Favorite Things: Minimalism

March 14, 2024

Favorite Things: Minimalism

I always seem to come back to minimalism.

Why? Because it helps me focus on my passions, on my purpose, my mission. It clears away the clutter and the noise and brings me into communion with God in a new, more profound way.

As we prepare for this international move, I have some desires (desires I discovered as I learned more about myself through The Empowered Wife.

1. I want to spend this summer making memories, not unpacking.

2. I want to have an abundance of space for the things that truly add value to my life, with an ease of finding and putting away.

3. I want to have my favorite things within easy access.

4. I want to have more time. Less possessions means more flexibility with my time since it's much easier to care for fewer possessions.

The Minimalists (my backstory)

I found Josh and Ryan back on Dec 24, 2016. We had celebrated Christmas early that year and as we were in yet another move, I was ready and willing to receive the message. It started with the documentary, shared by my sister: Minimalism: a Documentary.

After watching that, I got excited. I dove into having fewer, but better quality items. For the first time in my life I spent $100 on a jacket and almost the same amount on some Ugg slippers. I found value in single possessions that served me well. We lived with my in-laws for 2017 and it was a wonderful time to focus in on what was important. I believe it was partly through minimalism I finally had the space to hear God's call, finding Our Lady of Fatima, the rosary, and Catholic radio all that year!

So, besides the documentary, I found their podcast and even got to see them in person with my mom in Portland, Oregon for their Less is More tour!

That said, over the next few years I focused more on YouTube and Catholicism. And once we moved to Germany, all thoughts of minimalism left as I found myself in survival mode for multiple years.

Now

But now, as God has led me to one revelation after another, I have space once again to examine my possessions, not only what I own but who I am, who I want to be, what serves me and what can be released.

It started with reading Everything That Remains, and then Minimalism. Both books helped me to remember my "whys" (stated above) and dig deeper into the purpose of life. What is keeping me from being the woman God made me to be? What could I let go of to create space for what will come?

The transition back to the US feels like just that, a transition, a new beginning. It's been a hard road since 2019 when Ryan left for Korea. I can't say what's to come. But I have found so much peace recently: peace in my marriage, in my health, in our homeschool. And now, with minimalism, I am finding that peace with my possessions and my time.

So minimalism is one of my "favorite things" and I share this for those of you who are ready for more space, more passion and letting go of optional anchors in your life that weigh you down.

God made you for a peaceful, joyful, wonderful, challenging, and fruitful life.

Pax Christi,

Laura