“Wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.” - Maya Angelou
Four years ago, my life changed forever. The Saturday started out typical: woke up, drank some coffee, ate some breakfast, and started in on the day’s project. It was the first morning of a beautiful three-day weekend in Vermont. My wife and I had decided to spend the Saturday spring-cleaning the house. My project was to clean out the garage. After the cleaning was finished, we’d begin relaxing and enjoying the holiday weekend. But my life was turned upside-down before we’d ever get there.
“Maybe you don’t need to own all this stuff,” was the last statement my old-self remembers hearing. It was said by my neighbor right after I began complaining to her about how much work it had become caring for our house – everything from my garage was piled in the driveway at the time. She had used the word “minimalist” earlier in the conversation. And at that very moment, I found minimalism… or it found me.
As a result, my life has been refreshed, rejuvenated… improved. It’s been a crazy ride. And over the last four years, my life has changed in ways I never dreamt possible. Just consider these four statements I never would have made four years ago:
1. I wish I owned less stuff. Since that weekend, it’s been a four-year journey of minimizing possessions from my home and life. We immediately went to work removing everything we no longer used or loved. At the end of the process, we took a breath. But soon thereafter, we began noticing more things around the house we could live without and began removing them as well. Even after another clean-sweep through the entire house, we still owned more than we needed. We removed some more… bought a smaller house… and continued the cycle. Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum: holidays and birthdays come and go, moments of consumer-relapse occur, new hobbies emerge, kids get older, tastes change. Even as someone trying to live a minimalist life, things still begin to collect around me. As a result, when I look around my house today, I still wish I owned less stuff. And that’s something I never would have said four years ago.
2. I don’t mind earning less than I did last year. Somewhere along this four-year journey of intentionally living with fewer possessions, an important realization occurred in my mind. Living with less means I can joyfully earn less… if the right opportunity presents itself. The measure of success in my life is no longer tied to my house, my car, or my paycheck. I will measure success in other ways: integrity, character, family, friendship, joy, love, peace (just to name a few). Because of that change in perspective, when a new career opportunity presented itself one year ago that offered so many of the things I most value in life, I accepted. Interestingly enough, I had turned down virtually the same position 6 years ago because of financial reasons. But last year, when it surfaced again, I took it despite the smaller paycheck. As a result, I earn less money than I did one year ago. But I don’t mind a bit.
3. I’d love to tell you my story. I love my newfound life. I have more time, more energy, more mental-capacity, and more money to pursue what is most important to me. Owning less means less burden, less anxiety, and less stress each and every day. Because of the numerous benefits, I love sharing my story with others. I love seeing the realization in someone else’s eyes that possessions are not the answer to our heart’s greatest pursuits. And I love inspiring other to come join a movement of men and women all over the world who have decided to intentionally live with fewer possessions. I enjoy sharing my story because it stands as a clear invitation to find something better… and I’m not sure I could have said that four years ago.
4. I know, deep-down, you want to own fewer possessions too. None of us really believe it. No one really believes that possessions equal joy. It’s just that we’ve been told so many times and from so many angles that we would be happier and more satisfied if we accumulate more, we have started to believe the lie more than we realize. Our lives begin to align with that pursuit. We start to buy bigger houses, nicer cars, newer technology, trendier clothing, and more toys for ourselves and our family. As a result, our possessions begin to burden us more than we recognize. They no longer serve us – instead, we serve them. But in our deepest heart, we know our possessions aren’t adding value to our lives. Even worse, we can probably recognize how they are subtracting from it. I know, deep-down, you want to own fewer possessions. I know because I’ve been there. And why else would the message of this article resonate so deeply inside you?
