Comments on: stephanie’s story

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:14:51 +0000

Thank you so much to everyone for commenting. Your feedback has encouraged me to continue to strive for minimalism in all aspects. It’s certainly not something that all of my friends understand, but it’s comforting to know that there are people who believe that I can do it.

By: Alix

Alix — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:24:23 +0000

Stephanie, congratulations on figuring out something at an early age that most of us don’t figure out til much, much later.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:01:15 +0000

Beautifully written! I also love Chuck P (I started reading his work when I was 18, but it apparently did not have quite the same effect then) and had a very organized pile of crap as well – I wish I had ‘found’ minimalism when I was 17 instead of 27. All those years of accumulating that Stephanie will skip – so envious!

By: JJ

JJ — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:17:58 +0000

Great story. Another great Chuck Palahniuk quote is “The things you own, end up owning you.” That one has always stuck with me.

By: Luke @ simplifi.de

Luke @ simplifi.de — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:25:51 +0000

Wow, great story, Stephanie! I wish you all the best in your journey to minimalism… I’m only 23, and I really wish I had been more deeply into the simplicity/minimalism movement back then. Even those 5 years can make a huge difference.

I will second C, too, and say that college is a great place to practice your minimalism.

By: paula

paula — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:28:25 +0000

well done Stephanie – I wish I had worked this out at 17 – think of the money I would have saved! Goodluck, and remember every $ you don’t spend on ‘stuff’ you can save for something you really want

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:11:47 +0000

Stephanie, how wonderful that you are starting out your life this way! I am 27 and started really becoming a minimalist last year. I wish I had realized this when I was your age, heading off to college – I would have saved a ton of money!

Good luck in all of your endeavors! And thank you for your inspiring story!

By: Charley

Charley — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:18:59 +0000

I love these stories. And it makes my heart rejoice that I see more and more young folks that are getting this. Yes, advertising is more and more persuasive, but in the end, we all have the power to respond to a given stimulus (i.e. advertising) in the manner of our choosing.

Congratulations, Stephanie, keep going, it’s a journey with no true destination.

- Charley

By: C

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:51:38 +0000

Stephanie, since you’re going to college, it’s likely you’ll end up living in a dorm. This is a great place to be a minimalist. You don’t need any cooking supplies, your desk and bed are furnished for you, and you don’t have the option of keeping stuff in the bathroom. Many places will even wash sheets for you. It’s very easy to get away with only having a laptop, your books and notes, some clothes, and toiletries.

By: Rose

Rose — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:22:20 +0000

What a wonderfully inspiring story! I’m 19 and am slowly doing the same thigns – though i’m reducing my intake more than actually purging my current belongings at this point. I talk about things I’m learning on my simplicity blog and just love to hear that people my age are realising the hold that the media has on us.
Well done to stephanie and I hope to be able to tell my own story here once it feels right.
~Rose