Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

We live in a disposable culture that pushes us to buy and replace items all the time, yet hasn't paid enough attention to what we should do with the things we're getting rid of.  No wonder there are people who would rather hang on to things they don't use – effectively creating a garbage dump in their own homes. How do you declutter if you care about the environment?  Where can you take your items so they don't just end up in a landfill?  How can you donate so that you're helping an organization, not burdening it?  The good news is that with some thought and care the problem can be solved, and you can use these solutions to keep your space calm and clutter-free without feeling guilty about the process. Thrift stores aren't always the solution. Decluttering experts may have a lot to answer for.  Since the premier of Marie Kondo's Netflix show, Tidying Up , donations have risen to the point that some charities are begging people to consider other ways of unbur...

The United States has never been a perfect nation.  For almost 250 years, we've had a dream – an ideal of equality and freedom under God.  And even though we have never really lived up to that, the dream has not only remained alive, but has inspired others around the world.  Some were people who left everything they knew and came here, hoping to build a freer life with more opportunity.  Some were nations who changed from within to create their own just and enlightened societies. We've fallen short a lot of the time, but there has still been a light that shone out and made a lot of positive difference in the world and in people's lives. Yet right now, our leaders are carrying out indiscriminate arrests of people who might be in our country illegally, claiming that they're targeting "violent offenders," even though most of those arrested have no criminal record at all.  Our President has gained political traction by claiming that immigrants have "bad genes...

When I was in my 20s with an overflowing wardrobe and credit card debt, I thought that living frugally would be no fun, but that it might give me a chance to stop juggling my bills every month and hoping that my car wouldn't break down. When I was in my 30s and had a house with two mortgages, full of furniture, décor, and stuff for my kids, I thought that living frugally would mean a bit of deprivation, but that it might give us a chance to stop juggling bills, hoping that the car wouldn't break down, and praying that none of us would need major medical care. When I was in my 40s with an underwater mortgage, five-figure credit card debt, a big car payment, and a cut in salary due to the 2008 economic crisis, I thought that living frugally was a necessity that might help us get back on a solid financial footing. Little did I know that living frugally is not only great for your wallet, but a way to become resourceful, grateful, persistent, and contented.  Living frugally not only...

I'm not a Catholic, but I was inspired by Pope Francis.  His compassion and obvious joy in serving God were, in my opinion, exactly what the Church needed. I was saddened by Francis' passing, because I think he's been a great blessing to many.  Especially today, when hyper-nationalism and far right politics are on the rise, we needed another strong voice to refute those trends.  His emphasis on humility and service set him apart as a leader in today's world.  He was outspoken about the plight of refugees and criticized the wars in Ukraine, Gaza (saying that "terror should not justify terror"), Sudan, and other places around the world.  He called for decisive action against the climate crisis.  And he promoted peaceful relations between those of different faiths and attempted greater understanding for LGBTQ+ individuals. The Pope of Mercy Born Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936, Pope Francis attended a technical secondary school and graduated...

"I could never be a minimalist." Nine times out of 10, this is what people say when I tell them what I write about.  "I could never give up my _____."  "It would just be too hard."  "I wouldn't want to limit myself." But here's the truth we hide from:  We're all minimizing something, whether we realize it or not. We're already limited. Every day, we make choices about how we'll spend our time, energy, money, attention, talents, affections, and more.  These important assets are all finite.  Even the richest or most talented person has a limit on his or her time and attention.  No one can have or do everything. So every day, we have to decide how we're going to use these precious resources.  And every choice is a trade-off.  If I say yes to doing or buying or listening to one thing, I have to say no to something else.  If I choose more possessions, I have to give up something else.  If I choose more work, I can't do some...

