Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

I have a fear of messiness.  Oh, I don't think it rises to the level of a phobia, but if it did I could tell you its name – ataxophobia .  I don't have panic attacks when confronted with a mess, but I sure don't enjoy it. I do have a need for order in my life, and can get very anxious when confronted with big changes or the need to do a task I don't know how to do.  And like anyone who feels fear and anxiety, it causes me to avoid those things if I can.  Yet when I get up the courage to ask for help, I often find that the task isn't as fearsome as I believed.  So my behavior is kind of irrational, after all. Why we all benefit from tidiness I'm sure that's part of the reason minimalism appeals to me.  Now, you might be braver than I about going new places or tackling new technology, but maybe you suffer from stress in other areas.  Maybe your job is very demanding, or your finances aren't optimal, or you have a relationship in crisis mode.  Maybe you'

Google "hygge wardrobe," and you'll find a number of sites that want to sell you "must-have pieces to cozy your closet." I'm not surprised.  After all, our society exists to sell us stuff we probably don't need.  So let's remind ourselves that we don't have to run out and purchase "hygge essentials" to create a comfortable, sustainable, good-looking wardrobe. Dressing hygge is about more than being cozy.  After all, not every day is a snow day!  Let's look at hyggelig principles that can be applied to our closets. 7 elements of a hyggelig wardrobe 1.  Contentment Hygge is all about being content with what you have and making the most of it.  As author Louisa Thomsen Brits describes it, "Hygge is about having less, enjoying more ."  The Danish tend to keep their wardrobes simple, based on neutrals like black, navy, charcoal, or tan, with pops of color for personality and fun.  A cohesive closet means that a small number of

As those of us in the U.S. near the end of this election season, I'm finding it hard to remain positive.  Maybe you're feeling the same. I have no intention of writing about politics or candidates or parties.  It's not going to happen.  But even though I spend minimal time reading about, listening to, or discussing most of the claims made by politicians, it's hard to escape the tirades, fear-mongering, and – unfortunately – outright lies that are publicized over all forms of media all day, every day. It's become ugly, and a bad advertisement for democracy and our supposedly great nation. American ideals All over the world, there are people who long for what the U.S. claims to have, and what was articulated by President Franklin Roosevelt – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.  They long for what President Barack Obama celebrated in his second inaugural address – a freedom that is not reserved to the lucky, a happiness that

When I returned home from a weekend trip recently, I immediately unpacked my suitcase, washed a load of dirty clothes, and put everything away.  It made me feel settled and at home.  It was comfortable. A few days later, I felt a bit restless, so I set my writing aside and started cleaning.  I cleaned the refrigerator door and wiped the kitchen counters.  I swept the porch and mopped the floor in our small entry hall.  I decluttered a few old papers from my file box.  It felt good. Self-soothing with home care For me, cleaning, organizing, and decluttering are a form of self-care.  Tidying gives me satisfaction.  It makes me feel that I'm managing my life and ready for what's next. A hygge home isn't dirty.  It's not cluttered with garbage, dirty dishes, or things we never use or put away.  It's not covered in a thick layer of dust.  So don't decide that pouring a glass of wine, lighting a candle, and snuggling under a blanket is hygge, but running the vacuum is

I few weeks ago, I read a post about how 20 years of minimalist living can make you a millionaire. It's not a get-rich-quick plan, but unlike many financial schemes, it's a sure bet.  Author Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist.com uses conservative figures to make it clear that minimalism can save you a lot of money which, reinvested over time, can make you financially independent.  It's useful to see the details spelled out, which I didn't do in my post How Minimalism Has Made Me Rich . Not the people you want to follow A 2017 Pew Research study found that 54% of Americans spent more than they earned every single month .  While the personal savings rate increased in 2020 when people needed to stay at home, a surge of spending and debt began again once COVID-related restrictions were lifted.  It's safe to say that even more people are over-spending today, paying for their lifestyles with ever more credit card debt . When the Joneses spend more than they earn and sa

You've probably seen sci-fi books and movies that talk about "the next stage in human development."  Mostly, they refer to advances in technology and artificial intelligence.  Those are supposed to enable us to upload our consciousness into bodies that won't age or die, that can gather, store, and retrieve information thousands of times faster than a mere human brain – the next step in our evolution. That sounds terrifying to me. But what if there's another way to advance in our development?  What if there's another way to become more and better than what we are now?  I'm not talking about figuring out how to stop replication errors in our cell production so we can live to be 200.  I mean how we can improve our thinking, and ultimately our lives. I think I know what that is. The secret to our evolution Like all humans, I'm hardwired to look for problems.  It's a matter of survival.  I'm always aware of dangers and difficulties.  My default resp