Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Allison Fallon.
It started about four years ago, my journey with minimalism. I was single at the time, living in Portland, Oregon.
Looking back, I don’t think I would have called it minimalism. But I would have told you that, at some point, I looked around my life and realized I had collected a lot of stuff and that I would never really be able to pursue what mattered most to me if I wasn’t able to let go of my physical possessions.
Actually, I would have emphasized, it wasn’t just my possessions, but the way I thought about them.
At first, I resisted this notion. I worried giving up my stuff would make me seem flighty and immature, and I especially worried that would mean I would never get married. I was in my late twenties at the time and I was convinced no guy would take me seriously without a good job and a house full of nice things. This was just one of the many toxic thoughts that was keeping me trapped.
Meanwhile, in another part of the country, my now-husband was on his own journey with minimalism. Though we didn’t know each other yet, he was realizing, like I was, that his physical possessions weren’t doing for him what he thought they would. And he was challenging himself to let them go.
By the time we met each other, we were knee-deep in questions about how life was meaningful beyond our physical stuff.
We were prepared, in this really beautiful way, to continue asking those questions together.
For the past several years, my husband and I have been experimenting. I say “experimenting” because it has been a process for us to figure out how much stuff is too much stuff, how much is too little, and where a healthy balance lies for us in each different season. But the most beautiful part of this journey is this: even when we’ve erred on one side or the other, the journey has been incredibly rewarding.
We’ve lost a lot of stuff along the way, but we don’t miss it.
Here’s what we’ve gained:
1. Peace of mind.
I didn’t realize how much I worried about my stuff until I let it all go, and suddenly I had mental and emotional energy again. It’s a similar feeling to letting go of bitterness you’ve been harboring for a long time. You don’t even realize you are holding it, and then you let it go, and suddenly realize—you’re free.
This is how it has felt to let go of my stuff. At first, the idea (like forgiveness) seems horrific. How could I give up these clothes, or these fancy pillows, or this box of letters?! They were so important to me. But then, I let them go, and after six months, I could hardly remember why I ever needed them so much. I found so much peace in letting go.
2. Impulse control.
If you would have asked me five years ago, I would have told you ‘impulse aisles’ were designed for people just like me. How I said it would have been important, too (“just like me”) because I assumed that I was just the “type” of person who didn’t have control over her impulses. Little did I know that having control over my impulses wasn’t an issue of personality or temperament, but of discipline.
Ever since I stopped buying stuff, the most amazing thing has happened. I have walk-away power. I can walk into Target, or to a grocery store, and only buy the things I need, or walk out empty-handed if they don’t have what I was looking for. I know that sounds simple, but it translates to a sense of control over much bigger areas of my life as well.
3. Health and happiness.
I’m actually healthier and happier since I’ve lived with less stuff. Probably because I sleep more, work less, and feel less stress about money.
4. Freedom to pursue my dreams.
In the past few years I’ve been able to pursue the things that really matter to me because I’m not bogged down by things like car payments, a job I hate (but that pays my bills); and because I’m not so attached to my physical possessions that I’m unwilling to put them in a storage unit for a couple of months, or ditch them and get different ones later.
For me, this has meant I’ve been able to travel, write a book, develop friendships, spend more time with my husband, work on projects I care about, and spend time at a non-profit in my area that gives me joy and satisfies my spirit. What could this kind of freedom mean for you?
5. A more nuanced understanding of “responsibility.”
I used to think I couldn’t give up most of what I owned—and I certainly couldn’t quit my full-time job—because it wouldn’t be “responsible.” But as I began to give up my possessions, I realized that I had a really skewed view of what responsibility was and what it meant. I thought buying a certain kind of laundry detergent was more “responsible” than buying another.
What I’m learning is that responsibility looks different for everyone, and that part of being responsible is knowing how to care for your spiritual and emotional self, which transcend the physical. What if part of being “responsible,” in other words, is listening to your spirit when it tells you, each morning as you drive to work, or as you look at the clutter in your house, that it is suffocating?
