This month I deactivated my FB account, uninstalled the app in my phone and also the messenger app. There are so many distractions and I have to be careful where to put my attention to so I can focus on the important things that I care the most. I started reading the book "Total Freedom" and it's helping me to think about what really matters in my life the most. I've been decluttering and donating things to a thrift store near our house and I am giving more to get the peace and space that I want. I know it's not an overnight success but I'm adopting the Slow Living so I can be more intentional of what I'm doing. I am more peaceful now and happier without all the unnecessary things around me. Thank you so much for inspiring people to live a good quality of life before life ends. God bless you! ❤️🙏
True enough. I've been working online for years, given it up and decided to live sustainably. More time for my family, volunteering and cooking healthy food, meditating, cleaning our home everyday and being more present to my loved ones.
I’ve done the same-fired my butler, cut the household staff down to 5, put the chauffeur on 8 hour days, doubled my yoga classes & now live a life of frugality & self delusion.
I tackled my chest freezer and expired food first. 95% of each thrown out. All were expired. Frozen food dated back to 2018. Sad I wasted so much food.
Another one to apply minimalist principles is: people (having healthy personal boundaries in place eg being conscious not staying too long when visiting someone)
Good job D Bartz, Glad you are gaining success with minimalism! Isaiah 64:6 “All our works are like filthy rags” So believing on Jesus is the only true way to clean up our lives.
I can benefit from each point you made. Social media-the worst distraction for me! Also, I love what you said about food and needing less variety than we think. It’s kind of like clothing, we have lots but we wear the same few things over and over. Thank you!
I had an "a-ha" moment a few months ago. My husband & I flew somewhere where food prices were more than double what we pay at home. Since the purpose of our vacation was for sun & scenery, not food, we ate a VERY simple diet, all at our rental. I was shocked that we could be completely satisfied on oatmeal, toast, eggs, coffee, bananas, apples, tuna & egg sandwiches, a cookie, a pre-seasoned pasta or rice dish with canned tuna or chicken and canned peas or corn or fresh carrots or cucumber. We only drank water/coffee & purchased a small milk for oatmeal. That was all we had for a week! We ate big meals because there was nothing to snack on. We didn't miss our 50+ options because they weren't in our airb&b to remind us of what we missed. We also lost 1-2 lbs each.
I’ve been eating the same breakfast and lunch for over 20 years. Oatmeal with fruit for breakfast and a spinach salad with lots of other veggies for lunch. Makes grocery buying so easy.
Thank you for this message! You have made me live a better and more productive life. I'm not young, so I'm proof that it's never too late to change. I'm so happy!
Thanks so much for your continuous support Joshua. This is the second time I've heard you mention your diet in recent weeks, would you ever consider a video or blog about how you eat/cook? You mention you are minimal with the ingredients you choose, it would be fascinating to hear about how you remove added stress and unnecessary ingredients from your kitchen whilst maintaining a balanced diet. I appreciate this isn't really your kind of thing but I'm sure you could put your Joshua spin on the topic 😉
Keeping this valuable vlog. Many of these have occurred to me as I declutter . Thank you for mentioning them. I have especially found reducing words to be so helpful. It reduces my confusion and my listener’s confusion. It also helps me to listen better.I have experienced the truth of the proverb that says something about where fewer words are spoken, there is less error.
Thank you for mentioning minimizing words. I’ve thought about this a lot lately, and notice that people (at least in my circles) tend to talk way more than is necessary to make a simple point. I’m trying to work on this!
I had deleted Facebook for 3 years and now that I'm back on it I do not obsess over it any more as I only use it for the 3 things that are important to me. And this applies in many other areas in my life. I cleared toxic people and clutter from my home, and more.
Thank you for these great videos. Our family here in Australia has learned so much from them. We have never commented before but wish to let you know we’re enjoying the whole experience one day at a time. It’s brought such peace, quality and joy to our life and our living space. Thanks again Joshua. ✨💐✨
Minimize WORDS! Yes! Choosing them carefully is so wise. Self-talk…absolutely. We would never speak to others the way we can often speak to ourselves. It can take time to retrain our neural pathways in this area, but so worth. I have kept a fortune cookie fortune in my wallet for years with the “chasing-two-rabbits” proverb. It has helped me much over the years. Love your work, Joshua!
