Since my divorce in 2007 I have been on a slow journey in removing excess from my life. A lot of it has been out of necessity.
I left with very little other than my clothes, laptop, and books and was perfectly fine with it. (A minimalist by accident)
That experience began to teach me that a lot of what I had was not truly needed. I guess you could say I was a minimalist on training wheels. In late 2007 I read the 4-hour Work Week and further made me want to get to the point of having just want I want and need in my life.
The Art of Being Minimalist
A few weeks ago I read a little ebook by Everett Bogues named The Art of Becoming a Minimalist that gave me a blueprint to what I want to be able to do moving forward. I looked around after I read it and was amazed at how much stuff I had accumulated in the last couple of years.
I went on to post on my facebook that I was going to become a Minimalist and got a few joking replies about giving up my laptop and car. My interpretation on becoming a minimalist is not to remove everything and move to the woods.
The way I interpret Minimalism is to eliminate that which brings me no value. My laptop? Well that’s my livelihood.
Livelihood=value 
The best example I have of the application of Minimalism is my book collection. I looked around and realized I hadn’t touched most of them in years. What if I sold them?
Better yet, what if I offered anyone to check them out, decide what they liked, and then I sold the rest? Someone else gets some value out of them.
Some of the books I own have changed my life. A couple helped shift my reality and get me where I am now.Yet, they bring me no value sitting on my bookshelf.
Right now as I type this I have about a hundred books in my car ready to go to Half-Price Books and sell them. I am one step closer to becoming a minimalist.
My Goal With Minimalism
I want to travel more and meet people in other cities and all over the world. I want to be able to pack up and move in a moment’s notice. The things I have lugged around the last several years have weighed me down and have limited me.
As you well know, I study improv and salsa here in Dallas. Yet, I have this vision in which I will go to any major city and plug into their salsa and improv communities. That will really make me happy!
In my journey to do what I love and follow my passions, I think of this as Phase 2 of my re-birth. I want to get back to the point where I can find peace where ever I may find myself. And also create havoc and fun as well.
Thought provoking stuff. I left my marriage with little more than clothes and dog and a bunch of boxes stashed at a friends in Miami…I have just started the journey you speak of 2.5 months ago. Nice to see someone further along the path. Blogroll? Am totally adding.
Thanks a bajillion Becca!
It has been a journey of refining and re-finding myself. As crazy as this may sound, I am grateful for my failed marriage… I truly do not think I would be close to being the person I am today, and for that I am thankful.
I would be honored to be on your blogroll. (bows) I was just adding new people to mine and was going to ask you if you would mind if I listed you(SWEAR!)
I really like this post and wish people just trimming down would talk about this stuff more. The road from having a full house, down to a suitcase or 100 things is a long way, with roller coaster emotions. what were some of the hardest things you gave away. i know books are really tough for me also. I am somewhat attached to my 900 bed, with I think I will never have the money for again.
Also, I have two cats and am finding that a major obstacle.
Thank you for commenting Margaux! (cool name, is it pronounced like Margo?)
I must admit that a bed is a very valuable asset! I work real hard and think I would love a super duper comfortable one, so I can imagine it being hard to let go of your 900 bed.
As far as any other things that I had a hard time giving away… nothing. As I already mentioned, I don't have a nice bed. I don't have any pets and by no means am encouraging people to give away their pets.
I truly had no issues giving my stuff away. Nothing. Well except the books.
To be fair I think it has to be due the fact that I am a simple guy. When i divorced I truly forced myself to be without certain luxuries. A lot of that was out of necessity. Yet, after a while I realized that I did not miss many of those things… so what's the purpose of having them?
Tell me about your journey? You seem to have really embarked on your own and am curious to hear about it.
I like the Minimal concept.
As I realized everytime I had to move… Every Asset becomes a Liability 