6. Extra cash.
I used to think I barely made enough money to pay my bills. I lived pretty much paycheck to paycheck. But it’s amazing how much room we found in our budget when we realized we could live without cable, internet, or gym memberships. We also share a car (that we own outright) and don’t have any credit cards.
The exact decisions we’ve made wouldn’t work for everyone, but what we’ve learned is that there is often room in our budgets we didn’t realize was there, and when we gave up the things we didn’t really want in the first place, we were able to collect invaluable experiences we never would have been able to afford otherwise.
7. Once in a lifetime experiences.
We’re always trying to curate experiences, so we travel all the time—to conferences, to weddings, to vacations, or just to visit friends. When one of us goes on a work trip, the other often comes. We love to try new restaurants, explore new places, and be generous with friends. We host people at our apartment in Nashville often, and sometimes even fly friends in. We spend money on classes, books, and experiments.
We take a small part of our paychecks each month and set it aside to curate experiences that will be memorable. We never regret spending money on experience.
8. Courage.
It’s amazing how scared I was when my life was centered around all of my stuff. I would actually have recurring nightmares about my stuff (which my dad, who is a clinical psychologist, assures me was about more than just physical stuff, but about what physical stuff represented to me). Regardless, I can hardly believe I created such a sense of security around physical possessions.
Since I gave up my stuff, I’m amazed at the sense of courage I’ve found.
Because my stuff does not define me, I am able to take more risks for things that really matter.
9. A developed sense of self.
For a long time I thought that what I owned said something about me, and maybe in a way, it does. But the way I felt like it said something about me was this: If I owned a couch from Pottery Barn, that meant I had really made it. When I could stop buying my furniture at IKEA, then I’d really be an adult.
Now, that thought seems so ludicrous to me (and sad, and demeaning). But I think what I felt was that what I owned was a reflection of my self-worth. And now, thanks to the fact that I don’t have a couch from Pottery Barn, and never have, my self worth comes from somewhere much deeper and more secure. You can’t put a price on that.
10. Better relationships.
It’s no surprise that with more courage, a better understanding of myself (my real self), less anxiety, more freedom and greater discipline that my relationships have improved dramatically. My friendships are richer and more satisfying. I fight with my husband less. I’m less likely to end up in a toxic relationship that steals all of my energy. It’s easier for me to let silly things go that don’t matter—because I understand what matters now.
My life isn’t perfect, but I’m happier than I’ve ever been, more satisfied than I ever was before. I would never go back.
***
Allison Fallon inspires and encourages others to live with less. She is definitely worth following on Twitter.
I just hate having loads of stuff. I have stopped buying things now and am decluttering bit by bit .i feel overwhelmed with too much stuff and love the feeling of getting rid
I’VE been minimalizing my home for years, even before I joined your forum. I live in a 1,000 sq ft home, 2 bedrooms and 2 tiny bathrooms. No basement or garage, so it’s crucial that I keep items to a minimum. I have your books and follow your posts,
But like many people, I wonder about your income from all of this.
I’m sure selling us your strategies has increased your income substantially. You do have great ideas, I agree with that. Thank You
Joshua, Allison,
This guest post by Allison is really what I need to boost my journey towards Essentialism/Minimalism. I read it and find many common emotions and perceptions about the relationship I have with my possessions.
Hi Allison :-) Thank you so much for writing this post! My husband and I are pursuing minimalism together. I used to be a huge shopper and pack rat. Over the past 4 years, we’ve been slowly decluttering. But, for me – #4 (freedom) really hits home. We have been inching out of the rat race and realize that the less we need, the less money that needs to be made in my business = less stress overall. It’s so freeing. Oh, and impulse control (#2) — I can’t tell you how ah-mazing it feels to hear you talk about being able to walk out of Target empty-handed :) I was pretty sure I was the only one who felt this way as I’ve not found anyone else – until now – who gets what an incredible step this is.
