What Minimalism Uncovers
I checked Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone had messaged me about the Blu-Ray player I had posted days before. Having recently gifted my remaining exercise DVD’s that I had been holding onto for months “just in case,” I no longer had any DVD’s and no need for a DVD player. Hmmm. No takers. Well, […]
What Do You Do When the Doorbell Rings? How an Abundance Mindset Can Help You in Your Minimalism Journey
What do you do when the doorbell rings? If you ordered a pizza, you probably open the door with a smile and a growling stomach. But what about an impromptu guest? What about the friend who texts you because she is “in the neighborhood” and wants to stop by? Or when your spouse tells you […]
My Morning Routine and Three Tips to Start Your Own
I have a strange snoozing habit. When my alarm goes off on my iPhone, I allow myself a glorious 9-minute snooze. When it goes off again and I still feel like I can’t move out of my cozy bed, I give myself a certain number of Mississippi’s. “You can have ten,” I tell myself. One […]
Living My Legacy
Minimalism has allowed me to loosen my grip on possessions, relationships, and behaviors that no longer serve me and embrace a life that supports my values and bring me joy. Each time I let go, it makes it easier to do next time. The continual practice of letting go has made me think more about […]
Live a Low(er)-Tox Life: Five Areas Where I Made Changes
As a minimalist, I clear my closets of excess stuff and my calendar of excess commitments. When overwhelmed with negative thoughts or stress, I detox my mind with meditation and prayer. I remove toxic relationships from my life. But what about the toxic load I carry with me every day? I was first introduced to […]
Choose Different, Be Different
I’ve been thinking a lot about choices lately. Our lives are the summation of the choices we make, and as much as I’d like to say that I am always intentional and mindful about mine, that is definitely not the case. I sometimes parent out of anger. I eat out of frustration. I stare at […]
Five Takeaways from Tidying Up
I read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up this past summer, and it had a profound effect on how I think about my possessions. While I feel that Kondo’s approach to tidy your home in “one shot” is unrealistic, and I choose not to follow some of her specific folding instructions, the […]
Why Margin Matters
I live in the suburbs of Washington DC, known for having some of the worst drivers in the nation. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed an increase in vehicles with the bumper sticker “Please Be Patient: Student Driver.” This is not surprising. Impatience on the roads causes people to engage in aggressive behaviors such […]
Simple by Emmy Experiment: Fall Capsule Wardrobe
I could understand why my mother-in-law was underwhelmed by my birthday wish list. Since embarking on my minimalism journey, I typically request experience gifts rather than things. I am always grateful for a gift certificate for a massage or a nice dinner out. A few months ago, I put together a list that included a […]
4 Ways to Combat Mental Clutter
As I’ve started to clear the physical clutter from my life, processing my past and letting go of things that don’t support my values, I am left with my thoughts. Thoughts are not inherently good or bad- we can’t control having them anyway. But when these thoughts distract us, limit our potential, and keep us […]