Comments on: What is minimalist living? http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/ Everything about less. Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:35:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rae http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-67186 Rae Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:01:04 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-67186 When I told my architect friend I want a minimalist house, he told me that a minimalist house is high maintainance. I didn't quite get it at first. I now realized what he meant--pristine white walls that you have to keep white, etc. That's not minimalist to me. It's being imprisoned with "stuff" again. Being obsessed with keeping everything pristine to the point that it gets in the way of doing the more important stuff. Minimalism is about the principle of removing/ lessening the distractions that keep you from doing your passions. Minimalism is not about who has the barest apartment, the most pristine white walls, or fewer stuff. When I told my architect friend I want a minimalist house, he told me that a minimalist house is high maintainance.

I didn’t quite get it at first. I now realized what he meant–pristine white walls that you have to keep white, etc. That’s not minimalist to me. It’s being imprisoned with “stuff” again. Being obsessed with keeping everything pristine to the point that it gets in the way of doing the more important stuff.

Minimalism is about the principle of removing/ lessening the distractions that keep you from doing your passions. Minimalism is not about who has the barest apartment, the most pristine white walls, or fewer stuff.

]]> By: Gypsy http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-53218 Gypsy Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:27:24 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-53218 I have been reading a few of the responses and had to smile about the issue of 1 pair of $100 jeans as opposed to 5 pairs of $20 jeans. My life is minimalism. I agree that it isn't about the amount you spend on one item or on a specific room but about clutter. There have been times I have attended markets or sales and bought items or been given items which will be useful but within a short period of time I come across someone in need, it's all given away. I too live in one room and only today I gave all of my lounge room furniture to a person who was recently allocated a house but had nothing. I don't believe I am a generous person but one who does not feel comfortable having things which are rarely used - if ever- Happiness is not things... but you know that! A confession: I have more clothes than I need. That will be dealt with before long too. Kindest regards to all Gypsy I have been reading a few of the responses and had to smile about the issue of 1 pair of $100 jeans as opposed to 5 pairs of $20 jeans.
My life is minimalism. I agree that it isn’t about the amount you spend on one item or on a specific room but about clutter.
There have been times I have attended markets or sales and bought items or been given items which will be useful but within a short period of time I come across someone in need, it’s all given away.
I too live in one room and only today I gave all of my lounge room furniture to a person who was recently allocated a house but had nothing. I don’t believe I am a generous person but one who does not feel comfortable having things which are rarely used – if ever-
Happiness is not things… but you know that!
A confession: I have more clothes than I need. That will be dealt with before long too.
Kindest regards to all
Gypsy

]]> By: Am I a minimalist? « dustfreesimplicity http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-49238 Am I a minimalist? « dustfreesimplicity Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:06:36 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-49238 [...] If you don’t have it you don’t have to dust it.  If you do have to have it, hide it and you still don’t have to dust it.”  http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/ [...] [...] If you don’t have it you don’t have to dust it.  If you do have to have it, hide it and you still don’t have to dust it.”  http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/ [...]

]]> By: Leo http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-39788 Leo Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:20:43 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-39788 Minimalist: A dream will come true! I agree that simplicity and practicality is key. I have a two car garage 3500 sq. ft house. This is the only big item that I will get rid of (sell) when I get some profit on it. So it's the last item to be dealt with on my to-do list. For the moment, I have NOT owned a lot to start with. My house is pretty empty at this moment, no decoration or extra furnitures etc. For the last two years, I have gotten down to the very basic things that I need. I mean every single thing from toothbrush to clothes to untensils to furnitures is used on a daily/weekly or monthly basis. The furnitures are foldable and stackable by the way. If anything I have not used for more than a year, that means it's got to go. So when I will finally sell my house sometime in the future, a Minimalist dream will come true! Other than owning very simple/less material things, being a minimalist to me is also incorporated to the mind and body spiritually (i.e Zen/buddhist thoughts. . . .) Everyday, I don't just live a simple life, I also live a very fullfill and happy life of what I have. I am satisfied with my job/pay etc. I am also a vegetarian. I always apprepriate that I have a healthy body and a good life. I always think about the horrible things that happen to the unfortunate people in our world, and I hope all those poor souls will find peace some way some how. . . . just a thought on what it means to be minimalist for me. . . . :-) Minimalist: A dream will come true!

