Last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus aka The Minimalists as they were visiting Vancouver, BC, on their Everything That Remains book tour. They were so lovely, warm, and open, and gave a very inspiring speech to a huge Vancouver audience. So many people showed up they had to do their show twice! They also give great hugs 🙂
I just finished reading their new book, Everything That Remains, which they describe as not a “how-to” book, but a “why-to” book. If you get the chance, check this book out. You’ll experience sadness, joy, laughter, and inspiration, but most of all, a new perspective on what is really important in life. After finishing it, I honestly came out with a new appreciation of living a deliberate life, and more confidence to really own my destiny. Anything worth anything takes effort, while passivity leaves us hollow.
What if everything you ever wanted isn’t what you actually want? Twenty-something, suit-clad, and upwardly mobile, Joshua Fields Millburn thought he had everything anyone could ever want. Until he didn’t anymore.
Blindsided by the loss of his mother and his marriage in the same month, Millburn started questioning every aspect of the life he had built for himself. Then, he accidentally discovered a lifestyle known as minimalism…and everything started to change.
That was four years ago. Since, Millburn, now 32, has embraced simplicity. In the pursuit of looking for something more substantial than compulsory consumption and the broken American Dream, he jettisoned most of his material possessions, paid off loads of crippling debt, and walked away from his six-figure career.
So, when everything was gone, what was left? Not a how-to book but a why-to book, Everything That Remains is the touching, surprising story of what happened when one young man decided to let go of everything and begin living more deliberately. Heartrending, uplifting, and deeply personal, this engrossing memoir is peppered with insightful (and often hilarious) interruptions by Ryan Nicodemus, Millburn’s best friend of twenty years.
http://youtu.be/gnKvtfEGDjQ
And now for the awesome news! I’ve got a copy of Everything That Remains that is SIGNED by Joshua and Ryan, and I am giving it away to one of you lovely people! All you have to do is the following:
- Leave a comment below about a book, blog or person that has inspired you on your minimalism or personal journey and why
- Follow me on Twitter here
- Follow The Minimalists on Twitter here
That’s all! In a few weeks I will choose a winner at random and you will be mailed a copy of this incredible book!
You can purchase the book here!
Hi Pia. Your story on Miss Minimalist led me to subscribe to your posts and so you, along with Miss Minimalist and The Minimalists have helped me along on my minimalist journey. I’m constantly striving for Less of the Excess 🙂
How wonderful to actually meet Joshua and Ryan! I’m hoping to meet them and get a hug in November when they come to Sydney, Australia. I have a Kindle version of Everything that Remains” but wouldn’t say no to a signed hard copy if I was lucky enough to win it!
Thanks,
Megan
Thank you, Pia, for this wonderful chance for beautiful inspiration that encourages others!
I have followed both you and The Minimalists on Twitter just now.
A person that has inspired me on my minimalist or personal journey? So tough b/c minimalism for me seems so different from the mainstream bloggers of the movement, although they do inspire me as do you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here or have you on my regular reading list.
I think Rhonda Hetzel of http://down—to—earth.blogspot.com/ is a big inspiration. Although not “minimalist” she does embody the idea of a “simple” life full of what you love. I started reading her blog a good decade ago. I suppose it was my starting point for questioning what is important to me instead of being on auto-pilot.
I would describe myself as a Boheme Minimalist or some term that conjours up the idea of country living in the woods surrounded with some forms of clutter (like baskets for picking veggies, garden hoses hung from ceder porch posts, and bottle trees.) My minimalism is about loving art, crochet, writing, and nature while encouraging my family members to live their own dreams (chainmaille for DD, catering for DS, and mechanics for DH.) I’m in the process of realizing that my clutter is mostly knick-knacks and furniture that have family connections that I need to let go of. Moving toward quality necessities that reflect OUR home instead of the mish-mash we took in for the sake of having heirlooms.
I should start my own blog. I always get to carried away with my comments b/c I love to write/share. 😉
THANK YOU again for the chance to sit down with a good book over a cuppa!
Recently started blogging my own journey! I’ve linked it now…
Hi Teresa! I’ve chosen you as the winner of the signed book! You left such a thoughtful comment, and I really liked what you had to say. I’m so glad you started your own blog too! If you’d like me to mail the book to you, please email me your mailing address to my email at lessoftheexcess @ gmail.com
Enjoy the weekend!
Good grief! I can’t believe I’m just now seeing this since I kept checking back a little too obsessively. lol. Will do now! (You just made my month!)
Haha, too funny. Thanks for the email! I’ll have the book sent to you over the weekend 🙂
Miss Minimalist, Rowdy Kittens, Zen Habits, and of course The Minimalists have all been inspirations to live with less and get rid of the things that are bringing you down. I would love a copy of their latest book. Thanks.
Do you have to do all three to participate in the giveaway? I don’t have a Twitter account, so I guess that leaves me out. Oh, well. As for my minimalist inspiration, two blogs that I consistently read and that resonate with me are The Gardener’s Cottage (http://thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com/) and Be More With Less (http://bemorewithless.com/). While The Gardener’s Cottage isn’t strictly a minimalist blog, Janet writes about her quest for more simplicity in her life. She opens up her world to her readers with a gentle, genuine spirit that not only inspires admiration but encourages readers to seek out the best for their own lives. Courtney Carver (Be More With Less) is not only inspiring, but also motivates me to take action. Her Project 333 was probably the first concrete action I took to move my lifestyle in the direction of minimalism.
Hello! My inspiration for minimalist living came from this channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/UnRealLivingHQ
And this blog:
http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/
I have started to find out about more people, like yourself! Today I got rid of 23 items and my goal is to reach 200 by October 1st!
I realize my post did not address the “why” question. I want to own less because I’m realizing that I spend a lot of time each week managing all my “stuff” (organizing, cleaning, not being able to find things when I need them, etc. etc.). Also, on a larger scale, I realize that most of the stuff around my house does not add real value to my life. I want to own things that are useful. For me, this means photography & music equipment. Most of my other possessions are just a waste of money, time and space!