Skip to main content

My Minimalism Journey



2015 saw the rise of the popularity of minimalism in a more mainstream way and I, like so many others, jumped on the bandwagon.

Although I’ve always kept my personal space organized and somewhat neat, I still felt like I had too much stuff. I was holding on to clothes that didn’t fit even though I had long since run out of closet space. I had way too many notebooks and random papers, and little trinkets that I thought I might want or use….eventually. In late 2015, some of my favorite Youtubers talked to a certain extent on the ideals of minimalism, intriguing me to no end.

Minimalism is essentially the idea of getting rid of the unnecessary stuff in your life to make room for the things that matter most to you; whether that’s spending more time with your family and friends, creating art, or having more meaningful experiences.

As I studied more and more into this thing called minimalism I saw how happy the people who called themselves minimalists were. Most of which came from drastically materialistic lives and after achieving the “American Dream”, many of them realized it was more of a nightmare than a dream. The thought process behind the actions of acquiring more things is usually because we believe that we are supposed to, and in the process of “keeping up with the Joneses” we lose ourselves and become enthralled by stuff.

Everyone seemed to attribute their new-found happiness to minimalism, and that it was the source of their long-term happiness and fulfillment. But there really isn’t any true happiness and joy apart from God. God is the only place that people can receive what they are truly looking for: love, joy, peace, hope, and life. There is a great feeling in getting rid of the things that weigh us down. Relationships, things, or even the lifestyle that we are living, are things that can weigh us down unnecessarily, and can hinder us from living the life we are meant to live. Minimalism should be used as a tool to get things done, to cut things out of your life, to appreciate the people and the things around you, but not as the permanent solution.
Minimalism to me isn’t just about getting rid of things but also gaining things as well. Gaining things such as experiences with friends and family, gaining lightness because the space around me isn’t cluttered, and gaining my health from filling my body with only wholesome foods. I believe that minimalism should spread into all areas of my life, but not in the place of God.


XO,

       Tonya

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Typical Morning

Spring is the time where new things are birthed. The trees start to blossom. The flowers start to bud. This is also a time to start new habits or perhaps maintain new ones.   Having a morning routine adds some needed structure to my life. I’m already a naturally organized, structured person, but recently I’ve been really loving mornings and everything they bring to the day. The first thing I do in the morning , upon waking is to read my Bible and pray.  The Word of God bring life and I can definitely feel the difference when I do not talk my Creator. Make yo bed . Those little successes of the day help get you ready for a more productive day. I know everyone says to make your bed, but I really feel much better once I’ve made my bed. Oil pulling. Oil pulling is an ancient method of swishing oil (sesame, coconut, or olive) in your mouth for between fifteen to twenty minutes on an empty stomach. I use olive oil because I’m not a huge fan of coconut. While improv...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hustle

Hustling is my prayer for this year. I feel like the Lord gave me this word, this concept, to be my theme of the year. I want  2016 to be a year of intentional work as well as intentional resting. The last two months of 2015 were very hectic and it was during that time in my life that I realized how important my alone time was. I spent so much time investing and helping others that I forgot to make time to pause and do things for myself. So, I started trying to a cultivate a time in the morning, before any responsibilities were required, to rest. Rest in myself and in who God made me to be. It was also during this time, that I started this blog. Starting a blog has been something I had been wanting to do for a long time but never did. I think God wanted me to start as well, because suddenly  everything I listened to, whether it be a Youtube video or a sermon, was on starting something. But not just starting something, but specifically something that you were meaning to d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hello, It's Me

Hello! My name is Tonya Fowler. I have two sisters and one brother. Because of the age differences between my older siblings and my younger sister, (18-16, and 2 years, respectively), I always feel like the middle child. The one slightly neglected because of my naturally shy personality, compared to the exuberant personalities of my sisters and the quiet, kind personality of my brother, but when need be, I make my presence known. I’m more of an introvert at heart. I love reading, writing, photography(although I have yet to purchase a SLR), art, and creating. In my spare time I like to learn how to hip-hop dance and to code. I’m adventurous. A wanderlust at heart in search of new experiences. I love Jesus and seek to please him with my life. So continue to follow along as I share my experiences and ponderings on life.
Post a Comment
Read more