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I started the same way. I started to declutter and just never stopped (I am not sure if my local charity shop love me or dread seeing me). I never had money, but it is still great to know I don’t have to strive to be a millionaire. Stuff isn’t fulfilling, its just stuff. Some of it is useful, but plenty of it is just a clat to have
That’s me right now haha.I feel the exact same way about the charity shop
Hahaha. Exactly! In six month’s time I have taken over six car loads (jam packed) of useless possessions to the thrift store. They look at me askance and finally asked me “Where do you get all of this stuff???” Who would imagine that it could all come from a “typical” american household. And I don’t need any of it. The more I got rid of, the better I felt – more free, lighter, more on track for what really matters in my life. I love the open space in the house, the knowledge that what I have is useful and needed, and that de-cluttering has moved on to other aspects of my life as well. It’s a great journey.
There are a few more I could add, but that would just clutter this post. You put it well, and, of course, simply.
There are a few more I could add too, but then it would lose the “4″ theme.
less is always more :-)
Hi,
As someone who has just started his journey, and the blog “A tidier life” to go with it, it’s good to see that there is hope for me too. I am still at the point where it pains me to get rid of a shoebox, because you really never know when you might need it, but like you I started cleaning, and just decided to do a little more.
You seem like you have a lot of the benefits that I am hoping to gain from moving towards a minimalist lifestyle. I am taking my time, and hopefully also working up some inspiration for writing along the way. Getting rid of ones stuff really makes to think, makes you consider what each and every thing is worth, and what the opportunity cost is. I really like your blog, and will continue to follow it :)
Thanks Jon. Take your time. It’s not a race. You didn’t collect all the stuff in one day and you won’t likely get rid of it in one day either. The process takes time. Like I said in the post, it’s been four years for me and I still feel a need to minimize more.
Yet another great post from you. I am constantly re-evaluating my posessions and trying to minimize them down to the basic essentials. So very refreshing :)
I just wrote a post on this last night! Strange timing.
My wife and i are on a similar journey. We have just begun, but the feeling of “letting things go” is so incredibly freeing! We refuse to let our possessions define our family as we grow together moving forward.
That’s cool Frank. Where is your post? I’d love to read it.
We have been on the journey of letting go for a couple of years now, and our lives our so much better than when we were slaves to our stuff. We will be moving to a smaller house in a month, and are looking forward to less maintenance, lower utility bills, a smaller mortgage, and greater financial freedom–all because we own less stuff. Thanks for all of the helpful thoughts you post–your blog is a major source of inspiration for me!
Thanks April. And good for you!
Beautifully stated. I am loving the journey to minimalism I am on, and oftentimes find myself amused by how excited I get about giving things away.
I also started the same way, though here in the UK the minimalist lifestyle idea isn’t as mature as it is in the US. I think people are starting to see the light though. I’ve been ‘minimising’ since 2009, and this year am in the process of downsizing the house in order to free up some of the enormous burden of a house thats just too big now I have less stuff. This will of course give the financial freedom you mention.
I started the Two Less Things blog in April this year to spread the word about minimalism in the UK. I still feel theres a long way to go, but my daughters comment “Dad the guys at the recycling centre will know you on a first name basis” gives me the impression that I’m making good progress.
I have a deep desire to have fewer things, but also a great need to design and create–everything from costumes and beadwork to horse-tack and pottery. My conundrum is how to keep the things I will successfully make into other things (most of which will be given away) but also de-clutter and get rid of the things that will never make the jump. Any advice for minimalist creators?
I share your conundrum in a different way.
My occupation involves cleaning up vacant
And abandoned properties, which involves
Multiple trips (sometimes5-8 a day) to a
Nearby big city transfer station (ex garbage
Dump). THAT’S where the trouble starts!
For every ten truckloads of junk/tires or
Whatever I bring in, I bring two home lol.
All good stuff from mostly foreclosures
Residential+commercial. I give most of this
Stuff away to friends or anyone who wants
It really. The actual both sheer amount and
Level of quality of goods/products borders on
Comic criminality! Fortunately there’s a nearby
Habitat for humanity resale shop (mostly used
Home products/fixtures/furnishings. I bring
Tons of product (recovered/pilfered/absconded)
There from the dump. I’d like to think my
Motivations are keeping perfectly good
Products out of a landfill+possibly repurposed,
And helping friends and folks. I’ve been doing
This for over a decade now and (somewhat
Ambiguously) feel pretty good about it. Now
All that said. Do you think I’ve accumulated
Some stuff? HA!!! They have meds for people
Like me (seriously)! I’ve been following Josh+
Ryan @ the minimalist for a year and a half
Now and am slowly implementing a lot of their
Philosophies but I have to admit at times
It does feel like QUITE the conundrum:-)!!
