Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.
Encouragement provides us with motivation to persevere. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.
Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.
Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.
When One Person’s ‘Gift’ is Another’s Junk | Globe and Mail by David Eddie. My sister-in-law always expects a hostess gift. Am I obligated to keep bringing her junk?
The Most Relaxing Vacation You Can Take is Going Nowhere at All | Quartzy by Ephrat Livni. The only kind of break that doesn’t require a follow-up vacation is the type you should consider in the first place—the staycation.
I Used to Be Knickknack Obsessed—and Then I Moved Into a Van | Architectural Digest by Britany Robinson. My van is my weekend escape vehicle, but it’s already taught me some important lessons about simple living and the very small amount of crap that I need to be comfortable.
A couple of time ago i saw on the news a Japanese guy who sold almost everything he has on his apartment. He only kept a few clothes, a dish and some forks, spoons, and knifes. Can’t remember exactly… but the idea was that what he does was taken to the extreme. Minimalist we like, but not at such an extreme level.
These weekend round ups were an integral part of my path to simplify and take back my life.
Imagine my absolute JOY when I saw one of my posts shared this week.
Joshua, it’s an honour to be on your amazing site and thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of it!
Thanks for sharing this! This is my first look at your website and I’m definitely inspired..I’m a sentimental hoarder for sure, environmentally & mentally! I guess organised clutter is the right phrase but your tips inspire me to get myself de-cluttered; for my mind also. Minimalism would probably work wonders on my anxiety :-)
I’m in Northern California right now. I live in an area that has been hit by multiple wildfires over the last 3 years. I just finished being evacuated. Again. I’m glad my home is still standing. Others haven’t been so lucky. I’m grateful for your weekend reads, books and website because since these fires began 3 years ago, I began my downsizing/ decluttering process and it’s made all the difference. In the face of loss and danger, it can be hard to think on a dime and be crystal clear about what goes with me and what stays behind. I don’t worry too much about any of that anymore. What’s important and necessary is always clear and fits in a very small space and ultimately doesn’t matter. If my daughter’s good, so am I. I am so grateful to have had the luxury of this journey for the last 3 years. Thank you for the weekly inspiration and being such a helpful part of this movement to get to what really matters.
We have one small TV. In our condo we get basic cable and our son shares his Netflix. My husband watches 2 hours of TV per day. I watch one hour at most. My neighbor gives me her Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. I volunteer 2 different places. We live next to a large public library and get a major newspaper most week days. We seldom see ads except for groceries. We retired when he was 55 and I was 53.
Thanks for the book!
Thanks for all the thought-provoking articles. I enjoy staying home rather than traveling away from home. Staycations are the bomb. All your articles keep me on track to focus on being debt-free.