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Minimalism Around the World: Danshari

When I first started writing about minimalism, I thought of clutter and overconsumption as primarily an American problem. However, from the emails and comments I received, I soon learned that many in the UK and Europe were struggling with similar issues.

Still, I considered it mainly an affliction of the Western world, and never imagined decluttering would have much relevance in the Far East (which has a long cultural heritage of simplicity and restraint).

However, according to an article by Michael Hoffman in The Japan Times Online, there’s a new trend sweeping Japan: danshari.

Kanjiclinic.com included the word in its “2010 New Words” list, and defined it as follows:

断捨離 Danshari – “de-clutter.” The three kanji in this compound mean “refuse – throw away – separate.” Self-help author Hideko Yamashita, drawing on yoga philosophy, promotes a three-step system for de-cluttering one’s life (both physical and mental) in Japan: 1) refuse to bring unnecessary new possessions into your life; 2) throw away existing clutter in your living space; and 3) separate from a desire for material possessions.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Bug Girl

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 very interesting story from Bug Girl. This is one of the most compelling (and creepy crawly) reasons I’ve heard for becoming a minimalist! Great inspiration to clean out those nooks and crannies…

Bug Girl writes:

My minimalist journey unfortunately started with a pest problem two years ago. (Black Carpet Beetles, if you dare to Google it.) Little creepy crawly bugs that LOVE to feed on dust and cat hair and clothing were everywhere in my house.… {Read more}

Declutter Your Fantasy Self

Once upon a time (a long time ago), I had a fantasy self. She was an aficionado of antique chandeliers, vintage beaded dresses, fine china, and silver tea sets; I think she fancied one day she would marry a prince and live out her days in a British castle or manor house.

Charming as she was, after dragging her stuff thousands of miles in a cross-country move, I had to kick her out. And it’s a good thing I did—because even though I eventually married a prince (metaphorically) and moved to England (literally), my 400-square-foot flat would have never accommodated her lavish accoutrements.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Adriana

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, Adriana checks in with us from Singapore, and tells us how she’s minimized her wardrobe, her finances, and other areas of her life. After you read her story, please visit her website to see her delightful drawings; they’re sure to make you smile.

Adriana writes:

How wonderful it is to be a minimalist now! Now there is a community, and blogs such as Miss Minimalist to help us along!

In 2006, I decided that I had enough.… {Read more}

Ramblings On Food

One of my favorite things about writing this blog are the interesting discussions that take place in the Comments section—and did we have a great one this week, sparked by Sylvia’s Real Life Minimalist feature! For those of you who missed it, it revolved around the myriad of choices we make when it comes to food—such as being vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, or other; opting for grass-fed versus grain-fed animals; and the implications of our eating habits on our health and the environment.

I’ve written very little about food on this blog, save from my desire to eat every meal from a single bowl.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Sylvia Black

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, Sylvia Black tells us about the many ways in which she’s practicing minimalism, including her approach to food and diet (always an interesting topic!). To learn more, surf on over to her blog, Vegan Advantage.

Sylvia writes:

For me, the main area of my life in which I’ve consciously explored minimalism is my diet.

Diet, I think, sometimes gets overlooked as an area in which minimalism is applicable – or if it does get considered, people might perhaps think of counting calories and diminishing only the quantity of what they eat.… {Read more}

A Haiku Life

I’ve always been a big fan of haiku, the ultra-compact poetry of Japanese tradition. I appreciate its elegant form, its economy of expression, and its emphasis on limits: 17 syllables total, in lines of 5, 7, and 5.

Haiku typically celebrate the natural world and our intimate relationship with it. They show sensitivity to the changing seasons, and an appreciation for nature in its smallest details. They remind us that the most beautiful things in life have nothing to do with money or stores.

In a haiku, every word is precious, evocative, and chosen with the utmost care. As a minimalist, I can’t help but wonder: what if we put the same effort into choosing the words we speak, the activities in which we participate, the possessions we own?… {Read more}

For Photos of Minimalist Spaces, Join Me on Pinterest!

Oftentimes, in my travels around the internet, I come across photos of minimalist spaces I’d love to share with you. However, because of copyright issues, I’m always hesitant to post them on my blog.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered a wonderful new way to consolidate and share these inspirational resources. It’s called Pinterest. I’m usually the last person to embrace a new social networking platform—but honestly, this site is just too much fun!

Basically, it’s a digital space where you can “pin” your favorite photos from around the web. So far, I’ve created two boards:

Minimalist Home

Minimalist Design

You can follow my boards (or anyone else’s) to keep up with new additions.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Francesca of Tasmanian Minimalist

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 Francesca. She did a complete turnaround, from avid accumulator to avid declutterer. You can read more about her experience on her blog, Tasmanian Minimalist.

Francesca writes:

I still have a long way to go. But, when I consider how far I’ve come, I can’t help but pat myself on the back.

My lurch towards minimalism is an all-encompassing lifestyle change for me. Two and a half years ago, after being partners with a hoarder and being a heavy-duty shopper and hoarder myself, I found myself single again, not to mention, heavily in debt.… {Read more}

My 7 Links

Betsy Talbot from the fabulous Married with Luggage recently nominated me to participate in the “My 7 Links” project that originated at Tripbase.com. She asked me to select a post in each of the following categories, then invite five other bloggers to do the same.

I really appreciate the honor, and the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane!

Most beautiful Minimalist Philosophy: Sophrosyne I chose this one simply because the concept itself—living a harmonious life by embracing enough—is so beautiful.

Most popular Minimalism in the Family In this post, I speculated on whether minimalism ran in families—and the comments (210 of them!) were fascinating.… {Read more}