I love owning less.
I made a decision years ago to intentionally live with fewer possessions. It was born, mainly, out of my growing discontent with the focus of my life’s energy. As the size of my home increased and the number of things stuffed into closets grew, more and more time was spent caring for them.
While cleaning my garage one Saturday morning, I began to realize how much of my life was being stolen by the things that I own. As a result, the things that meant the most to me were being neglected. I immediately began to remove the nonessential.
Since deciding to own less, I’ve experienced countless benefits: more time, more money, more freedom, more energy, less stress, and less distraction.
Owning less provides me the opportunity to pursue my greatest passions. It’s great. And I’ll never go back to my previous lifestyle.
But along the way, I discovered something even better than owning less: Wanting less.
I’ll explain.
Not long ago, I was visiting a friend at his home down the street. As we were talking, he mentioned how nervous he was about the upcoming weekend. I began to ask why.
“Well,” he said, “we have some new friends coming over for dinner. And I’m a little embarrassed about the size of our house.” He proceeded to tell me the backstory.
Recently, he and his wife had met some new friends. And last weekend, they went to their house for dinner.
“Joshua, it was huge,” he remarked, “and beautiful and every room had gorgeous furniture in it. It was one of the nicest homes I’ve ever been in!”
But now, this coming weekend, their friends would be coming over to their home for the first time. And last weekend’s experience has left my friend self-conscious about the size of his home.
I went about my friendly-duty of assuring him he had nothing to worry about. Things would be just fine. His house was plenty big. And the feeling you get when you enter a home is far more important than square footage or the make of the furniture.
All the while, I felt a bit of sadness for him. What a crummy way to live… constantly scanning the possessions of others and comparing them to your own. There is no joy to be found in that approach to life. It will always lead to discontent and envy.
But soon after, I began to analyze the emotions and feelings I had experienced during his telling of the story. We had moved into a smaller home years ago and I couldn’t be happier with it—the benefits of a smaller home are fantastic. I don’t even want a bigger house anymore. I drive past them all the time and think to myself, “I’m sure glad I don’t have to take care of that big thing!”
As my friend was sharing his story, I began to reflect on how much my life has changed and how unattractive the constant pursuit of material possessions has become to me. Not only do I own less, I want less. And this is a wonderful place to be.
Because I don’t want to own more than I already have, I am freed from the constant comparing of my stuff to others. I am no longer bound to the incessant pursuit of more money and more stuff. I have found contentment in the things that I own. I have discovered more room for generosity. And I have begun to bend my pursuits towards things that matter.
Indeed, owning less is great, but wanting less is even better. (tweet that)
Judy says
My husband felt that exact same way. The friends were wealthy and had a large home with a horse stable.
The difference between us, other than the size of our homes, was the fact that I was an enthusiastic cook and baker and they did not do either. The husband said the meal was the best in his life.
They continued to come to us for meals until they moved away. They always looked forward to home cooking.
My husband then realized that the size of the home doesn’t matter. It’s how people feel when they enter it.
Pat Flaherty says
I live in a condo decorated to my liking. Not huge but comfy for me and my friends
Oppo says
There’s a limit on small spaces.
When the people in your household are constantly bumping into each other, have no personal space, it becomes a burden that getting rid of stuff cannot fix.
Maybe it’s a US thing, but in many countries (some elements of this post bring to mind the author driving by these large US suburban houses), people live in small appartments and tiny studios, couples and sometimes whole families, that no amount of minimalism can expand to a comfortable amount of space to live in.
And we can’t always be outside…
The one things I do want more of is time and space.
It doesn’t have to be a huge space, but not feeling constrained by walls in a box in your home does make a difference in your daily experience, ie not having it to take it upon yourself like a monk or prisonner in a cell.
A spare bedroom to welcome friends or family would be also be great for instance. Or just a place to isolate without being in the kitchen space or bedroom, that kind of thing.
Catherine Main-Oster says
Agree. My husband and I downsized from a 3200sf house to a 980sf apartment. We love the freedom and ease….but we do have a spare bedroom and office nook so a bit of space to space ourselves out when needed.
Carolyn Caraway says
I agree. We have been in many houses with different sq feet. With 3 kids there was too small when were on top of each other, very big which definetly gave us breathing room to 21 years in around 1400 sq feet. That has been my happy medium.
Vineeta Agarwal says
I truly believe in possessing minimum.
It is peaceful and convenient.
Also I don’t believe in showing, rather one should be kind.
Louise says
I agree !!!
But I have junk to get rid of, lots of it is nice tho……
Susan says
We spend the first 2/3 or so of our life acquiring stuff, and the last 1/3 trying to get rid of it. Another truism: I will bet you anything that most married people will tell you they were happiest when they were first married and had next to nothing.
Victoria says
Yes! I was so happy in our small apartment with a mattress on the floor.
Polly says
I was just saying the same thing to my husband the other day. Our first home was a tiny attic flat! I don’t know how many times we hit our heads on the beams!! We didn’t have many items only the basics but they were plenty! We had soo much fun in our little home.
Janeth Bacha says
I choose to be minimalist 15 years ago, I wait until my things damage before I bought, I choose small house, I ride public cars. Every December some of myclothes and children clothes are given to the neighbors. I have small cabinet for clothes, everything in the house is small but I have hug garden where I can plant vegetables and flowers that give extra income. It help me at feel peace and happy serving my family thinking less about things we don’t need.
R. Shane Marchand says
About 3 years ago we left our 2500 sq ft in the city for a 1000 sq ft home with some land. All of out friend could not believe were were moving into a 2 bdrm, 1 bath house. We love it and do not want to ever move back into a large house. I am starting embracing the minimalist lifestyle more and more. Thanks for all the positive articles!
Gelatina says
Lets jazz ‘ up this “owning less is great, but wanting less is even better.” Always With Hugs Hugs and Big love to you.
Timothy R Smith says
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
-Seneca the Younger
Stacey says
I love the minimalist living philosophy and also appreciate your minimalist writing style. Kudos. I’m very inspired!
roslyn ince says
JOSHUA do you own your home or do you rent ??