This week I wrote a post for the blog-publishing platform Medium:
Three Words for My Younger Self: Own Less Stuff
Why? It’s sort of an outreach effort to would-be minimalists who might not otherwise trip across my blog. I think we’ve all had that serendipitous moment when something we read, or something someone said, sparked our interest in a minimalist lifestyle. (For me, it was a book review of Your Money or Your Life—in a fashion magazine, of all places!)
Well, I’m hoping I can provide that same kind of spark to the casual browser—someone who may feel vaguely uncomfortable with clutter or consumerism but would never think to start googling “minimalism.” I’d love to invite them to our community, and let them know they can find plenty of kindred souls living with less (and loving it).
I’d be so grateful if you’d help me spread the word by sharing, recommending, or liking my Medium post. Here’s hoping we’ll inspire some new friends to join us on our minimalist journey!
{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.}
Yes, I will share your post! The spark for me was Amy Dacyzyn’s Tightwad Gazette, and then I found Your Money or Your Life, and my memories of Thoreau and my dad led me the rest of the way. Can’t believe it’s been over 20 years on this minimalist path. Thanks, Francine, for all you do to encourage and guide all of us.
I shared your post on Facebook. :)
My early inspiration for simplifying came through reading Thoreau, and from one the early novels of Paul Auster, namely Moon Palace. And if that seems weird to those who know the book, something in the ‘forced’ simplicity in Marco Stanley Fogg’s life made me think about things differently – in time, not immediately. Now that I think about it, also Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild had an effect on me.
I think I was always looking for it, as it seemed so right when I found it…
I came to it through frugalism, Jennifer Luhrs and YMOYL, Amy Dacyzyn, Flylady, over 15 years ago now.
It’s a process but better late than never!
Great article, Francine!
I don’t know exactly how I was led to minimalism other than it was just a natural progression in my life & after moving about 21/22 times. Simplifying in all areas is part of my spiritual path & living a healthy lifestyle.
A couple of years ago I was once again organizing the junk that had accumulated in my house. Feeling overwhelmed I went to Amazon to search books on organization and among all the books about storage and shelving was ‘The Joy Of Less”. It changed EVERYTHING. Thank you Francine!
I’m confused by all this thankfulness for Thoreau. Yes, he did live in a small cabin in the woods but he was just 2 miles from his family and friends, who visited him often and brought him food, drinks, etc. He really did not live rough or live off the land as he claimed.
Having finished your brilliant book “The Joy Of Less”, I felt like sharing the book with friends here in Germany. Lots of them would be interested to read it, but unfortunately, I couldn’t retrieve a German edition anywhere. Is the book available in German after all?
Birte, here’s a link to Amazon Germany:
http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=francine+jay
Hi Birte! Yes, there will be a German translation of The Joy of Less. I don’t have a publication date yet, but I expect it will be released within the year. I’ll be sure to announce it here on my blog!
I went thru the kitchen early in the month and purged stuff that was not being used. Excess utensils no longer used, extra mugs and plates. Some utensils replaced with new. Clothing is done in spring and late fall, things not worn recently and items I know won’t be worn next season. Plenty of charities in my area needing help. Went thru another batch of books and got rid of most, have few left mainly reference type. Going thru stuff is on going to stay clutter free. Some items can be sold to dealers in antique malls and flea markets, or have yard sales.
So glad to see you on Medium! I think it’s an excellent platform for your work and hope you gain attention from it and continue to inspire people.
http://www.meredithtested.com