Adelaide Minimalists
Editors note: Its great when different groups can find common ground. No one group can solve the environmental and social problems we are facing. Working with like-minded groups can bring new ideas and perspectives on what we are doing. Together it is also easier to create more healthy and sustainable society for all. With that in mind the following piece on the Minimalist/Simple Living movement has been written by Michelle Wigg, who isn’t a member of Sustainable Communities, but has attended several One Planet Markets and is a LETS member. For those interested in both Simple Living and Sustainability the Simplicity Collective based in Australia is a good example of the overlap between the movements.
Written by Michelle Wigg
Adelaide Minimalists is a new meet-up group for like-minded people inspired by TheMinimalists.com, to share experiences with minimalism – living deliberately and simply. The group provides friendship, support and advice for both practising and aspiring minimalists.
The February meet-up was held at the One Planet Market, which aligns well with principles of minimalism – for example, getting more in touch with community, decluttering, and eating local, healthy food.
So, what is minimalism? As described on The Minimalists website:
Minimalism is a tool used to rid yourself of life’s excess in favour of focusing on what’s important so you can find happiness, fulfilment, and freedom.
Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps people question what things add value to their lives. By clearing the clutter from life’s path, we can all make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.
Minimalism has helped us:
- Eliminate our discontent
- Reclaim our time
- Live in the moment
- Pursue our passions
- Discover our missions
- Experience real freedom
- Create more, consume less
- Focus on our health
- Grow as individuals
- Contribute beyond ourselves
- Rid ourselves of excess stuff
- Discover purpose in our lives
‘The Minimalists’ are Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus from USA, who conducted a 100-city tour for the launch of their book, Everything That Remains (www.theminimalists.com/etr/). The Adelaide launch in November 2014 had over 400 attendees, with a meet-up group emerging as a legacy of the event.
If you would like to read more about minimalism, visit www.theminimalists.com/minimalism
Other notable writers in this area include Leo Babauta of ZenHabits.com and mnmlst.com, Joshua Becker of BecomingMinimalist.com, and Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle.
Join the Adelaide Minimalists Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/adelaideminimalists/
