In a world that shouts consumerism and consumption from every rooftop, billboard, and television, minimalism quietly invites us to intentionality. In a world that tells us to buy more, minimalism invites us to pursue less. And in a world that argues for us to “impress” more, minimalism invites us to “live” more.
Minimalism is, in many ways, an invitation. It is not forced. It is not mandated. It is not mainstream. But it is willing to embrace all who accept it.
The invitation is heard as a quiet whisper. Unfortunately, in a world that spends trillions of dollars seeking our attention, a quiet whisper can be difficult to hear. But stop to listen. It is there. It is calling for you.
And why shouldn’t it? It has so much to offer.
- It is an invitation to less stress. A minimalist life removes the clutter from our lives that heaps stress upon us. It embraces cleaner rooms, cleaner surfaces, and cleaner schedules. And in doing so, it embraces less uncertainty.
- It is an invitation to less debt. Minimalism refuses to consume beyond our means. It has chosen to forgo keeping up with the “Joneses.” Instead, it seeks contentment. Leo Babauta, Tammy Strobel, and Adam Baker have all paid off thousands of dollars in debt by embracing a minimalist life. And so can you.
- It is an invitation to more time. Material possessions drain a countless amount of our time (purchasing, cleaning, maintaining, organizing, and rearranging). Minimalism recaptures that valuable time for our lives.
- It is an invitation to more freedom. Possessions hold us back and weigh us down. They keep us tied to the past rather than moving forward. Minimalism has removed unneeded possessions and found newfound freedom in life. And there are no limits with this new freedom. You can travel the world like Karol Gajda, work from anywhere like Everett Bogue, write life-changing books like Chris Guillebeau, or knit for charity like Robyn Devine.
- Minimalism is an invitation to value life. At its core, minimalism is about identifying and embracing our individual values. It refuses to allow culture or corporations to shape our hearts’ desires. It has identified what is most valuable in life and has removed everything that distracts us from it. And life has been reclaimed.
Of course, receiving an invitation is one thing… actually attending the party is something completely different. The invitations have been sent. The door is wide open. And the party is amazing!
Won’t you join us?
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
How do you get the other people that you live with to accept the invitation to Minimalism as well? It’s tough feeling like you’re the only one who’s caught the vision. Any suggestions?
Not sure who lives with you Faith, but my wife and I raised our children with a good dose of minimalism by exposing our children more to nature than ‘toys’. We’d go camping and our kids would build entire cities out of sticks and pine cones. They grew up to love hiking, climbing, and sleeping under the stars. I’m proud to say that now, as grown children, they’re all debt free and still find more meaning in relationships and enjoying the simplicity of creation rather than buying adult toys.
slowly and patiently.
i scribbled some thoughts down a few months ago if they are helpful: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/2010/03/01/when-youre-a-minimalist-but-your-partner-isnt/
My husband and three kids recently made the decision to move into my parents house. We are now a combined household of 10 and so far I’m the only one who is ecstatic about minimalism. There are glimmers of hope that it will catch on so I’ll remain optimistic. :) Thanks for the link to that post. I loved it and find it comforting.
Even though I’m more excited about minimalism, my wife is more of a “natural minimalist”. I have to consciously remind myself that I have too much, and she just hates clutter and can’t stand to have it around. She’s quite the inspiration to me.
Love this message! Thanks for the invitation. Even though we’ve been living minimalism for years, it feels so lovely to be re-invited to the party! You have used minimal words to say such a huge message!!!
Thanks for the invite! We’ve rsvped and are jumping in right where we are.
I agree 100% It feels so great to do more with less and to focus more on life experience than things. Eventually, you become a prisoner to the things you own. Having massive amounts of debt really limits what you can do in life and the ability to change things. Are you unhappy at work and hate your job? Well you can’t quit because you can’t afford to! I wrote a blog post a few days ago about how I’m becoming a minimalist. I’m selling everything I own to travel the world. It feels awesome and liberating… but also so scary at the same time.
http://www.whereisjenny.com/2010/09/letting-go-of-everything-and-becoming-a-minimalist/
Wow! Just checked out your blog. I’m very inspired…if not a tad jealous!
Great post! Minimalism changes my life for the better every day, the more that I embrace it. I hope that neophytes will embrace your invitation and come join the party!
Thank you for the invitation, Joshua. I’ve definitely changed a great deal over the past few years, beginning with awareness. My eyes are much more open to the messages that our society bombards us with and how I don’t have to buy into them anymore. I’m moving slowly, step by step towards a more minimalist existence. I’ll come to the party, but for now, lurk about the fringes whilst I continue to work on getting my minimalist groove on.
I’m glad I accepted the invitation I offered to myself. The trick is to continue accepting it every day. I try to make everything I do a party, and it works for me most days.
Thanks for a fun and simple post. Good job.
Gip
I really think that the invitation to value life is so important! People get caught up with wanting and aquiring and then taking care of and paying for all their ‘stuff’ that it is difficult to enjoy, much less value life!
I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about our wonderful American Dream!
http://bernicewood.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/ahh-the-american-dream/
I accept the invitation!
Bernice
I think minimalism in many ways actually INVITES uncertainty.
If your day is not filled up with working to own stuff, what will you do with your time? If you don’t have tons of “possible” things to do in your home (TV, books, computers, hobbies, video games), what will you do when you’re bored? If you don’t go shopping with friends or your mother, what will you do instead?
You’ll do what’s important…to you. But if the only important thing has been to accumulate, to work and buy, work and buy? If you get rid of that? Then what?
I’ve been researching minimalism after hearing a story about it on NPR a few weeks back. Since being laid off, I’ve been on a forced march on the road to minimalism after spending years in the valley of materialism. Selling/donating these things that overflow my rooms and closets has been extremely liberating. I can say that the road is difficult since I live in one of the capitals of material excess, but the journey feels good. I just need to stay alert and not fall prey to the siren song of the bigger/better/faster/next generation item that may lure me back down into the valley.
Thanks for the shout out Joshua.
You hit on exactly why there aren’t more minimalists right here: “actually attending the party is something completely different” – When I talk to people face to face and somehow it comes up that I own almost nothing the response is usually surprise. “Wow, that sounds amazing! I could never do that.” To which I respond “Yes, you can.” But most people would rather not accept the invitation. It’s easier to go through the same old motions instead of making positive life changes.
That said, with awesome people such as yourself blazing trails and making it known how beneficial it is to be minimalist, lives will be changed. Like you mentioned above in a response to Faith, “slowly and patiently.” :)
Salem, (you know thats what I call you.) I hope Vermont is treating you well. My life transformation to living a minimalistic is almost been a full year. You once again have changed my life for the better. Another red bench, front porch experience with you friend. I can’t wait for more.
Ps. You know my friend Robin Devine Charles, she and I go way back and great person to have on your team. Thx u2!
Thank you for this invitation! It is an invitation my husband & I have offered to ourselves in many was as we slowly, but surely are transforming our lives from more is draining, to abundance with less. I’ve been reading Becoming Minimalist for a while now, and always turn away greatly inspired and the points of this invitation close to heart and mind.
I’d post this to my Facebook page if it had a ‘share’ button for Facebook!
I had one back in the day, but removed it with the redesign.
You can always cut and paste the web address.
Excellent post. All we can do is try to have our homes and lives be good examples of minimalism and simplicity, so others can see what they’re missing out on and get rid of all the stress in their lives, too!
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