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Real Life Minimalists: Sofia Reddy

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 Sofia Reddy, who tells us how minimalism has helped her through a challenging time in her life. Please visit her blog to learn more!

Sofia writes:

This last year has been the most stressful year of my adult life. I felt so blessed to have so many wonderful new beginnings in 2008 – I married the man of my dreams, had a beautiful baby boy, Nikolas (pictured with me), started a new job at the Veteran’s Health Administration as a clinical social worker, and we had just bought our first home together the year before.… {Read more}

Smitten: The Cupboard-Less Kitchen

When my husband and I renovated our former home, we completely gutted the kitchen (not a frivolous endeavor, but a necessity—it was a grungy, wood-paneled, 1970s nightmare). But instead of installing kitchen cupboards in every nook and cranny, we left the overhead space bare. Practically, it worked for us, as we were fortunate enough to have a large pantry and minimal kitchenware. And aesthetically, we loved it—the absence of overhead cabinets gave the space an open, airy, and serene look.

At the end of next month, we’ll be moving into our fifth “home” in less than a year (and another temporary one, at that).… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Aisha

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 bring you Aisha’s story. I love her honesty, and think we can all relate to her decluttering experiences. Minimalism doesn’t happen overnight—but it’s the journey that gives us a wonderful mindfulness. Surf on over to her blog to read more.

Aisha writes:

I’ve come a long way on my path to minimalism, even if I’m not quite there yet. When I went off to college in 2003 I brought things like a Merriam-Webster’s dictionary with me.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Lindsay

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 contribution from Lindsay, a mother of three. She tells us how her family’s minimalist journey has changed their lives for the better. What a great example, and inspiration, for aspiring minimalists with children!

Lindsay writes:

I am currently on the journey to becoming a minimalist. We are a military family and uproot our lives every three to four years to move to a new part of the world.… {Read more}

100 Possessions: Monk’s Bowl

It may come as a surprise to some, but not all of my possessions are uber-practical. Some commemorate my travels, give me pleasure to look at, or remind me of how I’d like to live.

This monk’s bowl is a recent acquisition, purchased on my December trip to Thailand. In Bangkok, there’s a tiny neighborhood called Soi Ban Baat (Monk’s Bowl Village), where residents have been making alms bowls for monks for generations. Although most such bowls are now made in factories, a few artisans continue the tradition, beating out the bowls by hand. They’re made of eight strips of metal, to symbolize the Eightfold Path of Buddhism.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Shelby Gonzalez

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 Shelby Gonzalez. She purged her possessions for an around-the-world trip, and continues to embrace a minimalist lifestyle. Shelby tweets about travel, outdoor adventure and fearless living at www.Twitter.com/ShelbyGonzalez.

Shelby writes: As a teenager, I favored what could be described as the “magical flea-market bordello” aesthetic, characterized by an attic bedroom bedecked with dark posters, old velvet drapes, and arrangements of dust-frosted candles and glass bottles studding every horizontal surface.… {Read more}

Where to Donate Your Stuff: 101 Places Your Clutter Can Do Good

In my book, The Joy of Less, I talk about how it’s infinitely easier to declutter when your stuff can serve a good cause:

“Something that’s been sitting in your house, unused and unloved, may bring a great deal of joy to, or fill the genuine need of, someone else. Make their day, and give yourself a pat on the back. Knowing that you’re doing good can make it much easier to part with your stuff.”

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a BIG list of places to donate your discards. Of course, from an environmental standpoint, it’s best to keep your castoffs in your community; the fewer things we ship around the globe, the better.… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

The Minsumer Movement: A Quiet Revolution: “Don’t buy it!” may be an unusual call to arms, but it has the potential to transform our lives, our society and our planet. Like all revolutions, ours is bred by discontent. We’re sick of being slaves to debt and keeping up with the Joneses. We’re tired of working long hours at jobs we don’t like, to pay for things we don’t need. We’re unhappy with the clutter in our homes, and the commercialization of our holidays…{read more}

Minimalist Inspiration: The Story of Stuff: In the spirit of Minsumerism, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite internet videos: The Story of Stuff, by writer and activist Annie Leonard.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Caroline Garnet McGraw

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. (Note: the schedule is now full until June — but if you don’t mind waiting, feel free to send me your submission!)

Today, we have a truly inspirational story from Caroline Garnet McGraw. She tells us about her experiences living and working in a L’Arche community, and reminds us that it’s people, not things, that make our lives remarkable.

Caroline writes:

I’m Caroline Garnet McGraw, real-life minimalist writer behind the new blog, A wish come clear.… {Read more}

Chopping Wood and Carrying Water

I’ve been interviewed countless times over the past year, and frequently asked “What is minimalism?” More often than not, the reporter is looking for something dramatic, something newsworthy, something extreme. And more often than not, my answer disappoints them.

Why? Because in my opinion, minimalism is not about being radical or awesome or extraordinary.

It’s not about reducing your entire life to a hard drive, or interacting with the world through your iPhone.

It’s not about quitting your day job, traveling the world, or selling ebooks from a tropical beach.

It’s not about living in a sleek loft with three pieces of designer furniture.… {Read more}