May 28, 2008 – It all started harmless enough on a spring Saturday morning as my 5-year old son and I went to clean the garage. The neighbors happened to be outside planting gardens, watering flowers, and tending to the outside of their two-level home.
Nearly three hours later, we were still working on the garage and the neighbors were still outside working on their home. My neighbor turned to me and said sarcastically, “Ahh, the joys of home ownership.” I responded by saying, “The more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you.” Her next sentence struck a chord with my soul. Her response was, “That’s why my daughter is a minimalist. She keeps telling me that I don’t need all this stuff!”
“A minimalist?” I thought. “How attractive, how freeing – I want that in my life.”
Call me uneducated, naive, whatever you want – but I had never heard the term before. Yet, it seemed to be the one word that defined my deepest desires. I went inside to tell my wife about the conversation and her response was the same as mine, “That’s what I want too.”
And thus, the journey begins. The journey of becoming a minimalist.
The blog will serve two purposes. 1). Keeping a journal of our personal journey as this family of four (33, 29, 5, 2) becomes minimalist. And 2). A proof if this typical family can make it real in their life, so can you.
I am now a grandmother. I remember when bringing up my 4 children (ages 11-2) people used to give me clothes their own children outgrew. Eventually I had more clothes than would fit in their drawers. I noticed each one had some favorite things to wear and the rest just cluttered up the place. I asked them to pick out the things they liked best. when they had several tops and bottoms, We counted them. They had enough for a different one each day as well as a few spares – those we kept. Looking at everything else, I asked them why we were keeping these when someone else would probably like them. We sent several big bags full to the Salvation Army. After that the drawers and closets were not cluttered and there was less wash and everyone still had their favorite clothes to wear. Life was better all around.
I love the idea of less…where did all this stuff come from? All over the place. Much of it ..we were given. I have three adult children living at home..they have stuff. They grew up here, so the stuff is from way back up to the present. I clean houses and some of them are uncluttered and some are the opposite. When our homes are out of order or cluttered or just tastefully appointed…it’s still what I call Visual Noise. I am looking around me as I write this…I have a long way to go…
This still speaks to those who read it and know of our wasted time and efforts~ A timeless inspiration!
A two year project for a minimalistic hobby farm is underway for my “retirement” home that will be studied daily for the simplest methods with the least amount of unnecessary items.
God Bless
This is so inspiring!!!!
Everytime I need some minimalism encouragement I visit
your page. It’s wonderful!!!! And also I learn some new english words which is super! Thank you for your words!
I wish you and your family the best!
Johnna
2-4-14
Joshua,
Your idea sounds super!I myself have had a problem with clutter going back to 1987.And I still have a problem with it despite years of Psychotherapy.In fact I just came from my therapist a few blocks away a little over a hour ago.I feel comfortable
talking with her but not my clutter.My day phone is:212-863-0818 and my home
phone is;718-782-4838.Thankyou for your time.And God bless you.RSVP.If I were as
happy as you I would feel better!
Signed,
Keith P.Cooper
P.S.Did you go to college?
Hi Joshua,
You have encouraged me to get rid of all the stuff in my life and start living the way everyone was meant to live. I really appreciate your work.
I am working on a project that will bring an encouraging and inspiring word every day to people who are not computer savvy or just don’t like the internet. Believe it or not, some people would rejoice if all computers ceased to exist. I will tell you everything about this project but don’t want to do it on this blog site. I would love to use some of your material in this project with your permission. Thank you so much Joshua, blessings to you and your family, Andrew
I’m starting at the beginning of the archives —
Here’s how I found this site:
1) I work and come home to a nearly one year old baby and dent know how to effectively keep the house clean, and I do have a husband, but he works many hours longer than I do so I have the bulk of cleaning house on me. I didn’t know where to begin or how to maintain a clean house so I literally googled “how single parents keep their house clean”.
2) venture onto some cleaning websites that are truly helping, and the one thing they all mention is the importance of decluttering.
3) I though about decluttering and started, found how cathartic decluttering can be, and I thought I may have minimalist tendencies. So I googled minimalism and found this site.
Now that I’m really curious, I am going to try and read as many posts as I can. I love the content on here!!
Just read your book “Simplify” and really enjoyed it. My husband and I are planning
to downsize and move into our motor home. Reading your book has helped me
to know where to start. I enjoyed the part about the small victories! I now have a
plan to start with the small area’s and move on to the larger ones.
Thank you so much!
I am wondering why Minimalism is used only in context of Individuals or Families. Why can’t it be adopted to Industries – like Manufacturing, Service-Industry and so on.
Also, isn’t Minmalist a thing that enables Simplicity. Another wonderful trait.
Thankyou, i love this blog.
At times, the more multi-purposed gadgets enable you buy less of everything else.
The service industry is usually based upon the demands of the customers.
Josh, first let me say that I hope this finds you and your family well. Please know that you are missed!! I am from a small town in Vermont…..near the Essex area…you may recall that area. I had just heard of your blog as you were leaving, and failed to follow up on finding your blog. My mentor was talking about you today, because I mentioned that I spend too much money on too much stuff that isn’t of any value. I guess it’s about time I learn about this minimalism “thing”….before my maximalism gets the better of me. Oops, too late…I think it got the better of me, and I need to correct this!! Too bad you aren’t still here, but with the advent of the computer, I guess we can still connect…..