Thanks for the post and all the replies. About once a year I would take a ‘clearing out’ spell so I have never been a hoarder. My sister-in-law called me a minimalist. Far from that! The post touched on the behavior that was doing me in. “Impulse aisles”or, in my case, “clearance aisles”! A sucker for a bargain whether I needed it or not. Thrift stores and yard sales, oh, my! I gave up yard sales because my truck was too big for easy parking. Proud of myself because that was a REAL sacrifice! Slowly, I began to get the message about ‘stuff’ and how it can eat away at so many areas of one’s life. Still have a way to go but this and other blogs are keeping me motivated.
In one of the comments to this post, another ‘gem’ hit me right between the eyes. “Forgive yourself for past choices and behaviors.” Wow! What a revelation to me! This is my upper-most need. Working more now on ME and my way of seeing ‘stuff’.
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Well written intro to the joy of living minimally however I would challenge the reader to a different POV. Is it really ALL about me? This 58 year young minimalist is living in a 500 SF studio (NOTHING in storage either) on $22k a year (after paying college tuition and funding my 401k). This single mom is cheerfully helping my daughter get through BSN program (Jr this year) without my daughter having to go into debt taking on student loans. Love this lifestyle as it prompts me to hold loosely the things of this world. My life motto is: Love God. Live Simply. Serve Others.
My husband and I have been on the cleaning out scaling back for at least 6 months. We have slowly let go of “stuff” the more we do the easier it gets. I just recently changed my wardrobe to black pants and blazer every day, all i have to choose is the color top and shoes and maybe a scarf, mornings are so much easier. I feel we can breathe better and so can our house. We actually thought the house may float away since we started purging! We now have time for things we enjoy like art he is a woodworker and I make jewelry. We have more together time as we are not separated by “stuff”, cleaning the house takes a lot less time now. If I think of a new purchase I have to decide if it is work the hours I will have to work to pay for it, usually it is not! Our journey continues!
Thanks for all the great posts & guest posts on your site.
I think I struggle most with the self-worth. I am concerned that other people will think less of me and consider that I haven’t ‘made it’ if, as a 40-something, I don’t own champagne glasses or dinner sets or more than two towels. Therefore, donating my glassware and chinaware seems to be ridiculously difficult (especially as we rarely entertain people anyway). I must develop my self-worth so that I know other people are appreciating me, not my ‘stuff’.
The reason to own champagne glasses and China is if you enjoy using them – whether for your personal family meals or by having parties. If that’s the case then having them is a blessing. Otherwise, there is nothing magical about hitting a certain age and having certain things. Just let your 40s be YOUR perfect version of your 40s.
And nobody will know what you do or don’t own unless you invite them into your private space. Those you let in, should love you just as you are. ;-)
A reply to Pat: when I cleared out a three-bedroom house a couple of years ago, and became a webworking nomad (I’m a journalist), some of the hardest things to part with were clothes that had cost me a lot (but I no longer wore and certainly wouldn’t take traveling in Asia). No-one was interested in buying them, so I put them in a box with a few other things and left them with a friend. It was only last year when a friend was organising a bring-and-buy sale for a cancer charity that I finally let them go. I was so relieved when I finally accepted that it didn’t matter that I had spent that much money on them and was just giving them away. All the better, actually; they must have made a good few quid for the charity. :-)
P.S. from Annette. I am still a bit stuck on shoes. Have left several pairs of shoes behind in a box in Europe and am finding it tough to let them go. Some of them I do need when I go back to visit, but others are just sitting there. I’ve learned, though, not to beat myself up about that. It’s all a process, and it’s very little compared with what I used to have and, you never know, I may need to go to a special event like a wedding when I am in Europe and may just need those lovely little black ones! :-)
Bravo to you! Courage and bravery lead to happiness with less!
My husband and I are 60 years old and we like Ikea. We are also trying to minimize our possessions–I want a smaller house with no stairs! It is amazing the amount of stuff we have accumulated in 27 years in this house.
