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A Bouquet of Decluttering Inspiration

As you may know, the new edition of my book, The Joy of Less, will be released on April 26 (three weeks from today!). I originally self-published it, and I’m just over the moon that Chronicle Books is helping me reach a larger audience. I know I’m going to cry the first time I see it in an actual bookstore…

In the last few months, I’ve learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes publishing world. And one of the most surprising things I’ve learned is the importance of pre-orders—that is, the number of copies ordered before the release date. Apparently, bookstores use this pre-order information to decide whether or not to stock the book on their shelves.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Bethany

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}

Real Life Minimalists: Sarah

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}

Real Life Minimalists Update: Layla

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}

Real Life Minimalists: Evans

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}

Real Life Minimalists: Cindy

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}

Three Words for My Younger Self: Own Less Stuff

This week I wrote a post for the blog-publishing platform Medium:

Three Words for My Younger Self: Own Less Stuff

Why? It’s sort of an outreach effort to would-be minimalists who might not otherwise trip across my blog. I think we’ve all had that serendipitous moment when something we read, or something someone said, sparked our interest in a minimalist lifestyle. (For me, it was a book review of Your Money or Your Life—in a fashion magazine, of all places!)

Well, I’m hoping I can provide that same kind of spark to the casual browser—someone who may feel vaguely uncomfortable with clutter or consumerism but would never think to start googling “minimalism.” I’d love to invite them to our community, and let them know they can find plenty of kindred souls living with less (and loving it).… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Muntaha

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}

The Joy of One: Pan

My husband and I have had a pretty nomadic life together, and since we were always on the move, we never invested in quality cookware. Pots and pans are heavy and awkward to transport, so we would usually pick them up randomly as needed, then donate the lot before moving on and starting over again.

Well, we’re hoping to stay in our current location for the long haul, so when it comes to kitchenware, it’s time for a change in strategy. And that’s part of the motivation behind my One series: I’m ready to choose quality, versatile items that’ll last forever, instead of a mishmash of “temporary” things that sort of get the job done.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Elisabeth

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}