“If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements.” – The Dalai Lama
What if everything you ever wanted isn’t what you actually want?
Like most people, the idea is enticing to me. Less stuff. Less mess. Less to insure. Less to worry about losing.
Less everything.
I’ve been a regular listener of The Minimalists podcast for the last couple of years. Entertaining and thought provoking. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to venture down the path of less.
IF IT DOESN’T FIT IN THE AIRSTREAM… WE DON’T NEED IT.
You’ll hear us say this a lot these days. We are in the midst of planning a 49 state camper trip in the Airstream (@LadyLolaMae). Knowing that everything you own will eventually have to fit in a 7×22 box certainly helps keep perspective when you’re at the store.
In the last 2 years I’ve sold, donated or given away approx. 50% of my “stuff”. But there is still a long way to go. Even at a relatively young age it’s amazing what has been amassed. And getting rid of it all isn’t easy. It’s time consuming. It can be emotional.
What about keepsakes? Furniture I’ve built? Boxes of old photos? I’ve become better about snapping a picture of certain items and tossing them or giving them away. What about garages full of tools? I’m going to need those? Right?
Less everything.
In a recent Forbes article, Joshua Becker describes minimalism as “the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.”
Last year I spent the majority of the year in Costa Rica. About 35 weeks in total. In my home there I had nothing but the necessities. And guess what…I was just as happy. I made due. I improvised when needed. But never once did it feel lacking. Maybe that was actually what I loved so much about the country. Why I always felt like a weight was lifted there. The simplicity.
Less everything.
lol I love tiny off-grid living, way to go!
I absolutely love this. I can relate so much, maybe that’s why I love camping so much because I can make do with so little. Wonderful post. 🙂
And maybe that’s one reason why people love to travel. The urge to acquire is calmed for a while?
Would you say specifically travel to countries that have “less”? Or all travel? I agree with the theory!
I think all travel —even to Dubai—has this potential because there’s only so much you can carry. But then again, some people travel in order to shop.