Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.
The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.
For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encourage more simplicity in your life.
Ownership Isn’t Real, We Rent This Life | Frugaling by Sam Lustgarten. We are simply temporary custodians—holders—of physical objects that we lug around.
I Achieved the American Dream—and It Was Awful | Yahoo by Darlena Cunha. I’m still suffering from that old American Dream.
The Anti-Bucket List | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. Life isn’t a big todo list. The most amazing things are right in front of us, right where we are.
Minimalist Living: When a Lot Less Is More | TIME by Josh Sanburn. A lifestyle of owning just the essentials has a small but passionate following among millennials.
michelle says
you write so beautifully. i am inspired by your blog.
kquotes says
Thank you Joshua for all of your posts and inspiration! These short articles are great coffee reads to inspire! I look forward to your articles every day for inspiration on my own blog and going-minimalist journey! love quotes
Shraddha says
Hi Joshua,
Even though I have never commented on your or any other minimalist blog but I cant tell you how much an impact you are on my life.. My story 6 months ago and today is so much different and am doing so good.. suddenly it seems that i can take control over my life .. the real life examples and the well written posts give a lot of strength and inspiration to work towards a simple and peaceful life.. Thanks Joshua.. Just wanted to tell you that you are doing an AWESOME job of rescuing lives of people who sometimes feel lost in all this meaningless persuit.. like me.. I never felt at ease in the race that people surrounding us try to call life.. Thanks to you now I know that there is an other form of life possible to live .. and its okay to be different.. :) Thank you.. :)
Olivia says
Thank you Joshua for all of your posts and inspiration! These short articles are great coffee reads to inspire! I look forward to your articles every day for inspiration on my own blog and going-minimalist journey!
Maude says
Very well-put! I have been a minimalist for 5 years now. It’s a day-to-day lifestyle choice that is always a work-in-progress but it’s one that is fulfilling. Consumerism is exhausting and seemingly unending. The choice of minimalism is a quiet reprieve from that busy-ness. Thanks again for your post!
David says
I changed the B in my Bucket List to an F. I feel much better now.
Jeffrey Pillow says
Thanks for passing along the Fulfillment Daily link and website. I think I have found one of my new favorite blogs. I’m a science guy.
Also, I read Leo’s anti-bucket list post earlier this week, and I have to say, I’d never looked at it from that perspective. As someone who has never created or added any items to a bucket list (other than to write a few novels before I die), I found his insight refreshing.
Thank you again for gathering up weekly links. I miss the days when blogs used to share outgoing links with readers more frequently or even, gasp, have blog rolls. With all the SEO nausea, a lot of websites and blogs have become too obsessed with in-site page views and tunes, and have forgotten the community aspect of blogging.