Sincerely,
Daniel
Daniel, I think I’d make two stops with your truck: 1) Transfer Station; 2) Goodwill. Make sure everything gets dropped off at one of those two places. And good for you for repurposing the things that can be repurposed. You’re helping everybody with that extra stop.
Tough call without having more specifics Teddi, but I do have one thing for you to think about. You are likely to have greater success as an artist with fewer distractions. Or as someone else once said, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” The tendency is to think that keeping a lot of materials around will make you a better artist, but in reality, the opposite is true. Keeping your materials to a minimum will bring you better focus and force your hand in creating good art. Hope that helps.
Absolutely agree — I love going through my apartment on a regular basis, eliminating stuff. It always feels so, so good.
I absolutely want to have less clutter. It’s tough with kids, but we do continually try to move through stuff and get rid of it. Sell it, goodwill it, whatever… A few years ago I wouldn’t have said that either, because a few years ago we were trying to get stuff, and get on our feet!
Kids sure do add an extra layer of thought-process. But they’re totally worth it!
I started my minimalist journey when my paycheck was downsized 4 years ago to what I earned 14 years ago. I am a single mom with a house payment, property taxes etc so it has been tight. But…………I have learned so much though with this journey about what really is important. And it’s not my or my children’s possessions!
We are continuing to de-possess and it feels really good. Thanks for the inspiration!
Funny how life chooses to teach us different lessons. Thanks for the comment Brenda.
Simple and so well put. I too have simplified and now I am much more aware of each purchase. I am even more aware of what I give as gifts…as “things” just collect. Love your blog! :-)
Thanks for taking the time to respond to our comments. It really adds a personal touch to your blog. Since the approach to minimalizing is unique and personal to each of us, your simple act of responding thoughtfully adds a lot of motivation to our endeavour. I am sure you don’t have the time to do that for the comments you receive on every post you write, but it makes a difference when you do. It also gives a great example of how to respectfully encourage others in our lives to consider minimalizing. Thanks for that!
I really like your blog! Your posts give me inspiration and strength when I feel the desire to get more/different/impressive STUFF!
I am very dedicated to owning less. My husband, however, presents a challenge…but we are working on it together.
I love that you moved to a smaller house. We bought the “american dream” two years ago…2200 square feet, 0.5 acres, granite counter tops…and I have to say I am not nearly as happy as everyone told me I would be. I feel ungrateful, but all I can think is that I want to sell in a few years and downsize…all this space, all this yardwork…ugh! Everyone tells me that when we have our first baby (soon) my mind will change, but I doubt it.
I admire the changes you have made and hope to make similar in the next few years!!
Hi Tiffany,
Our American Dream is a 1800sf home on an acre of mostly wooded land. We have four kids ages 15-6. Our house has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a good-sized playroom for the kids. It is the perfect size for us. Any bigger and I would just have more to clean! I think it is great that you have realized it is not the house that makes a home. You have such a great way of thinking that I bet when baby comes along you’ll still long for a cozy simple home.
Awesome post! I’ve noticed that as I reduce my ‘things’ more and more you come closer to the truth of who you are. This changes you and you tap into that authentic nature where those 4 comments come from.
So true…Find the essential… it is the only thing that matters, once you know that to be true, if you do not take action you are ignorant……This is one of the most exciting times of my life….Freedom comes from giving…..the more you give the more you have, this is the truth!
