Minimalism, Hygge + Why we chose both.
John and I started our minimalist journey while I was pregnant with my oldest, technically seven years but we say six because the first year was trial and error. I’m often asked “what is minimalism?” And I personally love to quote Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist on this one. His response is:
“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.”
We were about to expect our first baby and at the time we were moving and completely overwhelmed. We were emptying our storage at the time and I noticed there were boxes taped up from OUR FIRST APARTMENT TOGETHER! Noooooo. Why were we lugging around untouched crap for almost 3 years?! I opened them to make sure we didn’t have important documents with personal info and then tossed them. (We have a more sustainable method of getting rid of items now that we have evolved and converted to the mission of less waste)
This lifestyle is a constant choice. It has been ingrained via media and peer pressure that we need more. This is something I LOVE helping people unlearn. We have a motto in our home, ‘memories over things.’ Does this mean we never shop? No, but we are absolutely intentional about what we bring into our home.
Which brings us to the myth. Minimalism is cold, straight lines, all black and white. Absolutely not. You can have a colorful wardrobe and still be minimalist by limiting yourself on your consumption and creating a capsule wardrobe for the season that makes your heart sing. You can also have a bright cheery home and still contain yourself in the way you decorate. Think colorful but textured. A minimal amount but with depth… which brings us to my second favorite word. HYGGE.
So what is Hygge? HYGGE, via dictionary, is described as ‘a quality coziness and comfortable conviviality (conviviality meaning: atmosphere that is friendly and enjoyable) that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being’
The Danish hold the crown in this lifestyle but I’m so happy to see it picking up here in the United States. I grew up in Belgium and attended an international school and was blessed to have seen and experienced this with the community we had there. Hygge is found in the way we romanticize life. A few examples that we love are:
Baking with our family or friends, enjoying the fruits of our labor.
Choosing a day to get cozy and snuggle on the couch, soft music playing, the littles making a puzzle as we sip our coffee and just be. Presentness, coziness and the invitation to unwind and let worries go.
The way the summer graces us as we open the windows, taking a moment to smell the fresh air, feeling the warmth of the sun while sipping lemonade on the porch
All of these gentle moments call us to slow down. And this is why we chose both. We chose minimalism so that we could unload, declutter, and eliminate the things that distract us and take time away from the things and moments that matter most. And we chose hygge to be a part of our lives to help us define what those moments should look like.
Today I ask you to reflect over your life. What is taking time from the moments that matter most? What can we eliminate today out of our lives to make space and time for the people and things that we wish to nurture? This month my goal is to help you, my dear readers, to rethink, reinvent and restore. I hope you join me as I help you this year with a series of thoughts, challenges and guidance into this new chapter.