I agree that simplicity and practicality is key.

I have a two car garage 3500 sq. ft house. This is the only big item that I will get rid of (sell) when I get some profit on it. So it’s the last item to be dealt with on my to-do list.

For the moment, I have NOT owned a lot to start with. My house is pretty empty at this moment, no decoration or extra furnitures etc. For the last two years, I have gotten down to the very basic things that I need. I mean every single thing from toothbrush to clothes to untensils to furnitures is used on a daily/weekly or monthly basis. The furnitures are foldable and stackable by the way. If anything I have not used for more than a year, that means it’s got to go.

So when I will finally sell my house sometime in the future, a Minimalist dream will come true!

Other than owning very simple/less material things, being a minimalist to me is also incorporated to the mind and body spiritually (i.e Zen/buddhist thoughts. . . .)

Everyday, I don’t just live a simple life, I also live a very fullfill and happy life of what I have. I am satisfied with my job/pay etc. I am also a vegetarian. I always apprepriate that I have a healthy body and a good life. I always think about the horrible things that happen to the unfortunate people in our world, and I hope all those poor souls will find peace some way some how. . . .

just a thought on what it means to be minimalist for me. . . . :-)

]]> By: Caty http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-38273 Caty Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:04:19 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-38273 I have been intoducing the minimalist lifestyle for a few month now, and have to say......wow! We have a huge house in the city, and seeking for innerp peace, I decided to go fewer and smaller. I am moving into a Wild Resort now, and my new house is a third from the house I have been living in. Perhaps I will be able toe move with 20 or less boxes, because I gave everything to the poor. I have a new life, that is not centered around what I have or want, but who I am! I just love it! xxx I have been intoducing the minimalist lifestyle for a few month now, and have to say……wow! We have a huge house in the city, and seeking for innerp peace, I decided to go fewer and smaller. I am moving into a Wild Resort now, and my new house is a third from the house I have been living in. Perhaps I will be able toe move with 20 or less boxes, because I gave everything to the poor. I have a new life, that is not centered around what I have or want, but who I am! I just love it! xxx

]]> By: Duchess http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-34480 Duchess Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:35:02 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-34480 I have been a minimalist since the early 70s. Before everyone was writing and blogging about it. Back then I often said "all I really need is a suitcase with wheels with everything I own in it." (that was way before suitcases had wheels) You only "Need" what you truly NEED and actually use!!! Which If you really think about it. Is not much We have 3 catergories... DAILY use, SEASONAL use, and EMERGENCY use. DAILY: ....... ......is obvious SEASONAL: ..... NO holiday decorations. It is coats, gloves,etc.Which can be expanded to include gardening tools and canning supplys.... EMERGENCY:... is flashlights, battery cables, shovels etc. Which can be expanded to include several months worth of emergency food and water supplys. We both have hobbys, those supplys are kept to a minimum. We very quickly go through everything every 3-4 months. I like the saying. If it was stolen would you replace it... Honestly Importance in our life is each other and our dogs.... ...LIFE.. the rest is Stuff and replaceable...... Food, clothing, shelter are needs. People have more or less expensive: variations of food, clothing and shelter. I prefer a couple of better made outfits , to a closet full of ..cheaply made ones. You can only wear one outfit at a time. You only need the amount of space you are in. Be it standing, sitting or sleeping. I have been a minimalist since the early 70s. Before everyone was writing and blogging about it.
Back then I often said “all I really need is a suitcase with wheels with everything I own in it.” (that was way before suitcases had wheels)

You only “Need” what you truly NEED and actually use!!!

Which If you really think about it. Is not much

We have 3 catergories… DAILY use, SEASONAL use, and EMERGENCY use.
DAILY: ……. ……is obvious
SEASONAL: ….. NO holiday decorations. It is coats, gloves,etc.Which can be expanded to include gardening tools and canning supplys….

