When I look at the last few years of my life, it seems to me that many of the errors I have made or obstacles I have run into have had a common contributing factor. Since the shift from my high school to my college career, I have somehow lost the ability to reflect. If … Continue reading Reflection^2 →

It's 10:30 A.M., and I'm sitting in my hometown's best local coffeehouse. The sounds of coffee being ground, brewed, and poured fill my ears, and delicious scents of pastries and breakfast burritos fill the room. The walls and ceiling are done almost entirely in wood paneling (none of it matching), and the lamps and chairs … Continue reading Fortress of Solitude →

"Our identities are shaped by the costumes we wear. I am seated in a cramped conference room, surrounded by ghosts in shirtsleeves and pleated trousers." Those are the opening lines to "Everything That Remains," a memoir-esque work written by Joshua Fields Millburn (with "interruptions" by Ryan Nicodemus). Within the first couple of pages you can … Continue reading Musings on “Everything That Remains” →

Have you ever forgotten about your phone? You know, when you put it in a pocket or backpack and leave it there for a few hours? If you haven't, I definitely recommend it. There's something that happens when we don't have our phone in our hand or even within reach. That being said, I recently … Continue reading …it broke →

Recently, I embarked on my latest minimalist project (or challenge, depending on how you look at it). I kicked off the month of April by holding a packing party. The "party" part might be debatable, especially since I was the only one who showed up. But party or not, it went off without a hitch. … Continue reading Finding Your Packing Party →

This past week, the stars seemed to align just right. Every single essay or blog post I read on minimalism talked about pursuing your "passion". What I found myself thinking while reading all these things is that "passion" doesn't always equal "job." When people talk about pursuing their passion, we often assume they're a small … Continue reading Passion →

Have you ever read the book The Giver? Whether you have or not, you've probably heard someone, somewhere use the phrase "precision of language." According to an analysis of the book by Shmoop, "the entire purpose of 'precision of language' should be to avoid conflict and problems, misunderstanding, and even potential violence." Personally, I prefer … Continue reading Overused Words and How To Reclaim Them →

What if your living space was clutter-free? What if your car, your desk, your kitchen, and your phone contained only things you needed or used every day? Maybe you're thinking: "I'm a pretty clutter-free person, I don't want to read this." That's perfectly fine. I thought I was a clutter-free person, too . . . … Continue reading Clutter-free →