Never underestimate the importance of removing possessions you don’t need.
Encouragement is important in all areas of life, but especially when trying to live a life different than those around us.
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 intentionality 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.
The Purpose of Living Simple | No Sidebar by Melissa Camara Wilkens. Sometimes the best choices take more effort than we had hoped.
Why Ikea Causes So Much Relationship Tension | The Atlantic by Corinne Purtill. In an environment where choosing a coffee table is marketed as an expression of identity, it’s easy to project deeper meaning onto a partner’s opinion.
It’s Time to Say Goodbye to the Wedding Industry’s Most Unnecessarily Extravagant Fantasy | Quartz by Assya Barrette. Material possessions have become a part of our identity. Brands are the new tribal symbols, monetary value the new measure of our self-worth.
How One Family Survived A One-Year ‘No Shopping’ Challenge | Good Morning America with Scott Dannemiller (2:26). A Tennessee family spent one year without buying any new clothes, gadgets, electronics, toys, books or home decor.
Lindsay Sherrill says
This is a wonderful collection of articles, Josh. I particularly like the The Purpose of Living Simple and the notion that it takes effort to live simply, but the benefits are worth the work is invaluable. I also love that the article recognizes that our society tends to value busy, full lives as more important. It’s all a matter of embracing the free time, embracing the ‘white space.’ Once we see the value in free time and white space, we’ll be able to appreciate all the benefits simplicity delivers.
Gail Jarvis says
My mother copied her wedding dress from a bridal magazine in 1954, which we still have. My younger aunts remember their mother and my mom making a trip to the fabric store ‘in town’ for material etc. needed to sew the gown, not common for that small town farm family. My sister wore the dress in a high school play, granddaughters have tried it on and the dress was displayed at both the 50th and 60th wedding anniversary of my parents and we have pictures of her wearing it last summer around the time of the 60th anniversary. So for our family, this dress is something we want to keep and it doesn’t feel like just a possession. My mother died January 22nd of this year and the dress is not just an item purchased for a wedding, it reminds us of her skills as a seamstress, her love for our dad for 60 plus years and we will never get rid of it.
Lori in Prescott says
My parents were married in 1951. My dad wore his Army uniform. My mother wore a grey wool suit. She accessorized with a fabulous aqua hat with a feather and a black velvet purse. I kept the hat and the purse. When my husband and I were married, I wore a 2 piece skirt and matching top in grey. Instead of the big white dress, I put money into a pewter necklace and earrings. No regrets!
Matthew says
As one who has performed a few dozen weddings, the two words I hate to hear most are “wedding planner.” They continually push the cost up and encourage the personalization of “your big day; the most important day of your life” at the sacrifice of a lot of money and even strained relationships.
The best recent wedding I’ve conducted began with the quote, “Pastor, we’ve been dating for several years now and we’d like to get married. Are you busy this Saturday afternoon?” It was in the bride’s mother’s backyard. He wore a suit and she wore a simple navy dress with a white cardigan.
I continually wish young couples would put as much preparation into a wonderful marriage as they do into a wonderful wedding.
Aimee Wiley says
It is hard to escape the draw of consumerism all around us. I find great encouragement and inspiration from this and other blogs to keep my focus on what is right and meaningful with regard to my possessions at this stage. I’ve never been to IKEA, but there are definitely other stores that create conflict for me, whether internal or relational. I recently wrote about five ways to avoid unnecessary spending (linked above), one of which, like the GMA video said, is to avoid the stores, especially those that are your greatest source of temptation.
Berin Kinsman says
Recently I published an essay about how my wife and I decided we’d rather have a marriage that lasts a lifetime than a party for a day. We eloped rather than go into debt, so we could then smartly manage out money to get the things we really wanted from life. I work my favorite dress shirt and tie; she wore her favorite dress. We’re happy, and we don’t have egregious wedding debt or clutter!
Sandra Quitugua Kickbusch says
In support of IKEA, I have strolled through it a couple of times to get great ideas for storage and living in small places. When I have purchased a few items they have ended up doing the job at the right price. My husband relaxed in their very comfortable lounge reading a good book. We finished up with a good value healthy lunch.
Anne Daniel says
I agree wholeheartedly. IKEA has provided many of the storage solutions my husband and I need for living in 55 square metres. Trips to the shop fill us with renewed inspiration for clear, clutter free spaces. We enjoy discussing the innovations and possibilities. Assembling the pieces is a source of satisfaction for my husband. What is there not to like?
rachael says
I agree! I thought that the IKEA article was a little overboard. I don’t like shopping but I like going to IKEA. We live in a very small house and IKEA gives tons of inspiration for small living and clutter free homes. My husband and I like long drives together so the hour and a bit to the store is a nice time for a cappuccino and some heart to hearts. We like to eat the meatballs and even though we sometimes leave without buying anything we don’t leave empty-minded.
ren says
The struggle is real, I love decorating outside for seasons and inside, so how do I balance the need to minimize and my love of decorating for season.
I am ridding of myself of any decorations I don’t like.
Slackerjo says
Perhaps the fragility of IKEA furniture is a symbol of the fragility of a relationship. Take it as a sign people. Buy better furniture instead of junk that will end up at the curb in five years. You don’t want your relationship to be a broken pile of crap waiting the garbage truck!!!
Judy says
Didn’t get a chance to read these all yet…but have a good weekend, Joshua. :) —Just a thought, I’ve seen some gorgeous wedding gowns at Goodwill and they’ve been under $50.00.
I’ve only been to Ikea once…I remember it being a tense afternoon. My husband got all grouchy and I felt like I was in a weird consumer factory or something…
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
Thanks Joshua. I agree with Assya Barrette – I think the wedding industry is a clear example of how we’ve been placing emphasis on the wrong things. I had a very simple wedding with only four guests and it was just perfect for us. I actually wore my mothers wedding dress – luckily so out of date it was vintage! After that I definitely have to keep it in the family. Just saw this today – a wedding dress that has been in a family for 120 years and is about to be worn for the 11th time : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3249835/Something-borrowed-tenth-time-Woman-11th-member-family-married-wedding-gown-s-handed-120-years.html
Mary says
I agree! wedding have gotten out of hand, even as a wedding photographer myself, I prefer to do smaller intimate weddings because its about the love and not the party. At my own wedding I made most of the decorations or re-used fall decor items my family and I already had.
As for my wedding dress, I did buy a new one, but I use it all the time. I wear it for halloween as part of costumes and anything I can dress up in a costume for. When it’s had enough wear, I’ll use what’s left of it to make something.