Today marks one year since I published my first post here. (Wow, how time flies!)
This time last year I had just moved to a new country, and started blogging on a whim – mainly to entertain myself and indulge my passion for minimalist living. I considered it a creative outlet, a way to practice my writing, and never expected to have more than a handful of readers.
The response, however, was incredible. According to my latest statistics, I have over 3,000 RSS subscribers, and received 76,000 unique visitors last month. I can’t tell you how excited I am that so many of you are interested in minimalist living!
This post is partly a birthday celebration – but more so, a heartfelt thank you note to all of you.
I was recently asked what I enjoy most about blogging – and hands down, it’s your comments. I’ve learned so much from you over the past year! And although I can no longer keep up with responding to each one, I religiously read them all – and always look forward to your insightful (and often entertaining!) feedback. Your thoughts, ideas, and opinions have made this blog what it is today.
You’ve also been a wonderful source of inspiration to me. In fact, your comments and emails prompted me to write my latest book, The Joy of Less. Over the past year, I’ve received thousands of requests for “how-to” guidance on decluttering, and living a minimalist life (I still smile when I open an email that starts “Dear Miss Minimalist”). I felt that writing the book was the next best thing to visiting each of you, and helping you clean out your closets and drawers! I wanted you to feel like I was right beside you, helping and encouraging you, each step of the way. A very special thanks to all of you who’ve purchased it; I’m eternally grateful for your enthusiasm and support.
I know that practicing a minimalist lifestyle can sometimes feel like you’re swimming upstream. We’re constantly bombarded with the message that “more is better;” and our efforts to make do with less aren’t always understood by our peers, colleagues, or neighbors.
That’s why I’m so thrilled that we’ve built a community of kindred souls here; a place where we can come together, and help each other pursue our minimalist journeys. A place free of judgment and criticism, where we can explore new ways to live simpler, more meaningful lives.
Here’s the little post that started it all:
Since then, I’ve written about everything from philosophy, to practical techniques, to how many shoes, towels, and plates I own.
As we embark on another year together, I’d love to know what you’d like to read in the future. Do you prefer philosophical discussions or brass-tacks decluttering advice? Do you enjoy reading about others’ experiences (a la Real Life Minimalists), or would you like to know more about mine? Are there any specific categories you’d like me to cover in more depth? Would you like a forum, where you could post your own topics and chat with each other? Please let me know in the Comments – I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and continuing this wonderful journey with you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favorite blog!!
I love your practical advice. There are plenty of philosophical blogs elsewhere. I love your posts about small wardrobes, small amounts of furniture, white space/rooms, towels, not organizing clutter, your move across the pond, using one bowl, etc., etc. It’s a shame you don’t have kids- I’d love to get your tips on living minimalist with a little one. =D
Anyway, keep up the good work! Your blog is one of the few that I read every new post (and sometimes refer back to old ones.)
-Julia XX
Happy Birthday on your blog Miss Minimalist! I love reading your blog and I especially enjoy the “Minimalists” you feature each week.
Happy Birthday =]
I found your blog a month or so ago, and found it really interesting. I read each of your posts through email.
At the moment, my life is anything but minimalist, I’m in my final year of school, meaning a lot of everything everywhere, but everything perfectly organised.
Its the same for my computer systems. Everything is centrally stored, and meticulously filed.
Hopefully, when I’m able to move out, I’m be able to be much more minimalist, in fact, on a student budget, it’ll probably be necessary ;)
You posted this on 9.17.10 which is actually my birthday! Yay! And, I’ve recently started following your postings & discovered your site in the past month. I’ve moved recently and have begun to realize how many things I have and I’m getting rid of things slowly but surely.
You truly are an inspiration to me, helping me by example with your story. I’ve donated, recycled and trashed many things already…and I vow to continue the journey until I have let go of enough things so my new studio apartment is not cluttered.
Thank you for sharing your ideas & your story, and I look forward to reading more every week. I have also passed the word along to a few friends and they enjoy your site as well. Much love! ~Alma Juliet.
I think your content is perfect, with a mix of your own and other people’s stories. A forum would also be great.
I’m cat-sitting for my friend in her beautiful house in the countryside – but it’s full to bursting with stuff (all tasteful and elegantly arranged) and I’m feeling desperately in need of a minimalist ‘hit’ – it’s only since I’ve pared down my own possessions that I’ve realised how much better I feel without stuff around me. I reckon we minimalists probably have some sort of minimalist gene that they haven’t yet isolated, because I actually feel physically and mentally unwell with the visual and mental distraction of too much stuff.
In the room I’m sitting in now, there are 19, yes 19, extra decorative cushions on the floor, the sofa, the chaise longue and the two love seats. On the coffee table there are 20 books and about 30 or 40 magazines and catalogues. I can see from where I’m sitting about 50 decorative items standing on shelves or open display units and about 300 CDs and 100 DVDs and console games. There are also massive cupboards built into one end of the room containing another 1000 CDs, DVDs and videocassettes…. Every room is the same, full of ‘decorations’. This isn’t a criticism of my dear friend, who I love and admire very much, but rather a reflection on how people’s tastes differ so much. I’m sure she tells other people how stark and bare my apartment is and would feel very odd staying there herself!
So, yes, your blog is amazing and is just what I need to feel that I am not alone!
Thank you for all the birthday wishes and kind words!
I feel so lucky to have you all as readers — you inspire me to keep writing, and your comments have been a wonderful source of support and insight.
Looking forward to another great year together! :-)
SO happy for you! I love this blog and check back often, so I’m glad it’s been so successful for you.
And P.S. I’m going to buy your book!
Happy birthday!! This is a great blog you have here. I especially was inspired by the 100 things you don’t own. I have a copy of it luckily for myself. I know it was a controversial post, but it is what lead me to your blog, which is now my absolute favorite blog to read.
You have a nice, meaningful blog here. Keep it up!!!
Happy birthday. I love your blog – both philosophical discussions and the brass-tacks decluttering advice – it makes it down to earth and easier to comply + it keeps me on track. I also like to hear other peoples stories. I would like a “link” just with pictures, since I´m a very visuel person. A forum would be nice to – to get advise and encouragement when I get stuck on decluttering.
Ps. It also improve my english :o)
Love from Anette, Denmark