EMERGENCY:… is flashlights, battery cables, shovels etc. Which can be expanded to include several months worth of emergency food and water supplys.

We both have hobbys, those supplys are kept to a minimum.
We very quickly go through everything every 3-4 months.

I like the saying. If it was stolen would you replace it…

Honestly Importance in our life is each other and our dogs…. …LIFE..
the rest is Stuff and replaceable……

Food, clothing, shelter are needs.

People have more or less expensive: variations of food, clothing and shelter.
I prefer a couple of better made outfits , to a closet full of ..cheaply made ones.
You can only wear one outfit at a time.

You only need the amount of space you are in. Be it standing, sitting or sleeping.

]]> By: Kim http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-33515 Kim Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:59:39 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-33515 I agree. We strive to have more and more things.....which do not make us happier. I believe that having less requires less worry; can't fret over that which you don't have(or don't have to dust). Everyone who responded has valid points and I am inspired to adopt and embrace this style of living. I agree. We strive to have more and more things…..which do not make us happier. I believe that having less requires less worry; can’t fret over that which you don’t have(or don’t have to dust). Everyone who responded has valid points and I am inspired to adopt and embrace this style of living.

]]> By: Cindy http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-33244 Cindy Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:11:10 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-33244 I think a minimalist is the exact opposite of a hoarder. I get rid of things I'm not using on a monthly basis. My cousin has clothing from the 60's. I have empty cupboards, drawers and closets. My cousin has everything stuffed beyond their capacity. I can travel in Egypt for a month with a carry-on suitcase/backpack. She needs two large check-in and a carry-on. Same with people. She surrounds herself with people (and often chaos) and I have nine life-long friends and avoid chaos like the plague. I sell my homes furnished, if possible -- moving with nothing but my clothes. She needs two moving vans. :-) I think a minimalist is the exact opposite of a hoarder. I get rid of things I’m not using on a monthly basis. My cousin has clothing from the 60′s. I have empty cupboards, drawers and closets. My cousin has everything stuffed beyond their capacity. I can travel in Egypt for a month with a carry-on suitcase/backpack. She needs two large check-in and a carry-on. Same with people. She surrounds herself with people (and often chaos) and I have nine life-long friends and avoid chaos like the plague. I sell my homes furnished, if possible — moving with nothing but my clothes. She needs two moving vans. :-)

]]> By: Lisa http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-28681 Lisa Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:47:17 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-28681 i think this is something i will always continue to work towards in my life. The less you have helps you then to realize that you can live with even less than that!!! It is a huge lie this world/life has told us that we need more to be happy and the truth is that more only steals our time to truly enjoy the real gifts in life, ie. time with those we love, enjoying the beauty of the day.....rather than spending it caring for things, maintaining our things. It is crazy. Minimalism is something that I will always strive to achieve and hope to influence others to let the burden of our material things go and enjoy life with so much less. I do agree that it doesn't mean to have things of little worth.....just a few things that we can truly have the time to enjoy. i think this is something i will always continue to work towards in my life. The less you have helps you then to realize that you can live with even less than that!!! It is a huge lie this world/life has told us that we need more to be happy and the truth is that more only steals our time to truly enjoy the real gifts in life, ie. time with those we love, enjoying the beauty of the day…..rather than spending it caring for things, maintaining our things. It is crazy. Minimalism is something that I will always strive to achieve and hope to influence others to let the burden of our material things go and enjoy life with so much less. I do agree that it doesn’t mean to have things of little worth…..just a few things that we can truly have the time to enjoy.

]]> By: Don Harros http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-24633 Don Harros Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:01:57 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-24633 I love minimilistic living...it's freedom from what society paint for you to believe what life should be::"The more the merrier" Yeah right!!!!...I believe that modern simplicity and minimilism is the way of life for me and it save people from a lot of strees.... I love minimilistic living…it’s freedom from what society paint for you to believe what life should be::”The more the merrier” Yeah right!!!!…I believe that modern simplicity and minimilism is the way of life for me and it save people from a lot of strees….

]]>