Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show.
The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. And I enjoy any 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.
Life Gets Real When the TV Goes Off | Raptitude by David Cain. Even when the TV has only been on in the background, life and all its responsibilities suddenly become a lot more vivid the instant it plunks off.
Incessant Consumer Surveillance Is Leaking Into Physical Stores | The Atlantic by Kaveh Waddell. Retail is on its way to a future of personalized everything.
Staring At Everyone’s Selfies Can Hurt Your Self-Esteem | The Miami Herald by Michael Fuoco. It’s basically upward social comparison, a very classic psychological phenomena
Tiny House Villages Are About to Be the Next Big Housing Trend | Country Living by Jessica Mattern. Living in a tiny village does a few things for one’s health, including creating a better sense of community, satisfying people’s basic needs for relationships, offering affordable housing options, and encouraging physical activity.
Daisy Chain says
That was meant to read ‘advertising industry ‘????
Daisy Chain says
Re the Atlantic article, how do you think these retailers and marketers feel about minimalism? Are these actions the logical developments of the advertising or the reactions of capitalist economy under threat. Don’t know what to think myself.
Rosi says
Where in the world 1000ft2 (92m2) is considered tiny house? Are americans crazy?
David Y says
Rosi.
American houses have gotten rather large. Even as families get smaller.
But, this is this first time I have heard of 1000sf called tiny. Granted, most people here would think it’s too small for all their stuff.
Emma - a simple living journey says
The best times for our family have is when I do my ‘nana and completly remove the TV from our children. I am very close to doing it again….it is a mighty powerful thing and we dont even have net flix or pay TV….
xx
DeAnna says
We do “no watch November”. Tv is not turned on. We actually started a week ago and my kids don’t even miss it. It feels good to unplug.
John says
I liked the David Cain piece about our reliance on TV to fill the void, so to speak. As an artist who paints outdoors, I discovered the zen like joy of painting in nature. No glowing screens, jarring music or talking heads. Just the symphony of mother nature. TV has its charms, but for all of us who complain about never having enough time to work out or pursue our passions, perhaps less comatose hours in front of the TV would help!
Lydia says
Joshua, I really appreciate your writing, and your team’s gathering of insightful and thought-provoking articles for the Weekend Reads. Thank you!
I’m a little unnerved at the surveillance trend in retail stores, given that particular article. It makes me consider not only my attachment to my phone (really, must it ALWAYS be within an inch or two of my hands?), but also my buying habits, interaction with stores, and the near giving away of ourselves for the sake of “better deals.”
I’ve adjusted downward the number of my purchases in recent years (and my husband and I secretly and rather absurdly enjoy getting rid of things, often), but this information certainly makes me wonder about our consumerism on a whole new level.
All that to say, I always look forward to Weekend Reads! :)
joshua becker says
Thanks Lydia. I appreciate the kind words. As a point of clarification, there’s no “team”… it’s just me over here. :)
Ann Hall says
I love your emphasis on simplicity. This is so refreshing and helps shape my weekend into nature and out of shopping malls! Thank you
Julie Seedorf says
I am so glad I found your blogs. The world needs to be shut out sometimes so we can find our true selves. I am currently working on a simpler life and live readung what comes across your site.
Jen@SavedbytheKale says
I read the selfies article and I have definitely noticed since removing myself from FB that I am so much more content. I think it is so easy to start the whole comparison thing without even realizing it. It just unconsciously happens and I didn’t like it.
Jane says
I absolutely agree. We also compare our regular everday lives with probably the highlights of other peoples without realising.
I only just worked out everyone looked so ‘great’ because they use filters. Social media presents a warped idea of reality. It is good you switched off.
hashmo says
I loved the read about the TV.
Turn off the TV.
Turn off the Laptop.
Put down the smartphone.
Turn off the music.
Put down the tablet.
Put down the newspaper/magazine.
Turn off the radio.
Switch off the WIFI.
Now breathe. And ask yourself:
“What am I really doing here?
What is the purpose of my life?
Why did God/the Universe put me here, now?”
Every breath out is a loss of a breath of life. Every breath in I’m breathing in death, edging closer to it step by step. Soon it will be too late to think about the answer to these questions.
Once you’ve made the space (time/mental) to answer those questions then spend the rest of your life achieving the answer to that question. And put all those other distractions in their appropriate time, place and priority (if at all they help you to achieve the answer to those questions…and, if not, don’t waste your life on them).
That is why minimalism (not just of possession but of distractions also), is such a beautiful tool.