minimalist me

Last week we should have begun organizing all those thoughts and ambitions floating around in our head. As mentioned, we were creating a loose skeleton of what we want to become. Today we’re going to try and assemble those bones.

This is a good exercise to not only do this weekend, but frequently. Maybe at the start of every month sit down and do last week’s and today’s challenge.

We want to make sure that what we’re doing is in line with where we want to go.

We want to clear clutter from our lives, not to be boring and isolated, but to focus on our passions and what’s important to us. Having this in the forefront of our minds will help us as we make decisions every day. So here we go. Challenge number two…

Minimalist Challenge #2 | timeframe: 1+ hours this weekend

This isn’t to be rushed. Take an hour if need be. If you did last week’s challenge, you have a good start. But spend a little more time and think some more about your life and where it’s going. Where do you want to see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Write it down.

From all these notes and thoughts, create a list of 3-4 things that you would classify as things that you love and want more time for. It could include creating, painting, running, family, friends, education, learning, programming; whatever’s important to you.

These are the 3-4 things that should affect your life and actions.

Keep them in mind and start living your life in harmony with your aspirations.

It’s summer and it’s hot. That is, unless you live in another part of the world that is currently having winter… Antarctica?

But where I live in Ohio, it’s hot. And pretty much in all of the United States it is. So I thought I’d share with you 10 inexpensive and free ways to beat the heat this summer without cranking the A/C and running up your bill. (Although I do love that conditioned air!)

• Head to the library | they crank the air and have thousands of books to get lost in for hours
• Check out your local museum | again, more free air plus the chance to see some neat stuff
• Go to the pool | most cities have a public pool, but better yet – bum off your friends! Say you need to “catch up…” (poolside of course…)
• Eat plenty of fresh-from-the-fridge fruit and veggies | cool fruits and veggies are not only healthy but will give you a very welcomed cooling sensation
• Drink plenty of ice water | this keeps you hydrated and helps you feel cooler
• Do some window shopping at the mall | another cool place to go but remember – only window shop! We don’t want this becoming a thousand dollar day at the mall… :) Bonus benefit: great walking exercise!
• Check out a movie | I know tickets are expensive these days, but many cities have dollar theaters with older movies or if all else fails, matinees are always cheaper
• Soak a t-shirt in water, wring it out and put it on | add to that a breeze (via fan or wind) and feel your body cool down
• Browse a bookstore | very similar to the library scenario, but make sure you leave with your wallet full!
• Hang out at a coffeehouse | Arabicas, Starbucks; they’re air conditioned and let people just sit around for the most part. Bring a book or your laptop and enjoy!

Here’s to staying cool this summer!

Today, I am announcing a new feature that I hope proves successful in all your minimalist endeavors. Every Friday here at Minimalist Me I’ll be posting what I’m calling a “Minimalist Challenge” or “MC” for short. It’s a little challenge for your weekend or upcoming week to get you thinking and moving towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed, minimalist you!

Sometimes we want to do something, but unless we’re pushed to do it, we quite often don’t. So many hopes and dreams have become dusty fantasies because they’re never acted on.

So hopefully these little challenges will get you to stop wishing and start doing.

There are countless thoughts that run through our head every day. Many aren’t important and simply pass by. Yet there are others that we wish to hold on to and that may end up shaping who we are and what we do.

The mind is a very powerful thing. Whatever we dwell on we act on. Often, though, doubts seem to oblige themselves to stay in the forefront of our minds, pushing aside our dreams. So we want to fight against that and ponder our goals and aspirations, not as dreams, but as future realities.

With that in mind, here is the first challenge…

Minimalist Challenge #1 | timeframe: 1+ hours this weekend

Go somewhere quiet – the park, your room, the beach – anywhere that you can think for a period of time, undistracted. Bring a notebook and writing utensil.

Sit there and think. Think about your life, the lives of those you admire. What do you want to become? What do you want to do? If money and time weren’t options, what would you be doing? What have others done? What steps can you take?

Write everything down. No matter how insignificant of a thought it may seem, write it down. As you write, you’re creating a skeleton of what you want to become. A somewhat messy, distorted skeleton, but the bones are there.

Don’t make it perfect, we’ll tweak it next week.

“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” – Mark Twain

Being a minimalist goes further than just possessions. It also involves speech. Many words only clutter and are unnecessary. The way we talk and write should be simple, yet profound. Even the most complex ideas can be explained simply; we just need to find the right combination of the 500,000+ words in the English language to do so.

The haiku is a perfect example. With just three short lines, one can convey countless ideas and emotions. A well-crafted haiku makes the point, leaves us speechless and yet does it so simply.

Now, I’m not against talking and I’m not totally against lots of it; don’t get me wrong. A good story needs developed, it needs words. Sometimes we need to just talk and talk with our friends and family. Maybe an idea is just so complex in our minds that it takes lots of words to get it out at that moment. Talking is good. I’m sure, though, that we all know those who can talk and talk about nothing of much concern. That’s what I’m not cool with.

We should strive to talk less about nothing and more about something. Don’t waste words just because they’re free. Think, process, revise, speak. We’ll go further, develop more and enjoy the gift of speech.

Develop vocabulary. Speak more beautifully. Make people want to hear more. But leave them with their desires for another time.

Thus, with these thoughts in mind, I will strive to do the same with my posts from now on. Instead of writing hundreds of words that only complicate (which I’m good at), I will limit myself to writing no more than 350 words per post. 350 words that are beautiful and enlightening; not terrifying and confusing.