The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. It is friendly, encouraging, and helpful. There is a genuine understanding that any promotion of simplicity is good for society—and there is little concern over who gets the credit for it.
It is a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful group of people. And I enjoy every opportunity to promote writing that encourages people to live more by owning less. So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. Find a quiet moment this weekend. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today.
Why We Humblebrag About Being Busy | Harvard Business Review by Greg McKeown. We have a problem—and the odd thing is we not only know about it, we’re celebrating it.
How to Live a Happy Life | TIME by Eric Barker. Research shows that savoring—really taking the time to appreciate good things—is one of the secrets of the happiest people.
Searching for Happiness | Medium by J. D. Andre. Don’t make your happiness (and peace, and contentment) reliant on something you need to change or acquire, because there will always be something that you need to change or acquire.
Let’s start a revolution – by axing our personal debt | The Guardian by Alex Andreou. Don’t buy one thing you don’t really need today. Certainly, don’t buy it with borrowed money. Rinse and repeat tomorrow.
You’re Not Giving Yourself Enough Credit | Storyline by Joshua Becker. In the end, our lives are not measured by the accomplishments. They are measured by the little steps and decisions we make every day.
Image: Markus Spiske
I just read this article this morning. Thought I would share…
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/rest-because-you-can
Awesome and so true. Thanks for sharing!
I’m curious how you feel about the term “essentialist,” at least as it pertains to sustainable minimalism. Is it just semantics, or do you think McKeown is talking about a group nearer to the Freegan end of the spectrum?
When I began my journey to less, I started taking a picture of what I though I ‘needed’ and captioned it’s price underneath. By leaving it there but documenting the price I have been able to see how much money I have saved!! Not to mention my sanity :) It feels so much better to have less ‘stuff’!!
I don’t feel compelled to always take a pic now, because I have seen both the financial and mental benefit. But every once in a while I still do! ~Megan
http://meaningfulmommy.wordpress.com/
A few weeks ago I was asked a standard conversation question: “are you keeping busy?” I answered “no.” This answer brought a surprised look to my friend’s face, and he could only follow by saying, “really?” I continued by saying that “I’m the least busy that I’ve ever been in my adult life.” Keep in mind that I do work a full time job, I have a wife, a two year old daughter, and friends.
The person I was telling this to was sincerely concerned for me, as if not being busy was a problem. I tried, in the short time I had, to explain that this wasn’t a problem. But he didn’t get it. At the end of the conversation he gave me a serious look and said, “I hope things pick up for you.” Some people, good people even, don’t have a category of unbusy.
I have had similar issues with my mother in law over the last 37 years. For me a great productive day could be working my fingers to the bone in the garden or sitting curled up on the sofa all day reading a book or lovingly polishing my grandmother’s silver for a couple of hours or sitting on the deck dozing and watching the birds. She only sees ‘producing’ an item like sewing or crafting some item or getting paid for your time at a job are the only things of value to do with your time. Reading is useless as is bird watching or sitting thinking about something. She of course thinks I am rather a waste!!! In turn I feel sincerely sorry for her and her busywork life. .I have very little stress as does my husband and we are very healthy. She has all sorts of health issues for decades as well as depression and resentment of almost everyone else’s choices and is spending her declining years in a bad place. While our lives are getting simpler and simpler and more and more content.
I visited a dear friend this week, she is in the throes of clutter, albeit totally cute, artsy, creative, still clutter…and buying more. What a reminder of me just a couple of years ago. I spoke to her a couple of times about your site and the efforts I’ve made and planning to do more…whoosh! Went right past her, she is not ready, may never be…but spending a few days there made me so grateful to come home to less. AND, more determined to get busy de-owning once again. Thank you.
I totally did it yesterday – I put down the mug I wanted to buy in the store. It was so cute, it was “only” $7, we were visiting a historic place, it was July 4th – many, many excuses were in my mind but I asked myself “do you NEED another mug?” as I thought about all the mugs stuffed in my cupboard and I put it down (picked it up 4 more times but kept putting it down). Walked out without a mug! :) Thanks for inspiring me!