I’m 72 and just leaving a 4-bedroom house to move into a spacious ground floor apartment. I’m beginning to think I’d like to get rid of all my large, older furniture and start afresh with Ikea! One example of my challenges is a HUGE bedroom suite which cost $3,600 in 1989 and now I can hardly get anyone to take it off my hands! My daughter just literally cleaned house and with the exception of a few favourite pieces of furniture, will start from scratch when she returns from a a year of adventuring in Mexico. I wish I had that courage to simply start over. Thanks for the encouragement.
My advice is to write down your ideal day in your ideal home living your ideal life. For example:
i will grab one of my four matching mugs in my unstuffed cabinet and pour my coffee while I glance over the headlines on my iPad (or paper or tv or whatever!). I will sit on my comfy small sofa and glance up and out at the feeder to see what birds the morning has brought. My clean windows are have no dusty musty drapes or curtains to worry about and the warm sun is streaming through them brightening the room…”
Or just walk about your day and think like this though I think writing some of it down is the best because when you are demotivated or stuck you can refer to it over and over and recapture your ‘dream life’ easier….
You need to be able to imagine what your life would both look and especially FEEL like if you de owed your stuff.
And your kids do NOT really want every bit of macaroni art they made and may toss the lot of it if you give it to them. Which is fine really -it their stuff. Or it will become a burden to them which you surely do not want either right?
If you are really concerned or stuck take a day and pick one to three special items from each year of their childhood and make a box of it for each child and spend the money to ship it to each of them. With only a few things from each year the box will be small. This way they may actually look at those items and enjoy them instead of of shoving them in the cellar or the trash. My son in law’s mother saved everything he ever made and every school paper. When she was in the hospital recently for surgery he went into the basement and he and his dad threw every single tub into the trash ( and the neighbors donated trash space for them as well!) She was told he moved it to their attic because she would have been furious. But no matter the burden was lifted from the son and from his dad!
Thank you so much for this article. You are so blessed to have made your discoveries at such a young age! But I am also blessed to have discovered this new way of living at the ripe old age of almost 67! The rest of my life will be more full of courage, freedom, and peace than ever before. I am so looking forward to it.
I am a beginner on the journey. My biggest “stuck” place is my kids’ stuff — boxes and boxes of school projects, books, papers, drawings… I live 7,000 miles from my family and I look at those boxes and burst into tears. But I KNOW that when they are gone, I’ll be so relieved. And I will live in a smaller place. And maybe I’ll even save enough money to visit them sometimes! And then that grieving will be transformed into tears of joy!
I wish many blessings for each person who lives or wants to live simply, at peace with themselves and their world.
Lay out all the school papers and art works and photograph them! You can make a photo collage or on small little book from shutterfly or some other photo app. And possibly keep one special item from each child.
ALeen Smith, we are the same age and both face similar issues with kid’s mementoes. I’ve lived in the same house for 4 1/2 decades. I figure, with each item I am able to get rid of, it will be that much more room for the family to visit and one less thing they will have to deal with when I take my final journey. I keep returning to each new pared down space with a big grin on my face and love how easy it is to clean. Good luck!
I haven’t started minimizing yet, but one of the reasons I save things is that things jog my memory of a person, time or event. I think what I will do is when I get rid of something, I’ll write down the memory in a journal, so that I can still jog my memory when reading the journal.
Or take a picture to help your memory.
Hi, Pat, I too have been going through my stuff; stockpiling duplicates and items I don’t need or no longer want to hold onto. I am now at the same place you are, feeling that I should have a garage sale to recoup some of the money spent. I have asked a good friend and a family member to join me in a garage sale because past experience shows that larger sales attract more people and it’s easier when you can help each other. Unfortunately it’s just not a priority for them even though they proclaim how adamantly want to get rid of their stuff too. So I continue to stare at the stockpile without moving forward and it’s driving me nuts! I’ve decided to just consign a few collectibles, donate the rest to my church for the benefit of someone in need, and move forward.
Good luck and I wish you the best,
Linda
My mother is the queen of yardsaling and has taught me well. You’d be suprised how much return you can get on a small amount of stuff. 3 tips.