#15 🎯🎯🎯 To quote some of my favorite lyrics, “Tell me who knew that simply being content was the dream come true.” My life doesn’t look like the typical 30-something, but I am more satisfied and peaceful than I have ever been 😌
I found that I would have takeout when I felt too busy and too tired to make a decision on what to eat. Now I have the same thing for breakfast daily, same thing for lunch daily, same thing for dinner daily. I occasionally have something different but at least when I'm tired I don't have to think of what to make since I always have what I need to make my one set meal. No thinking required.
your sessions are extremely helpful as I start this new journey. it is so much more than stuff that pulls us away from the best intentions to pare down. very encouraging and supportive .
Social Media is a huge distraction for me. That is my GOAL to limit. I do meal plan & we eat healthy!!! Exercising more needs to be increased!! Thank you for sharing!!! 😊😃😄
I read a little book about 25 years ago by Elaine St James called Simplify Your Life and I still recommend it. That was before the internet and social media and streaming services etc, but it changed my life forever. I agree with every one of these points Joshua. I still have to work at it like everyone, but I love my calm simple life. We can be easily overrun with distractions, stimulation, too many choices and too many decisions.
I read Elaine's book as well and it started my minimalist journey as well. Loved her books, but I have reaaly enjoyed all of Joshua's books and videos and blogs as well! Great stuff.
THIS is exactly why I signed up for your Uncluttered course! I was having trouble explaining it but these are the reasons why. I have minimalized my possessions over the last few years but know other areas in my life need to be filtered to a more comfortable level.
I especially liked #4, food... among others. While raising my children it was easier to make a list of our favorite meals, and the groceries needed to buy for those. I'd try a new meal sometimes. Also, I'd always try to minimize the prep time, for instance, in grating cheese for 2 meals at once and storing the extra in the fridge until needed later that week.. Soon I had it so concise that we'd repeat the same meals every couple of weeks. It didn't seem to get boring and no one complained. It was much easier than wondering what to have for dinner and having to go out for fast food at the last minute. You could only do big grocery shopping once a month, too, which would result in saving money and time! Shop one day, then the next day sort, do prep work, label containers and store in the freezer. As the month progresses, take something out of the freezer the night before to cook the next day; put ii in the refrigerator. Get into a routine and relax the rest of the month!
Thank you for the insightful explanation and the wonderful tips, Mr. Becker. I couldn't agree more. Have a wonderful weekend and blessings to you and yours 🙏🏻🎉
Thank you again, I'm always looking forward to your weekly encouragements! Sometimes I really need them, because I feel pretty lonesome in the world as you describe it...
Joshua, I like this video as you highlighted a range of things that takes our precious time away from what's most important to us. It's amazing how much time we now spend using too much technology throughout the day. You made an interesting point about reducing the amount of variation in our food; not only can it take up too much of our time, but we end up with a kitchen full of food that we don't use often enough. I like variety, but there are ways to simplify the ingredients and cooking time and frequency. Your point of consciously using less words as a test for one day is an excellent idea. Leonard Cohen was a master at using as few words as possible to make huge statements. It amazes me how you can keep producing new videos applying variations on the same theme. By listening to you, I feel more centred. Thank you so much!
Wow! What a blessing of a message. Joshua, all your messages are good and worthwhile and this one is one of the very best and one of the most important. Thank you!
I really appreciate this channel. I’ve been inspired by the concept of minimalism; and I’m attempting to start the process downsizing my video collection (DVDs, BluRays, tapes, etc.). It’s been pretty challenging because for years and years people have known me as a movie guy; i.e. it’s sort of become who I am. Definitely a mental thing. But I’ve realized I’ve become a hoarder; and movies have completely taken over my space! I would say that movies still bring me joy; so I’m finding it rather difficult to decide where the line should be drawn.
This sounds tough Matt, could you consider an alternative way to display your movie collection instead of in DVD form? A poster or coffee table books, visual reminders of the movies you love and that will spark conversation or act as a reference point without needing to store the whole collection maybe?
