intentional simplicity vs minimalism

my story…

My story begins in the north woods of Minnesota, on 80 acres in the mid 60’s. My parents were very self-sufficient, hard-working and frugal. When I was young my mother would read aloud the Laura Ingalls Wilder books each winter to my sister and me.

Our life was somewhat similar to these books…my parents cut and split their own wood to heat our home, my mother sewed, knit, crocheted, made candles, canned and raised chickens. My parents built our house nearly completely by themselves. It was a very hands-on life. My father worked full-time and a bit later we also had a seasonal gift shop that my sister and I worked in, bought merchandise for and made crafts to sell in.

Over the course of the next 15 years or so I went to college, lived overseas, traveled and kept my belongings to a minimum. I then moved back to my home country.

It was just over a decade ago I found myself reading once again the ‘Laura and Mary books’, as I affectionately call them, to my own daughter.  At the end of the second book Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura and baby Carrie are moving from the prairies where they had lived and made their life for the past year, easterly out of Indian Territory. With my own thoughts, at that time, of moving fairly soon those few paragraphs made a deep impression on me.

after breakfast next morning…

“After breakfast next morning, Pa and Ma packed the wagon. First all the bedding was made into two beds…covered with a pretty plaid blanket. Next Pa took the small cupboard from the wall and in it Ma packed the food and the dishes….Ma packed all the clothing in two carpet bags, and Pa hung them…he hung his rifle…bullet-pouch and powder-horn…His fiddle in its box he laid on one end of the bed…Ma wrapped the black iron spider, the bake oven, and the coffee-pot…Pa tied the rocking chair and the tub outside…the water bucket and the horse bucket underneath…Now the wagon was loaded.”

For the five years I had been back in the US I had so easily amassed possessions, more than I had ever had. There were so many things at discounted prices, treasure at the curb-side and yard sales through-out summer. When I read that passage I realized I had moved beyond what I deemed enough and had far too much.

i could not imagine…
I could not imagine at any point in my life being able to pack all that was dear to me in the short span of a morning, as the Ingalls had. I have lived in small dwellings from a caravan measuring 8’ x 25’ to a town-home with a total of just 490 sq.ft. I have also lived in larger homes, as I do now. Whilst I am a proponent of simplicity and the value of quality over quantity, I do not believe I will ever reach the place of being a dedicated minimalist.

8 reasons why this is so… i can not imagine…

Only owning ‘100 things’
Having my photographs displayed in digital frames
Having what I read viewed only on a screen
Living where I do without a car
Detaching from my most sentimental items
Discarding my daughters kindergarten papers
Having only one set of dishes
Selling the objects d’art collected on my travels

“Life is about balance and realizing that contentment and peace can not be purchased or found within things, is a concept as old as time”

I do, however, enjoy curling up on the inviting sofa with one of our many books and holding it in my hands while I read. I love pouring over old letters and cards from special people throughout my life and reading their thoughts captured in time. I love seeing the rustic bench from my grandmother each day when I wake up. I enjoy serving simply prepared foods on different pretty dishes, depending on the season. I am a touchy-feely person with creativity running in my veins. I like things that are beautiful, well made, tactile and purposeful.

to create a home…

A house is far more than the pieces or belongings contained inside. To create a home, a feeling of safety and refuge is very important, especially when children are part of the environment. We need somewhere warm and dry with enough food to eat. But, we also need a place that allows us to be open and talk about what our fears, dreams, concerns and aspirations are. I believe when we surround ourselves with intentional pieces that connect us to our past, comfort us when we look at them and inspire us to connect to our vision, then we are creating a home that reflects who we are and fosters our relationships.

Simplicity is finding the balance between too much and too little. For me, as a designer and writer, I will continue to be intentional, but surround myself with tangible beauty and bound books. How do you find the balance?