Book Review

Many of our fine friends have suggested the international bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and Brian and I have dutifully read it. There are a few tips and tricks within the pages of Marie Kondo's book, but overall no earth shattering secrets were revealed. We really feel as though the minimalist community online has been such a great resource, but do appreciate what we learned from Kondo. Here are our favorite quotes and how we intend to implement them (or how we've already started living by their rule).

"The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not "things" but a means for conveying someone's feelings."

Quite some time ago Brian impressed on me the idea that instead of things as gifts he would rather get a piece of paper with a promise to spend time together. So instead of asking for material gifts we now include a short list that includes things we can do with the people we love. Most recent 'thing to do' gift received: River cruise (ooohh aaahhh). Most recent 'thing to do' gift given: Twin's game (yay!), they lost (boo!).

"No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important." 

This, I feel, is a great motivator when it comes to tackling our precious mementos. How do you decide which family heirlooms to keep, which to give up, which to pass on to your children (and their children and their children's children) and which to pass on to Goodwill? Seriously. how do you decide?

"Does this spark joy?"

My coworker Kirsten gave me in to this simple piece of advice earlier this year and it really works well, especially when it comes to clothes. Does this make me happy? If it doesn't, then why do you have it?

"By handling each sentimental item and deciding what to discard, you process the past."

Kondo tends to anthropomorphize a lot (CONFESSION: this word is not part of my vocabulary, I looked it up, you can look it up here) and this quote lends itself to the more sensitive side of her KonMari method, however it is true, and it does work. Don't let sentimental items, papers especially, sit in storage, go through them and decide whether or not you can let them go. Kondo says this will help to process the past and then we can let go of clutter and move on to clutter-free!

Interestingly enough I stumbled upon this blog post by Leo Babauta that touches on the same topics. He says that the objects that make up our clutter are crutches that we depend on for various reasons; for excitement, for holding on to the past, for love and for security. If I take anything away from Kondo and from Babauta it's that I should redefine what happiness is, what it looks like, and what evokes it. And the way I want it to look has nothing to do with a closet full of shoes or a bookshelf full of doodads. It has everything to do with the people around me and the things we do together.

Need not,
Brian and Josey

We got our copy from the library, but if you feel like you need your own copy click here for Kondo's website.

Minimalist Attitudes

While becoming minimalist (great blog by the way) has been easy when it comes to living in our little sheltered apartment bubble, as soon as we open our big mouths around other people about the way we live, people start to squirm. I don't think its that they are uncomfortable per se. I really think that it just gets people to start thinking. While we hope that people don't view our exultations as judgmental we understand that they might feel, well, judged.

Just because we sleep on the floor - doesn't mean you have to. And just because we no longer are slaves to the xfinity/comcast cable conglomerate doesn't mean that you should feel bad that you are. Seriously, this is the type of living that makes us happy, but your type of living might and should look different and that is great. Especially if you are happy living it!

And that brings us to a few simple words of encouragement:

1. If you own something and it doesn't make you happy, don't own it anymore
2. Start small, we started with one item a week and now we've been decluttering and de-owning for half a year. yowser.
3. Always ask yourself, "Do I really need this?"
4. Confucius says, "It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop."
5. Josey's CONFESSION: It helps to do it with someone who will support and encourage you along the way, even when other's think you might need a psychological intervention or more stuff.

Other minimalists' have had to defend the lifestyle from those that see it as too radical, too frugal, and too anti-economy. We just hope that you will (read our blog and) live life the way you want to and don't feel like our lack of stuff is a way for us to judge you or your stuff. Leave comments below if you have questions on how we cope or need another one of my amazing 'Tip of the Week' tips to help you out.

Need not,
Brian

Taking the plunge!

In case you didn't know Brian and I are still going strong in our New Year's resolution of eliminating one item per week per person from our lives. Whether it be donated, discarded, recycled or repurposed (as a gift. for someone else. outside of our household. thank you, Sarah Huss.) (CONFESSION: to date we have gotten rid of over 200 items - that's rounding down)

But this week we really outdid ourselves. Not in number of items purged but in the size. Bigger feels so much better when its a noticeable item that you clear out of your life.

We got rid of ...

...(insert drumroll)...

A DESK! 

What!?
I know. We are some crazy @$#&!$

sans desk.

This item probably could count for the both of us (especially since it included a chair and chair mat), but we had other items on top of that. We have more excess than we know how to get rid of - things still keep popping up and while we were worried for a bit there, we can't believe we still have so much stuff. still. Thank goodness we are only in week 13 of 52.

Back to the desk. Why would we get rid of something so substantial? We did, in fact, use it once in a while, and it wasn't cramping our "feng shui" style. BUT we really didn't need it. Minimal use shouldn't justify keeping something, that's not what minimal-ism means, no matter the size. AND we really hope you'll understand (mom. dad.)