I would love to see a video that goes more into the food aspect of minimalism that you mention here. I did search your blog and sort of found a post about it, but a video would be great! (If there isn't already one) Thanks!
Absolutely true:when you start living intentionally in one srea than you extrnd it to many other area.I live in Sicily and as you know in Europe in general we are minimalist or,at least,not as consumist as in the USA so it's not so difficult to us.Thanx for all the inspiration
This content is purely original.Thank you Sir. I am satisfied with my adopted habits of minimising in all areas except my official front. It became out of my reach and I am compel to live in stress. Please advise.🙏
So agree with the food. I have 1-2 meals a day but things like sauces I no longer use. Eat keto as much as I can. Have given up vegetables and limit fruits to berries.
Every Thursday for dinner we have quiche ,muffins and a small bowel of fresh mixed fruit. Then there are plenty of left over for Fridays breakfast. My husband loves it !
1. Eat simple for health ❤ 2. Optimise entertainment options 3. Keep on learning on road to achieve minimalism cos it’s not easy; but we try our best ❤😊
Good morning, Joshua, I teach a couple of classes of 10th and 11th graders in a very small school. It’s a couple of hours’ drive outside of Istanbul, Turkey. My kids are sons and daughters of Korean missionaries serving in the Middle East. Half of my class are refugee kids from Iran, Syria (Kurds), and Afghanistan. It is about an even split. Language is a challenge in my classes. Well, I have been using some of your RUclips entries and blog posts in my classes (sorry if there is something illegal about that or some sort of copyright infringement) but we run things on a shoestring around here and have to use what’s available. I wasn’t too sure how well this stuff about “minimalism” would be received by a bunch of kids who for the most part don’t have much. But I discovered that your work has really struck a chord with many of my students once we overcome the language issues. What’s the deal with that??? We watched your piece, 15 Places (other than Possessions) to Apply Minimalist Principles. I had a young student (maybe about 15-16) come up afterward and after a little prodding tell me that she had accepted the fact that she probably would never have a lot of clothes, a car, or a house, or any of the stuff that you talk about as normal in American society. She would probably never have children or even a husband because she had been shot in the stomach and abdomen a couple of times and thus was considered not a suitable mate for anyone. She told me she was trying to make peace with the prospect of not ever having much. She said she was finding some solace in your message of finding value not in things but instead in the intangibles of life. She told me that even after watching as members of her family were murdered in front of her and she herself shot and left for dead, she appreciated your words to the effect that things should never stand in the way of her passion. Her passions, for now, were to heal, to learn, and to one day find a couple of younger brothers who have gone missing. She did not want to be anxious about many of the things that people around her were always talking about. Distraction would not help her do what she believed she was called to do. As you would expect she loved your rabbit example. Chace two, lose them both. Her words were not for me. They were for you, so I thought I would pass them on. Once upon a time, I preached messages to a small rural church in Virginia. I was always surprised at what people would hear in those messages. Too often for comfort what they heard was not at all what I intended to say. I guess there was someone else in the mix. Who knows? Please keep up the good work. Fred Edwards Istanbul, Turkey
Please Joshua give me a short advice that will hit and stick to my head. My problem is I am listening to all your videos and other minimalists and really want to focus on other more important matters need to be accomplished in my life, but I am still spending money and shopping for stuff I have already and getting rid of them or piling them up in my spare room 😢.
Certainly thought provoking. I had to watch it twice and made notes. Thank you Joshua🙏. As I was reading comments and your response-somehow your comment seemed to disappear. it was for the person who has written the 15 topics. I hope I didn't delete it. Please let me know if I did something wrong. Tx
This month I deactivated my FB account, uninstalled the app in my phone and also the messenger app. There are so many distractions and I have to be careful where to put my attention to so I can focus on the important things that I care the most. I started reading the book "Total Freedom" and it's helping me to think about what really matters in my life the most. I've been decluttering and donating things to a thrift store near our house and I am giving more to get the peace and space that I want. I know it's not an overnight success but I'm adopting the Slow Living so I can be more intentional of what I'm doing. I am more peaceful now and happier without all the unnecessary things around me. Thank you so much for inspiring people to live a good quality of life before life ends. God bless you! ❤️🙏
Slow living is an absolutely wonderful principle to explore and move toward.