1. Make lots of signs and put them out the day before. Not a week before. Signs need your address, start time and end time,(6:30-12noon is ideal) arrows pointing people in the right direction.
2.price things to sell. People are looking for bargains! A yardsale item should not be more than 50% of retail.
3. Getting rid of the item is more important than what uou get for it.As the day goes on lower your asking price but dont take less than a dollar for anything except…
3. In the last hour give people a bag or box and let them fill it for five dollars.
**Nothing in the yardsale is aloud back in the house. Donate right away!
Linda, thanks for the words of encouragement. My life sounds like a mirror image of what you’ve described.
i have been decluttering for the last few months but things have come to a halt. I have been donating or trashing the excess, but lately I have been feeling like I should be selling alot of it instead. It would be nice to make money, but I really don’t want the hassle of having a garage sale. I’m not into ebay or craigslist. So I feel stuck. I want to get rid of things, but I feel guilty if I do and not get some money back on my stuff. This standstill is very frustrating.
I know that feeling of wanting to make some money back-particularly on expensive items. I have found it is a relief to have gotten rid of it rather than hang on to something that I don’t know how to sell quickly. Once I tried to give away a large item, but it was too big and no one wanted it in the week I needed it gone. I was ready to pay someone to take it. I found a consignment shop that came and picked it up for me and even paid a small amount of money. I try to think of the items in terms of how much use I’ve gotten out of them. I got my money’s worth, and now it’s time to let it go. Blessing someone else with it is also a joy! :) Let it all go! You will be so relieved and enjoy filling the space with what you love or enjoying more space to breathe!
This post is encouraging to me. Thank you.
Over the last 6 years since I’ve been widowed I have given away thousands of dollars worth of collectables gathered over our life together. I feel terribly guilty! But as you’ve said, I really don’t want to do garage sales, don’t want the hassle of Craig’s List or Kijiji, and would like to bless someone who could appreciate some of our fine things. I may just invite my church family to do a walk-through and take what they want!
I personally HATE to sell things. I find it awkward and uncomfortable and very inconvenient frankly. Luckily Ido not need to do it in order to eat or pay our bills. And I do clearly realize I am very very lucky in that respect.
But a look at it as a gift to charity – as part of my ‘giving back’ to peopl who aren’t so lucky. The items I donate to charity stores get sold and that money is then used to fund many things for those in need. Sure, a lot of the stuff bought in charity run thrift stores goes to well off people looking for a bargain but the money they pay is what counts. That money directly benefits people. ( I research my local charity thrifts pretty carefully to ensure this is so) I hope that makes you feel better about donating rather than selling it.
This is also very encouraging and I like the idea or church family doing a walk thru. I might have to seriously consider this!
This is encouraging and I like the idea or church family doing a walk thru. I might have to seriously consider this!
Inviting church family and friends to do a walk thru. Great idea!
I have found a battered women’s shelter in my community that has 2 garage sales a year. Items donated are used to help these women get back on their feet again. (They help the women get job and get into low income housing, so housewares and furniture are very appreciated) They sale anything donated to them that they could not use within that year and don’t have room to store. What’s left over goes on to another charity who has a garage sale of their own. Knowing that the items I’m donating will either A) be given to people who need them or B) be sold to help support the shelter and another charity, really helps me not feel bad about not making any $$ off the items. If it helps you, you can usually get the charity to give you a donation card that you can write off on your taxes.
P.S. You might also check with your local consignment shops. My MIL owns a women’s and children consigment shop. She supports the shelter I mentioned by selling the excess clothing they recieve and not taking a cut, but she will also let you bring your own things to her and have her give your commission to the shelter. She has several ladies who bring all their “fancy” things (things they know the women at the shelter can’t use, prom dresses, formal wear etc) to her and they have the proceeds donated to the shelter.
Hi Alison,
Thanks for sharing your journey with others, that others may learn and benefit. I enjoyed hearing your perspective on life and minimalism. Well done.
