The inevitability of letting go
minimalism.com
“Minimalism is not a style, it is an attitude, a way of being. It’s a fundamental reaction against noise, visual noise, disorder, vulgarity. Minimalism is the pursuit of the essence of things, not the appearance.” – Claudio Silvestrin
The inevitability of letting go
The things we love won't always be there
I own a lot of books. Up until a few months ago, I owned over 800 books. My library is smaller now—I gave up more than half of it in a divorce—but it’s still not insignificant. I have many books signed by the author, including several first editions. As a novelist, books are one of the most important things in the world to me.
Suppose I lost my entire library in a fire, even the signed first editions: Would I be sad? Yes, a little. I would mourn the loss. I certainly mourned the loss of the books I gave up in the divorce. But I would also be, and have been, able to move on from the loss pretty quickly.
The books are just things. If my copies were destroyed, there would still be thousands, and in many cases millions, of copies of all the particular titles I own still extant in the world. Losing the books wouldn’t mean losing the information.
Read the full essay on minimalism.com
01 – Podcast
On the latest episode of the Minimalism Life Podcast, New York Times–bestselling author Joshua Fields Millburn reads and discusses his essay "The advice epidemic"
02 – Community experiences
Read entries from the archive of the Minimalism Life journal:
03 – Share your experiences
Do you have an interesting story you would like to share on minimalism.com? We want to read about it. Here, you have the opportunity to get involved and contribute to our journal.
04 – Found on the web
Other minimal things on the web you might be interested in reading:
05 – Brands anchored by simplicity and sustainability
Minimalism can be about frugality and owning less, but it can also be about supporting ethical brands with sustainability at their core (less but better). Here’s several that you might be interested learning more about.
BOLDR: Minimalist home heating solutions
OMNES: Sustainable and affordable fashion
Cuff Copenhagen: Unisex jewelry brand from Denmark
Pedestal: Minimal stands for your screens
Luca Faloni: Luxury Italian men's clothing
CLAE: Minimalist footwear from LA
Rent the Runway: Rent designer clothing
Stiksen: Premium minimal caps from Sweden
ODA: The modular everyday bag and essentials
The Resort Co: Eco-conscious and artisan vacation wear
Axel Arigato: Minimal sneakers, ready-to-wear, and accessories
Dalgado: Timeless accessories made to last
Gant Lights: Furniture with an architectural influence
North-89: Shoemakers designing for Scandinavian weather conditions
Void Watches: Simple Swedish timepieces
Form&Thread: Mindfully sourced garments
Neem: Menswear made from recycled materials
Oliver Cabell: Minimalist Italian footwear and accessories
Nordic Knots: Rugs inspired by the beauty of the Nordic light, colors, and landscape
ASKET: Ending fast fashion by making covetable everyday essentials