True enough. I've been working online for years, given it up and decided to live sustainably. More time for my family, volunteering and cooking healthy food, meditating, cleaning our home everyday and being more present to my loved ones.
Beautifully written, I am attempting to do the same thing.
I’ve done the same-fired my butler, cut the household staff down to 5, put the chauffeur on 8 hour days, doubled my yoga classes & now live a life of frugality & self delusion.
I tackled my chest freezer and expired food first. 95% of each thrown out. All were expired. Frozen food dated back to 2018. Sad I wasted so much food.
Another one to apply minimalist principles is: people (having healthy personal boundaries in place eg being conscious not staying too long when visiting someone)
I’ve been looking at a lamp and telling myself it just needs another shade - nope, it needs another home!
1. Social Media
2. Schedule
3. Habits
4. Food
5. Entertainment
6. Money spent
7. Money needed
8. work
9. words
10. Negative self-talk
11. Digital clutter
12. Goals
13. Notifications
14. Visual clutter (noise)
15. Success
Ohhhhhhhh thanks for sorting that into the 1 to 3 for me thank you
Thx for doing this list ! Much appreciated
These are very thought provoking. Thank you for making these videos. You are helping all of us become better humans!
Thanks so much for the kind words.
Thank you for the opportunity to consider whether we are living our best lives, and how to make them better.
Good job D Bartz, Glad you are gaining success with minimalism! Isaiah 64:6 “All our works are like filthy rags”
So believing on Jesus is the only true way to clean up our lives.
I can benefit from each point you made. Social media-the worst distraction for me! Also, I love what you said about food and needing less variety than we think. It’s kind of like clothing, we have lots but we wear the same few things over and over.
Thank you!
Hi Terri! How are you doing?
Correct
Good point on the food. Can you also make a video on the variety, choice and habit of food that your family is leaning to.
The point about food caught my interest too. I would love to see a video on that also!
I had an "a-ha" moment a few months ago. My husband & I flew somewhere where food prices were more than double what we pay at home. Since the purpose of our vacation was for sun & scenery, not food, we ate a VERY simple diet, all at our rental. I was shocked that we could be completely satisfied on oatmeal, toast, eggs, coffee, bananas, apples, tuna & egg sandwiches, a cookie, a pre-seasoned pasta or rice dish with canned tuna or chicken and canned peas or corn or fresh carrots or cucumber. We only drank water/coffee & purchased a small milk for oatmeal. That was all we had for a week! We ate big meals because there was nothing to snack on. We didn't miss our 50+ options because they weren't in our airb&b to remind us of what we missed. We also lost 1-2 lbs each.
Hi Mary! How are you doing today?
I’ve been eating the same breakfast and lunch for over 20 years. Oatmeal with fruit for breakfast and a spinach salad with lots of other veggies for lunch. Makes grocery buying so easy.
Thank you for this message! You have made me live a better and more productive life. I'm not young, so I'm proof that it's never too late to change. I'm so happy!
Thanks so much for your continuous support Joshua. This is the second time I've heard you mention your diet in recent weeks, would you ever consider a video or blog about how you eat/cook? You mention you are minimal with the ingredients you choose, it would be fascinating to hear about how you remove added stress and unnecessary ingredients from your kitchen whilst maintaining a balanced diet. I appreciate this isn't really your kind of thing but I'm sure you could put your Joshua spin on the topic 😉
Keeping this valuable vlog. Many of these have occurred to me as I declutter . Thank you for mentioning them. I have especially found reducing words to be so helpful. It reduces my confusion and my listener’s confusion. It also helps me to listen better.I have experienced the truth of the proverb that says something about where fewer words are spoken, there is less error.
So much information worth multiple views! Thank you 🙏
Thank you for mentioning minimizing words. I’ve thought about this a lot lately, and notice that people (at least in my circles) tend to talk way more than is necessary to make a simple point. I’m trying to work on this!