Like you, the past few years I’ve found that I don’t need “stuff” to fulfill me. I’ve realized I was created by God to be deeply satisfied in a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Now I live to love God and others, and possessions mean so little now in comparison.
Justin
I have read several articles similar to this one. They make me yearn for release from my stuff. I have tried over the past 2 years but, I REALLY have a hard time getting rid of my stuff.
I’ve heard all the little tricks; always have a box to put stuff in to give away, only have one of each thing, everytime you bring something in, get rid of something and on and on. These are great practical ideas but, I’ve got some kind of emotional/mental block. I think it has something to do with wasting money. I feel like if I get rid of something I don’t need, I’m admitting that I wasted money purchasing it in the first place.
I’m plodding along but, would love any help anyone might have to offer.
Hi Tami, I was inspired to respond to your comment as I think we all experience what you are experiencing to one degree or another.
My family and I started “going minimalist” last Spring. I can not tell you how life changing it has been so far. I have been reading about Joshua Becker’s experience; his insight and suggestions. The more I implement what he suggests, the more free I feel. The lighter I feel. The calmer I feel. I’m teaching my children the value of owning less. They want less now, and they are content with focusing on things they really love. As a family, we have more “room” to focus on each other.
You talked about your “mental block.” Living in the past; thinking about how you spent your money yesterday will only keep you from moving forward. I would ask yourself “do you WANT to move forward to a lighter, freer life?” and “what are you willing to do in order to move forward to the kind of life you want?” If you keep focusing on the past you will just stay stuck there. Forgive yourself of past behaviors. You are human. You are a work in progress. You have the opportunity to change NOW! It’s not too late.
I am not expert (just have life experience similar to what you are battling), but I think you must:
1. forgive yourself of past choices. You did the best you could. It’s ok! you are human. you are not perfect. no one is.
2. once you can let go of the choices you made in the past start thinking about what you want for yourself; what your vision is for your life?
3. Decide how you can make baby steps to the kind of life you want. Start with something that is easiest to let go. For example, I started with my wardrobe. I downsized my closet (clothes and shoes, scarves, belts, etc. exponentially.) I realized how many items I never wore. I thought, if I donate these clothes, someone with less money than I can benefit. It made me feel good knowing that someone who REALLY needs some of my clothes, will be happy to finally have clothes to keep them warm or make them feel happy. Some items I consigned on FB consignment pages local to my town, or to actual consignment stores in town.
4. Once you begin, it will be easier to continue. You will need breaks and you may stop in one area of the house and move to the other. Remember, you can store items you are not sure about letting go. The things you know for sure, let go as soon as possible. Once you have the feeling of letting go, you will start to understand the incredible gift of living with less.
Good luck and all the best!
Sarah
Sarah, thanks so much for your encouraging words to Tami! I’m going to work on your suggestions and your philosophy. Every time I come to this site I feel a tiny bit more prepared to begin letting go. A four-bedroom house with 25 years worth of possessions is a daunting prospect but I have to get started.
I, too, struggle with the perceived value of many of our possessions collected over the years and around the world. The reality is that many of these items may well be worth significant money but it’s REALLY hard to find anyone willing to pay it and take it off your hands! I’ve been working at it for six years since I lost my husband. I’ve given away thousands of dollars worth of collectables to our volunteer fire department yard sale; they put many of them in a silent auction and have made some good money for their support. But art work? Books? TABLECLOTHS, for goodness sake! I hardly know where to begin.
I think that if you are able to you can have some yard sales and use money to give to your favorite charities where you can still see the good that your money will do. Perhaps what you own could be used at a museum where others can enjoy these things. I think you should start small and eventually use all your things to be put to help worthy causes. You do not mention relatives but maybe you could have raffles and select items you would want them to have and raffle them off to them.
