Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
Today, Michael reminds us that we don’t have to reach certain milestones to become minimalists. It’s an ongoing process of living mindfully each day.
Michael writes:
For about six months I’ve thought: “When I become a minimalist, I’ll submit my story to Miss Minimalist.” Gradually, however, I’ve come to realize that minimalism is not a destination. Minimalism is a state of mind cultivated over the lifespan.
I don’t share some of the surface features common to some more popular minimalists–I have a wife and kids, a mortgage, and a 9-5 job. I don’t live on a boat (which seems to be really popular among Real Life Minimalist submissions lately). I don’t have a blog and I couldn’t tell you how many things I own.
With that said I do question everything in my life. I love getting rid of stuff (and I do it almost daily). Shopping makes me cringe. I despise materialism and consumerism. Clean surfaces and empty space give me goosebumps.
I used to be a book hoarder (to show off what an avid reader I am). Now I’ve cut my book collection down to a couple dozen of my favorites that I’m likely to re-read/reference. If I want to read something new, I go to the library. I only wear my favorite clothes. The rest got donated. I’m now working on being deliberate about matching how I spend my time to what I value most.
While I do still have the dream of living in a tiny house a lá Jay Shafer (if I can somehow convince my wife) I recognize my being minimalist is not contingent on that. I’m a minimalist now, one day at a time.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or joining my email list.}
Michael’s post resonates with my own thinking very much. I am gradually refocusing my life onto the things that are most important to me; my relationship, my true friends (!), experiences, my hobby (music and piano), and removing those things that distract me from those focal points. I too try to remove items from my living space every day, and the feeling of lightness I get when I return from the local dump, or charity shop, with another empty car boot makes me buzz. I have also adopted a minimalist attitude to work, I now operate a clear desk policy…a laptop and a phone, and perhaps my iPod being the only things on display on my desk (much to the amusement of my fellow colleagues, but I can see I have influenced one or two of them to follow the same ideas! Haha!). I also focus more at work on priority tasks and projects, adopting a single-tasking policy until tasks get completed. I feel more focussed and productive because of it. In this way I am intentional about my work and I feel more aware of details. Minimalism is a journey NOT a destination. I am yet to convince my girlfriend who lives with me, to see things the same way bt, like influencing work colleagues, I try to lead by example! :-)
Great post! Not all of us can live in a tiny house. I am a grandmother living with my husband, daughter, son-in-law, 6 year-old grandson, and two dogs. I love the concept of minimal lifestyle, but as much as I would love to sell my large home and move to a tiny condo, (no exterior maintenance, yay), it is not possible right now. I am hoping in a few years to do that after my kids are able to get their own place. I used to collect vintage everything, but I have sold/donated/given away most of it. I also had tons of books including cook books. I loved looking at the beautiful photos, but I hardly ever made any of the recipes, so I donated them. I hope to give half of my furniture to my kids when they move. My dream is a small place near one of the beautiful trails in this area where we live. I would love to be able to walk out my door and hike in a beautiful, wooded area. Cleaning a big house is no fun, I look forward to a simpler routine. I totally relate to Michael’s post. We do the best we can day by day at the place we are in now. None of my family are with me on this, in fact my husband is a pack-rat, but eventually downsizing will encourage him to cull his memorabilia. Thanks so much for your wonderful blog, I look forward every Monday to new stories.
Lana:
I completely understand and relate to your situation. I am in a similar one (my elderly mother and two college-age children live with me) and none of them is in any way, shape or form a minimalist. I, too, dream of a day when I can move to a smaller house or small apartment and enjoy empty space! However, right now I do the best I can – I have found that living a minimalist lifestyle without preaching or lecturing has actually proven effective. I have been able to reduce the amount of stuff and possessions in my house and, wonder of wonders, my kids have done some decluttering, too! (My mother is never going to change, and at her age, that’s completely fine.) I have learned to enjoy where I’m at in life right now (I guess this comes under the “mindfulness” tag) while keeping an eye to the future. Keep up with your minimalist lifestyle and I know your dream will eventually come true!
Wonderful post! So well written and down to earth, thank you!
It’s so true—I too try to get rid of things everyday. I’ve been given a book boost by the Spark Joy book. Thanks for your perspective.
Love your post and your great smile! I’m still a book buyer but am working on that. I was an English major in college and worked in a bookstore for many years. I use the library and donate books but then buy books that I’ve borrowed that I find especially interesting. I do re-read the books I own and try to only buy used books. My newest method is when I buy a book I have to donate one.
I agree that questioning everything (especially consumerism) is essential to a life well lived. The pressure to buy is tremendous these days. Thanks again and tell your photographer she/he took a great picture that really made me smile.
Thank you Micheal. I’m in a similar life stage and remembering that minimalism is a state of mind not a destination is key.
Hi Michael, it’s great to hear from you. I think you are representative of many many minimalists, just getting on with it, day by day, no great epiphanies or cross-country moves. For anyone who wants to live in a tiny house, I definitely recommend watching Tiny House Nation before you take the leap. While I love the idealism and ingenuity of the houses, I couldn’t help but notice that when they would revisit the occupants some months later, they always seem to have brought in way more belongings than they started out with and it really doesn’t seem practical for more than one person. I can’t understand why a couple more square feet couldn’t have been added, but maybe then it wouldn’t have been ‘tiny’, and ‘Smaller Than Average House Nation’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it!!! :)
So true, minimalism is a journey. I would MUCH rather live in a significantly smaller house, etc. but some things are not in my control. Meanwhile, I’m working at minimizing what I can.
I totally understand Michael’s opening paragraph. I too, consider myself an “aspiring” minimalist even though I have been going through the process for several years. I have read (and reread) Francine’s archived posts; I remember when she was posting on a regular basis before motherhood took a stand, and although I want to become a “minimalist” I am finally understanding that it is a lifelong journey, and we must take things one day (or one outbox) at a time:).
Hi Michael — I identified with your story. Thank you for sharing. And as a few others also noted, great pic, great smile!
Michael, I love your post, it really resonates with me and I can identify with your comments. Thanks for sharing :-)
The simplicity of your post translates beautifully the essence of minimalism (for me). Thank you!
I have my own books down to 2 shelves. My mother’s books are here and I take a few to the nursing home each time I visit, on the condition she gives me some things to take home to recycle or give away. I recently went through a bout of depression so I was glad I had saved some of my hobby and pastime things to work on.
Update: I now have a blog. (Two actually. Yikes, how unminimalist.:) )