Your definition is the best definition I have ever heard.
I had deleted Facebook for 3 years and now that I'm back on it I do not obsess over it any more as I only use it for the 3 things that are important to me. And this applies in many other areas in my life. I cleared toxic people and clutter from my home, and more.
Thank you for these great videos. Our family here in Australia has learned so much from them. We have never commented before but wish to let you know we’re enjoying the whole experience one day at a time. It’s brought such peace, quality and joy to our life and our living space. Thanks again Joshua. ✨💐✨
i think a huge thing to me where minimalism has changed my life is that it emphasizes both simplicity and priority which i love :)
Minimize WORDS! Yes! Choosing them carefully is so wise. Self-talk…absolutely. We would never speak to others the way we can often speak to ourselves. It can take time to retrain our neural pathways in this area, but so worth. I have kept a fortune cookie fortune in my wallet for years with the “chasing-two-rabbits” proverb. It has helped me much over the years. Love your work, Joshua!
#15 🎯🎯🎯
To quote some of my favorite lyrics, “Tell me who knew that simply being content was the dream come true.” My life doesn’t look like the typical 30-something, but I am more satisfied and peaceful than I have ever been 😌
Please share where these lyrics are from. Thank you
@@rw7206 it’s from “All I Have” by John Reuben.
I found that I would have takeout when I felt too busy and too tired to make a decision on what to eat. Now I have the same thing for breakfast daily, same thing for lunch daily, same thing for dinner daily. I occasionally have something different but at least when I'm tired I don't have to think of what to make since I always have what I need to make my one set meal. No thinking required.
your sessions are extremely helpful as I start this new journey. it is so much more than stuff that pulls us away from the best intentions to pare down. very encouraging and supportive .
Social Media is a huge distraction for me.
That is my GOAL to limit.
I do meal plan & we eat healthy!!!
Exercising more needs to be increased!!
Thank you for sharing!!!
😊😃😄
Thank you! Learned something new today: visual noise
Thanks, Joshua! I’m going to go clean my kitchen before I go to bed!
I read a little book about 25 years ago by Elaine St James called Simplify Your Life and I still recommend it. That was before the internet and social media and streaming services etc, but it changed my life forever. I agree with every one of these points Joshua. I still have to work at it like everyone, but I love my calm simple life. We can be easily overrun with distractions, stimulation, too many choices and too many decisions.
I read Elaine's book as well and it started my minimalist journey as well. Loved her books, but I have reaaly enjoyed all of Joshua's books and videos and blogs as well! Great stuff.
I read that book too! Life changer.
That book also started my journey! ❤
This was Excellent! Very helpful. Thank you.
I always love your videos. Such great advice! Thank you and keep doing what you do.
The best and most thought provoking insights today
Hi Selena! How are you doing?
THIS is exactly why I signed up for your Uncluttered course! I was having trouble explaining it but these are the reasons why. I have minimalized my possessions over the last few years but know other areas in my life need to be filtered to a more comfortable level.
Hi Renee! How are you doing?
I especially liked #4, food... among others. While raising my children it was easier to make a list of our favorite meals, and the groceries needed to buy for those. I'd try a new meal sometimes. Also, I'd always try to minimize the prep time, for instance, in grating cheese for 2 meals at once and storing the extra in the fridge until needed later that week.. Soon I had it so concise that we'd repeat the same meals every couple of weeks. It didn't seem to get boring and no one complained. It was much easier than wondering what to have for dinner and having to go out for fast food at the last minute. You could only do big grocery shopping once a month, too, which would result in saving money and time! Shop one day, then the next day sort, do prep work, label containers and store in the freezer. As the month progresses, take something out of the freezer the night before to cook the next day; put ii in the refrigerator. Get into a routine and relax the rest of the month!
Always Outdoing your Already Perfectly Helpful and Delightful Self. May God Bless You and Your Family Specially this year.
Love this video, and the wonderfully exhaustive list. It literally captures the true spirit of minimalism. Thank you, Joshua!
Excellent concluding words. I will keep them in mind this weekend as I shape my environment and my life. Many thanks!
