The Minimalists

I ran across a Ted Talk a few years ago by a couple of guys who called themselves The Minimalists.  I have seen a bunch of Ted Talks as I am sure you have, but this one really struck a chord with me.  The talk entitled “A Rich Life With Less Stuff” is all about getting rid of the excess crap that we don’t need.  They believe that everything you own should serve a purpose or be something you really love (or for those of you that have read “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo*, all your items should bring you joy!)  Everything should have a designated place in your home and a reason for being there.  Getting rid of all of the physical clutter helps get rid of the mental clutter.  Less mental clutter opens you up to more peace, fulfillment and happiness!

The Minimalists, in addition to having a blog and hosting a podcast, made a documentary  called “Minimalism – A Documentary About The Important Things”  which is now available on Netflix.  The film explores what it means to live a meaningful, purposeful life.  A “Zen Life”, if you will : )  Check it out – it’s worth the watch.

This idea of “minimalism” has been on my mind for maybe 2 years.  I go through periods where I get rid of a lot of stuff…but guess what, I still have a lot of stuff!  It seems never ending at times.  But every purge I go through brings me closer to that goal of really having just what I need.   I’ve noticed that I feel physically lighter when I purge stuff I don’t need.  It’s a great feeling to not have to waste mental energy on these things that I don’t need, use or like.

My goal is not to get rid of everything I own and move into a “tiny house” (cool idea, but it’s not for me!)  “Things” aren’t bad to have – as long as they are the right things – ones that you need, use and love.  Everything else is just clutter.

30 Day Minimalism Game

I remembered hearing about The Minimalists “30-Day Minimalism Game” either on their podcast or in one of their books.  The idea is that you get rid of one item on the first day, two items on the second day, three items on the third day and so on for a total of 30 days.  You either donate, sell or throw away the items.  So, I decided I am going to give it a try!  I’m guessing it’s going to be all fun and games the first week and a serious challenge by week 3.  I’ll let you know how it’s going as I’m progressing through the challenge.  So, who’s with me?  I would love to have you play along too.  Share your progress – victories or challenges –  with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

Notes:

*“The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo – Loved this book!  However, I might have taken it too seriously.  When going through my clothes, I threw away/donated so much that I had to go out and buy new things because I only had 1 pair of pants left!  But at least the new ones brought me joy : )

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