Great post, I really appreciate it as I am pretty much a minimalist myself. I am without really trying as I was never materialistic to begin with. I would just like to point out (something that is probably obvious to most of you) that a minimalist can’t truly be a minimalist if they have not read “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau. He did the experiment to the extreme, and it turns out you really do not need very much to be living life fully. In fact he argues that most people are a slave to their homes and possessions, and it is true today just as much as it was back then.
Thank you for this timely reminder to revisit Thoreau.
My husband and I live very simply throughout the year. We save and travel twice a year abroad to experience another part of the world and the culture that comes with it. We have many friends and family that are critical of our decision to invest in experiences and travel. For the last 10 years, we have never regreted it.
Tracey
You are singing my song! Everything you noted is exactly how I have felt for the last year! Thank you for validating my experience! Less is really more.
I like the way of life! I try to live simple life already 7 years. it is really good for me! Try and you will see!
The most important thing you must remember: The mind is everything. What you think, you become.
At age 65 we furnished our new apartment from IKEA. Apparently, that’s what grownup minimalists do. :)
Linda, I am so happy to have read that.We are downsizing to a 16 x 24 foot cabin in the woods, and I want to do it in light woods and minimal as possible, with a Scandinavian feel.I can’t afford expensive furniture, and have always loved Ikea.I will be 54 this week.I must be a grown up minimalist too!
Linda Sand, That’s what we plan to do when we move back across the country to AZ next year as well. ( we are 59 and 61)! No more rooms full of heavy ‘family’ furniture hauled around through a half dozen other moves. The vast majority is either going to ‘the daughter’ and her husband if they want any or to the thrift store! Light casual bright furniture we can move around without worry about our backs!!
It may not be the most ecological will admit, but I have used ‘used’ family pieces for 38 years so perhaps I can be marginally forgiven. Also we will be buying less pieces because we are planning to buy a smaller footprint house. I don’t have a lot of knickknacks and have always been minimalist in my clothing and storage but still you aquire a lot of stuff for entertaining family when you live nearby. Just reducing the glassware will be a breath of fresh air after our last summer pool party next year! I cannot envision 29 family members all visiting at once from across the country!! I will keep eight of everything and no more.
An encouraging story as I am in the process of becoming the minimalist I was when in my teens and twenties. Something happened between then and now and I became tangled with meaningless possessions, and obligations. Recently my husband and I have been simplifying our material possessions to enable us to travel and move house readily. The feeling is liberating. It helps to read stories by minimalists to keep me on track.
Lovely, gentle post from Allison. Thanks so much, Joshua, for searching reads like this out for the rest of us. I liked the progression of Allison’s story.
Excellent and very interesting post, thank you. I am working on decluttering my home and it is going well. One thing I find more difficult is my craft stuff, being creative gives me great joy, but I am a craft butterfly and am always trying new things, then cycling round to my other craft interests, so this stock piles a lot of stuff, which I would not want to have to keep buying each time I need it. Not sure how or if I can declutter much in this area of my life. Does anyone else have experience of this area? Thanks
Hi Jane,
I took your post to mean that you might not be ready to give away certain craft supplies altogether, as you are reasonably confident that you’d cycle back to certain crafts in time. My mum-in-law is part of a crafter’s guild, and the members take it upon themselves to share skills, tools, and supplies with one another. I have been given a stunning, airy, wool shawl created by a knitter from Finland (never seen this technique before – amazing!), as well as a beautiful purse, and a quirky doll, all created by her guild members. I am a minimalist, but these are works of art and have an honored place in my life. My mum-in-law said that it’s sometimes hard to “catch and release :-)” cherished craft supplies, but when she sees what a fellow crafter does with the raw materials, using a technique that she has never seen before, she really cherishes the knowledge that what she gets from the guild is ever so much more than what she gives. This generous group of artists also sell their work and donate the proceeds to charity. If you aren’t near an organized guild, maybe you can create one with likeminded people around you? The members of my mum-in-law’s guild take turns hosting meet-ups in their homes, so it can be done in a low-key way. They also organize meet-ups with other guilds that have members with unusual skills that are willing to teach their technique. The only way to use those supplies is to use them, if you know what I mean, and you honor your creativity when you are generous with what you make. Good luck!