This post was on a whole new level. Thank you.
Thank you for the insightful explanation and the wonderful tips, Mr. Becker. I couldn't agree more. Have a wonderful weekend and blessings to you and yours 🙏🏻🎉
Thank you again, I'm always looking forward to your weekly encouragements! Sometimes I really need them, because I feel pretty lonesome in the world as you describe it...
Love this and agree...this is a work in progress for me with the end goal of less distractions..
Thank you Joshua.
You always make so much sense Joshua. Thank you.
Joshua, I like this video as you highlighted a range of things that takes our precious time away from what's most important to us. It's amazing how much time we now spend using too much technology throughout the day. You made an interesting point about reducing the amount of variation in our food; not only can it take up too much of our time, but we end up with a kitchen full of food that we don't use often enough. I like variety, but there are ways to simplify the ingredients and cooking time and frequency. Your point of consciously using less words as a test for one day is an excellent idea. Leonard Cohen was a master at using as few words as possible to make huge statements. It amazes me how you can keep producing new videos applying variations on the same theme. By listening to you, I feel more centred. Thank you so much!
I needed this today. Thank you.
💥A favorite episode! 100% awesome, worthy of listening to over & over 👍🏻
Hi Jessica! How are you doing?
Wow. Great list! Wisdom and joy can be found in these principles. Thank you much.🌸🌿
Hi Debra! How are you doing?
♥️♥️♥️. Great advice gentle voice and it's great to hear a blokes prospective.
Very thought provoking. Thank you. Love to hear your thoughts
Hi Pamela! How are you doing?
Could you please make a video of your family's simple healthy meal rotation? Thank you for all your videos! They are so helpful
Very good. Thank you and really encouraging.👏🏻😀
A brilliant message. Thank you Joshua
Wonderful. Thank you 💝
Very helpful! And I think 'information overload' (decluttering thoughts) should included on the list. Thank you for sharing :)
Excellent video, simply put that it gives you inspiration to start applying these tips. Thank you
Wow! What a blessing of a message. Joshua, all your messages are good and worthwhile and this one is one of the very best and one of the most important. Thank you!
Helpful & inspiring. Thank you.
I really appreciate this channel. I’ve been inspired by the concept of minimalism; and I’m attempting to start the process downsizing my video collection (DVDs, BluRays, tapes, etc.). It’s been pretty challenging because for years and years people have known me as a movie guy; i.e. it’s sort of become who I am. Definitely a mental thing. But I’ve realized I’ve become a hoarder; and movies have completely taken over my space! I would say that movies still bring me joy; so I’m finding it rather difficult to decide where the line should be drawn.
This sounds tough Matt, could you consider an alternative way to display your movie collection instead of in DVD form? A poster or coffee table books, visual reminders of the movies you love and that will spark conversation or act as a reference point without needing to store the whole collection maybe?
I would love to see a video that goes more into the food aspect of minimalism that you mention here. I did search your blog and sort of found a post about it, but a video would be great! (If there isn't already one) Thanks!
Great principals to live by! Thank you
Thank you! ❤
So glad to have Joshua as a fellow Peoria, Arizona "neighbor"...hello from 'Fletcher Heights '
Howdy from Vistancia.
Insightful video! Thanks 🙏
Thank you!
Thank You.
Enjoyed these well thought out tips. Essentialist another method we luv
Absolutely true:when you start living intentionally in one srea than you extrnd it to many other area.I live in Sicily and as you know in Europe in general we are minimalist or,at least,not as consumist as in the USA so it's not so difficult to us.Thanx for all the inspiration
I‘m from Germany and it‘s hardly less consumerist here than in the US, where I‘ve stayed for one year.🤷🏼♀️
This content is purely original.Thank you Sir.
I am satisfied with my adopted habits of minimising in all areas except my official front. It became out of my reach and I am compel to live in stress.
Please advise.🙏
Excellent. Thank you.
Thank you.
Even before I even finish watching your videos, I always hit the like, just really well made and very helpful.
Thank you Michael.
I really appreciate this video ❤
Fantastic video!! Thank you so much!!!