The new challenge in our minimalism quest seems to be simplifying our life and our space, without looking crazy. Brian thinks you'll understand after watching any number of Tiny House videos on youtube. The lives those people live are incredibly simple and that is exactly what our goal is. Spareness - which can include blank walls and open walking space. And Simplicity - lots of green, living things, light, and breathing room. Check out the videos below (especially if you can't believe we got rid of a desk!) Because living with less means living larger!

Need not,
Josey & Brian

WARNING: you most likely will feel like fairly lazy after watching these videos, and you may even feel like you need to get rid of something... 

Many thanks to FairCompanies.com - you are so wise. 

Answers to the tough stuff

Why do I...
In order to determine what stuff we do need (and what stuff we don't) we end up asking a lot of questions. In fact we often find ourselves in an impromptu debate where one of us (let's say Josey) argues why we need to keep something and the other one of us (let's say Brian) argues why we do not, indeed, need to keep something. Of course the debate is completely friendly, no voices are raised, and it usually results in a compromise, i.e. the prettiest person wins (this is not always Josey) which is always Josey, and is sealed with a kiss (CONFESSION: unlike previous blog posts, Haley's responses to our ways of 'showing affection' will not be mentioned).

Why?! Here is our top 20 (yikes, that's a lot of whys) list for you to try out yourselves. C'mon. Try it out!

1. Why do we have more than one pizza cutter?
2. Why are we keeping these old textbooks?
3. Why do we have so many vases? (especially if you don't even like flowers. wah wah.)
4. Why do we have 3 sets of luggage? We're minimalists for goodness sake!
5. Why do we have so many duffel bags, I believe they are also a form of luggage?
6. Why do I have bank statements from 1998? Why did I have a bank account when I was 12?
7. Why is there a dead plant in the corner?
8. Why do we have outdoor furniture, but no outdoor space for the furniture?
9. Why do I have more than a dozen water bottles? Why do I have even a dozen water bottles, that's more than there are days in a week, am I planning on two-a-days? 
10. Why do I have so many baking sheets? I don't need to eat 5 dozen cookies in the near future, and I don't own a bakery.
11. Why do I still have VHS tapes, didn't Brian tell me to get rid of those in his first official solo blog post?
12. What's with my shower, why am I not winning the contest for most nearly-empty-shampoo-bottles?
13. So I've got 5+ winter coats. Why am I going on an expedition to Antarctica in the near future that I don't yet know about?!
14. Why do I have so many random light bulbs, do any of these bulbs even fit in sockets?
15. Why--I mean, the spice rack. I'm glad I can alphabetize my herbs, but why are most of them expired (i.e. 2 years or older)?
16. Why don't I use pandora or spotify, aren't I embarrassed that I still have to wait for the disc to change in my CD player? (CD. that's compact disc. yup, they call them compact. sike.)
17. Why is one pair of scissors better than the other, or is it just that I am competing in a contest to see how many different handle colors I can collect? (my apologies. you could have two pairs if you need safety scissors for small children [or large husbands])
    
18. Riddle of the week: Why did the hoarder need so many sets of towels? (Because they were a hoarder. duh.)
19. Speakers are dope, yo. Do mine still work? And if they do, why am I not using them coolio?
20. Why the hell do you have so many holy socks!? This is not a riddle. Get rid of them, they are only good for cleaning out drawers (like sock drawers) and polishing said sock drawers with wood polisher. 

How did you do?! If you are at all interested in being somewhat of a minimalist - we just wanna say: we believe in you! If not, well, we still believe in you! - but we think you should read this blogpost again. ready? go.

Need not, 

Brian and Josey

How to fill a goodwill donation bag in less than 60 seconds:

Quick! You need to declutter your life and you don't want to think about it too long, because then you'll make excuses for why you "need" to keep every item you have previously brought into your home. Jump off of the couch, get a paper bag, ready? Set. Go!

1. Old magazines on the coffee table, you're not going to read them, you haven't for the past 14 months
2. Pants that are either too big (unflattering) or too small (if you lose weight you deserve new pants)
3. Dull and rusty knives, they don't work so get rid of 'em
4. Shoes from high school (especially if you are not in high school)
5. Hats that you no longer wear or no longer resemble their original color (i.e. the white ones)
6. Outdated textbooks, classics are exempt
7. Frames with no pictures (unless your photos are ready for pickup at Costco)
8. VHS tapes, you better not have any but just in case
9. The VCR ... seriously, let it go.
10. Old trophies and medals excluding ones from the Olympics, not that your accomplishments are unimportant, but plastic is.

How'd you do? Remember that the point is to get rid of items that you don't use, need, or enjoy yourself. Let someone else in on the fun, purge and be the better for it.

Need not,
Brian