minimalist

Stories… and the Curing of Soul

Posted on by Chadwick and Amy

KelseyDrawing

One of the most wonderful facets of the minimalist community… particularly in the blogosphere, is that we are able to offer mentoring, directions, friendship, and family to each other. We’ve all taken the risk of stepping away from over-consumption.

As we journey together, we give and take insight that eventually ends up leading to a place of wholeness and healing. It is a safe place, where we are able, as individuals, to address our own baggage, brokenness, distortions and longings. As we learn from others, we are able to follow our own life story a bit more, and to grow into the person we’ve been created to be.

It’s an amazing community.

As we write, share, and learn from all of you, there are a few questions that we keep in mind, that helps us to recognize and isolate our own desires, hungers, needs, convictions, areas of separation, and thirsts of our soul. They go a little something… like… this…

  • What are you longing for in life?
  • Where do you experience this longing in your life right now?
  • What do you think is at the heart of your longing?
  • Where does your mind go when it isn’t focused on this longing?
  • Where have you experienced pain because something/someone else has taken the place of really satisfying the longing?
  • Who do you want to be?
  • Where are you compromising in life instead of pursuing your longing?

Questions like these are what make up your story.  How would you answer them?

This blog has been an attempt to address these questions in the moment… and unpack what lies at the root of it all.  All that being said…

What is your story… we would love to know.  If you are able, tackle one or two of them in the comment section below… or email us.   It is our desire to offer you the opportunity to share your story… through blog post, YouTube video, podcast, etc…

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Coziness

Posted on by Chadwick and Amy

coffee

When we began our journey towards minimalism, there were a few things at play.  We were both going through a major life change that made it practical to live with less… and, we had come across some great blogs that began planting the seeds in our minds that this could become a lifestyle for us and our family.

…and so…

We inched our way into this way of life wondering what it really all meant.  We became slightly more intentional about pursuing more wisdom from others by actively seeking out writings and videos of those who went before us.  We began looking for ways around the home that we could begin living with less.  We began looking at how our time was spent, and made room for relationships rather than busyness.

There was a lot of analyzing that took place… and some small steps in actually removing the ‘stuff’ that didn’t belong.

We had a lot of success when it came to the use of our time, we both classify ourselves as lazy (tongue in cheek)… We like to be together, doing nothing too strenuous.  Amy has her camera.  Chadwick has his words.  We enjoy rides in the car.  We have a paddle boat and a few favorite small quiet lakes to float around in.  It’s a strain to schedule anything during the evening… ever.

As we moved ever so slowly into the decluttering of life, we began to see that it wasn’t about have perfectly clear counters, or empty shells of rooms… but it was about living intentionally cozy.

We like cozy.

One facet of our minimalist journey has been creating space for coziness.

Coziness of space.

Coziness of time.

Coziness of presence… with each other, and with those with whom we share time and space.

Whether it’s the perfect blanket to snuggle in… the scent of the candles that Amy brings home… or the fact that our coffee pot is set up right next to the bed so that we don’t have to travel very far on any given moment… we intentionally choose coziness as a way to define our minimalist life.

What say you?