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Real Life Minimalists: Ahsha

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 enjoy this story from Ahsha; her words just radiate the joy and freedom that comes with a minimalist lifestyle! Visit her blog to read more about her experiences.

Ahsha writes:

My name is Ahsha, bestowed upon me by my incredible son when he was a toddler. It is one of the few things I will never part with.

I grew up in a large country family. Our home was filled with furniture that had been passed down from many grandmothers.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Miss Mini

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, Miss Mini tells us about her decluttering goals, and the progress she’s made so far. Please visit her blog to read more about her journey.

Miss Mini writes:

I have spent most of my life surrounded by things I love. In spite of having things around me, I wouldn’t call myself a hoarder or a messy person. I could probably say that I had more than what I needed, but not excessively.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Jorezza

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, Jorezza writes about living with less in the Philippines. I love hearing from minimalists from all over the world! Be sure to check out her blog to learn more.

Jorezza writes:

I am a twenty-two-year-old minimalist from Philippines. I discovered minimalism in a forum. It was the first time I heard about such a word. But when I read about that topic, I got interested. I thought, “That’s what I want.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Sandra at Living Lagom

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 Sandra at Living Lagom, who shares her personal minimalist philosophy and experiences with us. Please check out her blog to read more!

Sandra writes:

My name is Sandra and I’m on a journey to living lagom. What is lagom? Lagom is a Swedish word that doesn’t have an English equivalent. It basically means, just the right amount. Nothing more, but nothing less either.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Nicole

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, Nicole shares how a difficult situation in her childhood inspired her to live with less.

Nicole writes:

It was late in high school that my mom started calling me “Simplicity.” I had decided to get rid of almost everything I owned. I kept things I felt had use – bed, dresser and clothes. I also kept my photos and music – things I felt had meaning to me. My choice to minimize was a reaction to my childhood and the court battle my parents were currently going through.… {Read more}

Lagom

I’ve always been a big fan of Swedish design and culture—I love their restrained décor, their use of light and natural materials, their respect for the environment, their healthy lifestyles, their strong sense of equality. So it comes as no surprise that Sweden is also the origin of one of my favorite concepts: lagom. The word has no direct English equivalent, but is perhaps best translated as “just the right amount.”

The lovely thing about lagom is that it’s a desirable state of appropriateness, or enoughness—and has nothing to do with scarcity or deprivation. It’s both the opposite of having too much and too little, and instead a celebration of moderation.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Kimberly

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 pleased to feature Kimberly, who tells us how battling an illness started her on the road to minimalism. Read more about her inspiring story on her blog.

Kimberly writes:

In my mind, I’ve always been a minimalist. Although, I didn’t really embrace it until more recently when several things in my life began to shift and change.

About 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. I didn’t worry about myself as much as I worried about the people around me.… {Read more}

Storage is Not a Solution

Look at any organizational website or catalog, and you’ll find a plethora of boxes, bags, and containers billed as “storage solutions.” No matter what the item, there’s a vessel to hold it—big, small, tall, flat, thin, wide, clear, colored, fabric, plastic, leather, wood.

Put them on shelves, pile them in closets, stack them in your attic, basement, and garage. If you run out of room, gather them up and stick them in a storage unit across town.

And presto—your clutter problems are over!

Uh, not really. Storage is not a solution.

Just because it’s out of sight, doesn’t mean it’s out of mind.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Kristen June

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 love this story from Kristen June. She experienced the wonderful freedom of traveling lightly, and is now living a minimalist life in Madrid.

Kristen writes:

When I was about 6 years old I would collect scraps of papers, beads, rocks, ribbons, and other little pieces of garbage that were precious to me. My Grandma June, vigilantly tidy and non-materialistic, taught me how to get rid of things and keep a clean space.… {Read more}

Happier Without

The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. -Elise Boulding

What a wonderful quote, and so true! We’re constantly bombarded with the message to buy, buy, and buy some more—it’s hardly ever suggested that we might find greater satisfaction in not owning something. Yes, you read it here, week in and week out; but I’m just one tiny voice questioning the status quo—hardly a match for the marketers and advertisers that command so much of our visual and auditory attention.

So after three years of blogging, I’ve been inspired to look back and celebrate the things I’ve learned I’d rather not have.… {Read more}