Minimalist Mondays are dedicated to finding love, adventure, and joy in everyday living through the pursuit of a more simplistic lifestyle. By allowing only what is useful and meaningful into our lives and letting go of that which ties us down, we are better able to live a life of purpose, both for ourselves and for others.

Welcome to Minimalist Monday! For those of you who are wondering, the garage project is going well. I took another load of non-sentimental stuff to a charity and threw some things that were not reusable away. That is the hardest part for me, when something is not recyclable or reusable and I know it is going in a land fill. Ouch! Anyway, I will post pics of my advances the 1^st week of February. I think a month to month comparison should be fun and hopefully, inspiring for anyone wanting to start a de-cluttering project.

This weekend I found myself reflecting quite a bit on why a Minimalist lifestyle is so appealing to me. It dawned on me that consciously choosing a lifestyle that focuses on experiences rather than things, quality over quantity and a constant evaluation of what is meaningful and purposeful in life requires a thoughtful and well-trained mind. In a society where super stores are crowded with oversized shopping carts, isles of junk food, and cheap plastic gadgets, a Minimalist stands back and evaluates. “Do I really need this item? Will this item bring me long-term happiness? Will this item truly enhance the quality of my life?  What is going to become of this item when I am done with it? How will this purchase affect my finances? “These are all questions worth asking.

In general, Minimalists are not by nature anti-capitalist and support entrepreneurship at all levels; but they do take a stand against over consumption and materialism.  Our society encourages us not to think about our values. We are bombarded with messages hundreds of times a day that tell us we need to buy things to make our lives better, more efficient, and to be happy. To think twice about purchases, to say “I don’t need things to be happy, or I am looking for things money cannot buy”, is to be a rebel.

Many people are looking for ways to be unique, stand out in the world, and to take a stand against the status quo.  So my great thought for the weekend was “I don’t need pink hair, multiple body piercings, or a tattoo to be a rebel, I just need to think. (This is a really good thing since I do not like even a little bit of pain!) To make conscious decisions about my life, what I value, what will make my life meaningful and the world a better place will ultimately bring more love and joy into my life and make me a rebel with a cause.

You may also enjoy this blog post by Joshua Becker on how to overcome consumerism.

http://www.becomingminimalist.com/consumer-isnt/

Until next time, get your rebel on!  🙂

Laura