So what the heck is up with the minimalism thing?

What’s with all the hype?

What does it even mean?

Who cares?

There’s nothing wrong with having stuff?

I have been a minimalist at heart for several years. I’ve just never had the courage to pursue it wholeheartedly because of fear of what others might think. No longer.

There is no hype. It’s just a way of living that helps me cope with the complexities of life. I like keeping things simple so I plan to do just that.

I’m not sure what it means by definition but the list below is what it means to me. That’s probably a better descriptor anyway.

I care and my family cares. I believe it was the Savior who said in Mark 8:36 what good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul. The stress and anxiety of pursuing things and creating complex situations is not worth losing your purpose in life.

Sure inherently there is nothing wrong with owning stuff. Own all you like and enjoy what you do own by all means, just read my list before you do.

1. Because most often the experiences, relationships and memories are what we cherish in life. Not that putter I used back in 1994.
2. Because life is becoming overwhelming with it’s distractions. We have become a nervous, highly medicated, Type A society. There is no pace to life, no rest and no time for the things in #1.
3. Because what you really want is your time back. Not more money. Not more stuff you can’t use because you just don’t have the time.
4. Because every item you steward in your life requires you to manage it, organize it, clean it, maintain it or even worse obsess about how to put it to use. Get your things into circulation. Somebody may use them but nobody is using them sitting in your closet, garage, barn, shed, basement or rented storage unit.
5. Because every moment you spend doing the things in #4 is robbing your life of the time that really matters. Time to rest and have hobbies. Time to pursue your true passions. Time to seize the day. Time to give generously.
6. Because every moment you think about your stuff creates more moments when you think about your stuff. If most of your time and conversation is devoted to shopping, to what’s on sale, where it’s on sale, coupons, deals and promotions, then you can’t be spending much time making a difference in the world.
7. Because simple things work and complex ones typically don’t. I’ve seen it over and over where a simple solution enables action which leads to amazing results. Complex solutions lead to paralysis which leads to inaction.

Those are just a few of the major reasons why I’m moving to a minimalist lifestyle. What are your reasons?