regrets. I can’t think of a single thing that I long to have back in my life. I don’t miss any of the clothes, the books, the heirlooms, the tchotchkes, the shoes, the handbags, or the kitchen gadgets I decided I could live without.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Shell

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, I’m happy to share this contribution from Shell. She explains how decluttering has made her home more spacious and enjoyable, and has had a positive impact on her family’s life. To hear more about her experiences, be sure to visit her blog.

Shell writes:

I’ve always enjoyed the look of minimalism, but grew up acquiring items. Partly because I once lost almost everything as a child, and partly because I thought that collecting was a part of life.… {Read more}