“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson
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. It is a counter-cultural 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.
Searching for Happiness | Medium by J. D. Andre. Once you put your happiness on the the other side of tomorrow, you will always put your happiness on the other side of tomorrow.
Reclaiming Our (Real) Lives From Social Media | The New York Times by Nick Bilton. Am I more enriched as a human being after a couple of hours spent on Facebook? Maybe, but probably not.
A Diet of Distraction | Unfiltered by Melissa Camara Wilkins. Newer doesn’t mean better. Newer doesn’t mean more important.
Report Confirms No Need To Make New Chairs For The Time Being | The Onion. “As far as chairs go, we’re basically set.”
How Little Can You Get Away With? | Minimal Mac by Patrick Rhone. My bet is, you will be amazed at how little you can get away with to achieve what you really need.
Image: Moebius Arts
So thankful for these posts you do – love the content!
Heey, I’m so glad I remembered to go through my bookmarks, I haven’t been on here since forever! Great choice of with-coffee readings. :)
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for posting this, Joshua. I appreciate the work you are doing! I especially liked the article “Searching for Happiness”…it reminded me of a recent article I wrote entitled “Joy! If Not Now, When?” (here’s a link: http://ow.ly/znaHM )
I have shared your website with my network!
Blessings,
Mark
Loved the chair report! I’m sure our seating situation is much the same here in Australia :-) I’m on the lookout for two barstools so it’s reminded me to look at pre-loved options before store-bought.
So loved the digital distraction articles too. I’ve taken Facebook off my phone (again) and it makes a huge difference. While I’d like to get off entirely, I haven’t yet found a better way to keep up with overseas family or sharing kiddie pics with them. For now it’s enough that I am (mostly) intentional in my Facebook use. However, when I catch myself stalking the photo album of a complete stranger who made an interesting comment on a photo from a page I’m following and has a cool haircut… It’s time to turn off!!
Looking forward to my kids naps and a mid afternoon cup of tea tomorrow, thanks!
Although I’m gonna have to read the Onion before bed… LOL!
I love reading your blog. Your words have helped me on my own journey to simplicity, thank you.
Melina xo
Thanks for these! Nick Bilton’s idea about “giving up chasing dangling digital carrots” really resonates with me. There’s a place for digital wandering, I think, but it can so easily eat up our margins until there’s no unscheduled thought time left in a day.
I look forward to these posts every Saturday morning before everyone is awake while I drink my coffee and have 1 hour of quiet time to myself. :)
Searching for happiness … just convicted me.
“Once you put your happiness on the the other side of tomorrow, however, you will always put your happiness on the other side of tomorrow.”
Ain’t that the truth. Now I have something practical to work on — to try putting my happiness on this side of tomorrow. Today, and in the present.
Appreciate the mention and link to Melissa’s post on Unfiltered as well!