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, it’s such a pleasure to feature Karen, who’s written a beautiful and inspiring piece about why she’s a minimalist. Please visit her blog to read more of her thoughts.
Karen writes:
Hi! My name is Karen, and I’ve been on this minimalist journey for more than a decade. Minimalism has become part of who I am, and occasionally I’m asked about why I’ve chosen this lifestyle. Over time I’ve come up with several answers to that question; maybe one or more of them will resonate with you.
1. I want to be satisfied.
I grew up with a mother who was never satisfied. She always wanted a better car, a bigger house, trendier clothes, a more enviable vacation. My dad worked 60-70 hours a week to make it happen, and still she was never satisfied for long.
I choose to be satisfied with what I have. As long as my family’s needs are met, I’m grateful for any extras, and I don’t want to chase after more.
2. I want to feel secure.
My husband and I have been in debt, and we’ve been out of debt, and it’s easy to say which state I prefer. There is no security like that of being debt-free.
3. I want to be generous.
Minimalists spend less than they earn because they’re not trying to buy their way to satisfaction. Spending less means it’s possible to save and give more. I love feeling that I have money to spare so I can bless someone else. To me, having room in my budget for generosity is the ultimate wealth.
4. I want to have time.
Owning less (and living in a smaller home) means I can keep my house clean and have fewer chores every evening and weekend. Shopping less saves money, but it also saves time and energy for other things. Minimalism gives me more time to pursue interest, hobbies, relationships, and new opportunities.
5. I want to follow a different path.
The relentless branding of our world depresses me. I don’t want a Disney-fied world, and I don’t want Google or Amazon to invade my home and make it “smarter.” The pursuit of happiness is on a different road than the pursuit of possessions, and I want to be on that “road less traveled.”
6. I want to understand myself.
Minimalism requires me to choose, and to do that I need to understand what matters to me. Minimalism made me question assumptions I had made about my goals and purpose; in fact, it became clear that some goals (such as career advancement and home ownership) might possibly divert me from my real purpose. This isn’t true for everyone, but it was true for me. Minimalism helped me uncover the real me.
7. I want to feel blessed.
It’s easy to feel blessed when you appreciate the belongings, opportunities, and relationships you already have. It’s impossible to appreciate the things you have if you’re constantly obsessing over the things you don’t. This doesn’t mean you can’t have goals or aspirations, just that they aren’t driven by a false sense of deprivation or entitlement.
Minimalism has helped me achieve all of these things, and I think it can greatly improve your life too. Blogs like Miss Minimalist, Becoming Minimalist, and Zen Habits have been very helpful to me over the years. I invite you to visit my blog, www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com, where I write about joy, contentment, purpose, and all things minimalist. I’d love to have you join me as I explore living with less clutter, busyness, and stress in order to make room for all the best things in life.
{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.}