I am an artist…Oil on canvas is my favorite medium…..When Painting with oils, Less is more. It is the best tip I can give a new painter…..and it is a simple concept. Being a minimalist is something both my husband and I have thought about for years…. Now we are forced into it : ( because of the economy.. we are losing everything we own : ( giving things away..because we have no one to help… it is a sad and heartbreaking journey…but one we probably never would have done if we weren ‘t forced to… we would be homeless if it weren’t for family.. we are not minimalists to be trendy….but I do believe less is more..and i’m lucky I’m an artist, poet and love nature, animals and the earth ,moon and sun..these bring me the most comfort in life.. but this journey is scary
I began decluttering ten years ago. But it is only in the last year or two that I’ve become aware of the new minimalism movement. There are many ideas that I really like but I do think that, show me five minimalists and I’ll show you six different approaches to minimalism. Which is good.
I’ve been seriously trying to be more minimalist, simple, intentional, frugal for a year or so. I’ve removed many objects from my life but the intention wasn’t really to reduce the number of things I have. The goal really was to ensure that all the things I have custody of are relevant and add to my quality of life. So, paradoxically, I probably have just as much ‘stuff’ as I had before but a lot less ‘junk’. I have no goal of moving to a smaller house. I like large empty rooms. Lots of space to recharge and reflect. But of course old age will bring its limits.
I had a problem removing ‘sentimental’ items but once I squared up and did it a few times it got easier and the single figure number of sentimental items I now have I do value, though I wonder if in time they will go as well. Photos and memories are all I really need. I’d like to get to the point where, if the house burnt down, there would be nothing irreplaceable.
Love the blog – inspirational.
Being obsessed with getting rid of stuff is missing the point. You’re still OBSESSED WITH STUFF!
Maybe, but it’s a step in the right direction. Minimalizing is a very personal and unique process for each individual. Baby steps!
I came to minimalism slightly differently than most people seem to. When I graduated from college I began looking for ways to save money. One of the first was switching to shaving with a DE razor instead of a cartridge. That lead me to an article on a blog called the Art of Manliness, and from there to an article on AoM about minimalism, and on to Tammy Strobel, Leo Babauta, and others. I have yet to replace my cartridge with a DE razor (still on my list) but I’ve reduced possessions, expenses, and etc over the past few months and can honestly say at this point I agree with all four of your points. Great article Joshua!
This weekend I decided to start clearing out our house as we want to go travelling Europe in our little camper van for six months and rent out the house whilst we do – to fund the trip. However, I stumbled upon this word “minimalism’ whilst I was looking for inspiration on storing things more tidily and I am absolutely fascinated by the philosophy of it. I am reading everything I can get hold of and starting to feel really excited about an alternative possible way of living and thinking about things. Here in the UK, it is no different from the USA, consumerism is everywhere.
I cleaned out my wardrobe (that was my starting point this weekend) and I couldn’t believe how many pairs of trousers I actually own! Granted, I do go up and down in size, but 10 pairs is just too many..and what’s more I know there’s still plenty more in the loft.
Thanks for your blog. I think this could be the start of a new life for me. I have been discontented with work, shopping and the daily grind for a while now but couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Well, quite by accident, rather like the author, I think I have found the reason. Any recommendations and/or advice for me, as a newby to this, will be gratefully received. Now I just have to keep on track.
Thanks for your blog. I agree with kamasiki that your responses to comments set you apart from other blogs. And now for a response, hopefully brief:
1) I concur. I knew my wife and I were making progress when the grad school daughter came home for a visit and asked (due to lack of ‘stuff’ in the house)
“so, when are you guys moving?”
2)Still looking for the opportunity with value, but ‘living like no one else’ so finances are not a burden.
3)Still looking for my ‘voice’.
4) This is the primary reason for my reply as we have found it difficult to change social functions with friends and family that are so often centered on consumerism. Shopping trips, vacations that involve shopping, and regular ‘auction’ nights no longer hold the interest that they once did. How do you address the habits of others who have no interest in your minimalist values?
Again, thank you for telling us about your journey.