Mary
I have conquered my craft area by limiting my supplies to one trunk. I sew, crochet, and do various diy projects. I had a container with extra fabric and mending projects. I set out to make a plan for the fabric and use it within 6 months otherwise it must go. Its easy to get carried away as a crafter. Set a boundary like one container or shelf, if it exceeds that area you know its time to prioritize.
I’m in this situation now, as a lifetime crafter moving out of a house I’ve lived in since 1989! I’ve done every craft known to woman and have accumulated all the toys to go with each new endeavour. I’m moving into a much smaller space and am really struggling with getting rid of things like hardcover books on watercolour for example, in case I decide to get back at it. I’ve held onto my carving supplies; gave all my stained glass and mosaic supplies to my son because I knew I’d never have the space for that craft again. Books? Bird ID books from a dozen countries, underwater reef fish, coral, plants ID books, craft books. I’m so overwhelmed with this task and yet I have to begin right now!
I really like and follow this always..
just wanted to ask.. what type of work is suitable for us minimalist spirituals.?
i have left a job as an Asst. professor undergoing certain set of realisations.
stockboy/grocery clerk in a grocery store – little responsibility, lots of social interaction and a chance to help lighten heavy loads ;)
I enjoyed the read! Thanks for sharing!
I loved your point about ‘Courage’. I absolutely agree with that. The courage to live a different way from the people around you – the courage to repeatedly say ‘no’ to more stuff, more closet space, more house, more car, whatever. I have to constantly battle with my parents so that I can live a minimalist life – they came from nothing, so they want me to have everything. Weirdly enough, I am happy with a little. But it requires constant courage to keep on saying ‘No, I am happy with what I have.’ Thank you for this post.
I always like reading your posts! :)
The best thing I’ve learned is to not “stock up”. We’ve had free meals this week as I’ve cleaned out my cupboards looking for things to use up. I have no more than a month’s supply of anything. There is so little we need.
This is so true!!! I found that I actually save a lot of money by buying the quantities I need instead of buying large quantities with a lower unit price. I found that when I was constantly doing this, my grocery bills were larger every single week. It doesn’t seem to me that I was actually saving any money. And the space I have saved from not storing all of that stuff waiting to be used is fantastic! Buying the quantities I need has saved me money and space.
I gained a greater sense of appreciation of my home when I gave up tons of my possessions. Rather than seeing “just stuff” I can actually see the architecture of the house.
Such a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing your story. I can absolutely relate with developing a sense of self once I detached from ‘things’ and ‘items.’ Keep shining your light! Love it!!
I really like this post. It illustrates beautifully how de-cluttering your material world can give you a sense of liberation from all your issues around owning things. I’m trying to be more minimalist in my day-to-day life by keeping as few clothes as I need in my wardrobe, and only buying the bare minimum of food that I know I will definitely eat.
I’ve been through a process of de-stuffing my flat too, by giving a lo of things such as surplus clothes to clothes banks and charity shops. My policy is to repair t-shirts if the wear and tear is minimal, and to buy shoes that I know experience will last.
A very inspiring story! Thank you for sharing here.
I found your page one day. That day my live changed. And my husband and me decided to change our style life (with to kids 5 and 8) . We live in Norway. We are latin people who have been living in diferent countries. And really after I almost passed away last year, I thought about change my life and I saw your experiences by “casuality”.
Thank you very much for share it! I have a question: Do you have pictures BEFORE/AFTER of your house or bedrooms or something? To have an idea how much your live changed with kids? I was looking in youtube, but I only saw Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus. They are also fantastic examples. But they don’t have a family with kids, so they don’t have pictures of a family. Share your experience with some pictures could be fantastic. Thank you. Alejandra
Welcome to the minimalist family! Joshua’ s website is fantastic. All of the articles here are very inspiring! Another great blog with photos and youtube videos is Light by Coco. Also try Courtney Carver’s blog Be More With Less. Good luck to you!
Tracey