Hi Joanna! How are you doing today?
Another good message
Thanks.
Interesting thought about minimalist food 👍🏼
WOW!!! AWESOME INSIGHT:)
Wow! Thank you 🤔
So agree with the food. I have 1-2 meals a day but things like sauces I no longer use. Eat keto as much as I can.
Have given up vegetables and limit fruits to berries.
Every Thursday for dinner we have quiche ,muffins and a small bowel of fresh mixed fruit. Then there are plenty of left over for Fridays breakfast. My husband loves it !
Great video and thoughts
Hello Tanya! How are you doing?
1. Eat simple for health ❤ 2. Optimise entertainment options 3. Keep on learning on road to achieve minimalism cos it’s not easy; but we try our best ❤😊
Very helpful list!
Hello Anita! How are you doing?
Really interested in how you applt minimalism to food. I struggle meal planning trying to be more intentional about what we eat
Great video!
Great insight
Very positive message
Well said.
Great!
Well said
THUMBS UP! JOSHUA. Gina Kapuscinski
Good morning, Joshua,
I teach a couple of classes of 10th and 11th graders in a very small school. It’s a couple of hours’ drive outside of Istanbul, Turkey. My kids are sons and daughters of Korean missionaries serving in the Middle East. Half of my class are refugee kids from Iran, Syria (Kurds), and Afghanistan. It is about an even split. Language is a challenge in my classes.
Well, I have been using some of your RUclips entries and blog posts in my classes (sorry if there is something illegal about that or some sort of copyright infringement) but we run things on a shoestring around here and have to use what’s available.
I wasn’t too sure how well this stuff about “minimalism” would be received by a bunch of kids who for the most part don’t have much. But I discovered that your work has really struck a chord with many of my students once we overcome the language issues. What’s the deal with that???
We watched your piece, 15 Places (other than Possessions) to Apply Minimalist Principles. I had a young student (maybe about 15-16) come up afterward and after a little prodding tell me that she had accepted the fact that she probably would never have a lot of clothes, a car, or a house, or any of the stuff that you talk about as normal in American society. She would probably never have children or even a husband because she had been shot in the stomach and abdomen a couple of times and thus was considered not a suitable mate for anyone.
She told me she was trying to make peace with the prospect of not ever having much. She said she was finding some solace in your message of finding value not in things but instead in the intangibles of life. She told me that even after watching as members of her family were murdered in front of her and she herself shot and left for dead, she appreciated your words to the effect that things should never stand in the way of her passion. Her passions, for now, were to heal, to learn, and to one day find a couple of younger brothers who have gone missing. She did not want to be anxious about many of the things that people around her were always talking about. Distraction would not help her do what she believed she was called to do.
As you would expect she loved your rabbit example. Chace two, lose them both.
Her words were not for me. They were for you, so I thought I would pass them on.
Once upon a time, I preached messages to a small rural church in Virginia. I was always surprised at what people would hear in those messages. Too often for comfort what they heard was not at all what I intended to say. I guess there was someone else in the mix. Who knows?
Please keep up the good work.
Fred Edwards
Istanbul, Turkey
What about “people”? It’s funny when I saw the headline that’s where my head went and I love that thought. Either way GREAT video!
Another home run!
Amen
Please Joshua give me a short advice that will hit and stick to my head. My problem is I am listening to all your videos and other minimalists and really want to focus on other more important matters need to be accomplished in my life, but I am still spending money and shopping for stuff I have already and getting rid of them or piling them up in my spare room 😢.
Look up Dana K White. She's a great help.
!!….great…..!! GREAT
Certainly thought provoking. I had to watch it twice and made notes. Thank you Joshua🙏. As I was reading comments and your response-somehow your comment seemed to disappear. it was for the person who has written the 15 topics. I hope I didn't delete it. Please let me know if I did something wrong. Tx
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First!
I now live by the 1 minute rule thanks Joshua
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You have helped me again!!! Thank you!!!!♥️
Hello Mary! How are you doing?
My wife complains of my minimalism in the bedroom. 5 pumps I'm out. Gives more time to declutter