Great article indeed. As a young individual, I just recently moved in another country and will be having the start of my adult life and career here. I think it is very timely that I have read your blog about this, so that 4 years from now, I will not be saying the statement, “I wish I could have owned less stuff.” I only packed with me my essentials, which I first, I believe, I could not live with comfortably, guess I was wrong at all. What is great about people is that, they are capable of change. It has been my 3rd month here and I am living just fine with fewer, fundamental things.
My husband and I have never been prone to keep things we don’t use but since retiring we’ve taken a harder look at what we are willing to buy and store. We have to love it or use it or out it goes. We also ask ourselves, “If we were to sell our home and move would we want to take it with us?” and reason if we don’t clean out the clutter, someday someone will have to do it for us. Our neighborhood email list, Freecycle and thrift stores have offered us many re-purposing possibilities. We have an older home with three bedrooms, two small closets and no hall or linen closets (folks in the 1920s were early minimalists!) and we still have some empty space on our shelves. However, it takes some effort to maintain a minimalist home and we regularly declutter and think hard about whether we really want to buy something. Have you noticed that spas, luxury hotels and resorts are never cluttered? Clutter just creates mental stress and is not a relaxing environment.
I have been trying to slowly change my life to a simpler life. In many ways it has been successful. However, living with a spouse that although not into buying stuff, is someone who loves money more than people and experiences. I no longer try to reason with him and have decided to go at minimalist on my own. Hence, it’s that much harder. The difference in mindset is and will eventually cause issues within us but I am unwilling to give up what I think is right just to please him.
Oh, this so hits home for me. I started down my minimalist path just over two years ago when my husband passed away unexpectedly. We were in the middle of a huge house remodel and the kids and I were left to complete the project. I hired contractors and during the one year to complete it, I took almost everything out of the house and put it in a storage unit in our driveway. After months passed and no one asked for/missed the “stuff”, I called our local charity and had them pick it up. I can’t tell you how freeing that was. Although we still live in the house, we have lots of empty space and it is a joy. Once the kids are off to college, I will sell the house and move into something that will not require so much time and energy. The other piece of my story is that I took early retirement from a 22 year corporate career position just two months ago. That has been the best move in my life, so far. I am fortunate that the only debt I have is the house and am able to trim my expenses to live this dream. My next goal is to decide what I want to do now. Thank you for your wonderful writings, I so enjoy reading them. cheers!
My journey with Minimalism started a couple of years ago. I think I was actually born a minimalist, I have never liked clutter and stuff all over the walls etc. When I read about this concept it had me hooked! I have been taking car loads to Goodwill for at least a year and I could keep going, but my family is not at the same point of acceptance yet. I feel so much lighter without so much stuff and so less disstracted. I often blame it on my OCD or ADD, but I just get completely overwhelmed by visual clutter. I love the clean open spaces, etc. I think about all of the money I spent in my 20′s and 30′s trying to have a perfect home and always in style. It not only wore me out but drained our savings. I am not perfect, I still will buy something now and then that we probably don’t need, but my thinking is so different now. I really look at something and think about if I TRULY love it and NEED it. If I think it will be out of style in a year or its just not really a need, then I just don’t get it. Its AMAZING what we REALLY need to live. I did not get into minimalism for a lack of money, but peace of mind and clarity and it has helped me focus more on what is REALLY important. I am not a perfect minimalist, but I am on a journey that reveals new things to me all the time. I do not think this is a trend for me, its a way of life.
Oh, wow…as I am reading all of the responses, I find myself smiling. I just recently discovered my inner happiness which includes being free from material things and not continuously worry about making more money. I recently packed up majority of my clothes for Purple Heart…when I looked around my closet, there were still so much remaining, why was I holding onto them for all these years? I find myself saying to my friends that I want a simpler life ….no financial burden so when I finally received my nice bonus after waiting 2 years, I happily resigned. Honestly, I feel like a load has been lifted off my chest since my job affected my quality of life. I will try my best to follow a minimal lifestyle …sometimes when you achieve the things you always thought would bring you joy and wealth is not where true happiness is….it is the simpler things. Took me long time to figure that concept, it is never too late.
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