Lifestyle inflation is when your income goes up and your lifestyle follows right along.  So when you get a raise, you don't use it to pay down debt, save more for education or retirement or your dream vacation, or give more to those who struggle to get just the basics.  No .  When you get a raise, you enlarge your cost of living.  You buy a bigger house or a fancier car, you upgrade your electronics, you splurge on designer clothes, or you increase your personal maintenance costs (read: salon, spa, and personal trainer services). After all, you worked hard for that promotion and you deserve all those treats. Most of us do this.  My husband and I did it back in the day.  Within months after he signed his first public school teaching contract (effectively doubling his salary from the small church school in which he'd started his career), we had bought a house (borrowing the down payment), leased a new and larger car, bought new furniture, and started eating i...

As those of us in the U.S. near the end of this election season, I'm finding it hard to remain positive.  Maybe you're feeling the same. I have no intention of writing about politics or candidates or parties.  It's not going to happen.  But even though I spend minimal time reading about, listening to, or discussing most of the claims made by politicians, it's hard to escape the tirades, fear-mongering, and – unfortunately – outright lies that are publicized over all forms of media all day, every day. It's become ugly, and a bad advertisement for democracy and our supposedly great nation. American ideals All over the world, there are people who long for what the U.S. claims to have, and what was articulated by President Franklin Roosevelt – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.  They long for what President Barack Obama celebrated in his second inaugural address – a freedom that is not reserved to the lucky, a happiness that...

You've probably seen sci-fi books and movies that talk about "the next stage in human development."  Mostly, they refer to advances in technology and artificial intelligence.  Those are supposed to enable us to upload our consciousness into bodies that won't age or die, that can gather, store, and retrieve information thousands of times faster than a mere human brain – the next step in our evolution. That sounds terrifying to me. But what if there's another way to advance in our development?  What if there's another way to become more and better than what we are now?  I'm not talking about figuring out how to stop replication errors in our cell production so we can live to be 200.  I mean how we can improve our thinking, and ultimately our lives. I think I know what that is. The secret to our evolution Like all humans, I'm hardwired to look for problems.  It's a matter of survival.  I'm always aware of dangers and difficulties.  My default resp...

When I was living in Sacramento decades ago, getting my teaching credential and later working for the HR manager of a downtown firm, I often rode the city buses.  The thing about buses is that you're thrown together with strangers.  Much like when you're standing in a line, you have a connection.  You're all trying to get where you're going, and there's a type of mutual recognition and respect. You really see this when there's some sort of "incident" during the ride – someone is rude or in some way breaks the unwritten rules of behavior – and everyone rallies around to make sure things are set right.  Everyone's going in the same direction, invested in having this situation work the way it's supposed to. Not so self-sufficient after all We love our individuality, don't we?  That's why most of us prefer to drive our own cars.  We don't want to be dependent on the bus route or schedule, and we don't want to ride around with a bunc...

When we listen to the news – especially the rumors, rants, and outright lies that are so often reported as truth – it's easy to become angry, cynical, and full of despair. Our world is far from perfect.  There's crime, pollution, disease, hunger, wars and rumors of wars.  There's the insane hatred that leads to terrorism.  And global warming threatens food and water shortages, natural disasters, and the real possibility that life as we know it will become impossible. Even as we try to make improvements, new problems emerge.  It's as if we're in a boat that has sprung a fatal leak, and no amount of bailing will save us.  Human error and selfishness seem to outweigh our ingenuity and goodwill. The road of hope So why bother to try?  Why not embrace isolationism, take care of ourselves, and forget about everyone and everything else?  Why not give up and let Armageddon come? That's the road of no hope.  Those choices let selfishness and evil win. I re...

What is life as a minimalist really like?  I write all the time about the benefits of minimalism, and why less is more should be your mantra for life.  And everything I've said is true, but maybe it's my duty to point out a few of the negatives.  After all, there are downsides to almost everything.  It won't all be roses.  Minimalism is freedom.  It's clarity.  It's energy, time, and resources to spend on what you believe is important, rather than wasting your life trying to be the person with the most toys. But opinions about minimalists are often mistaken and uncomplimentary.  Along with some necessary lifestyle adjustments, these opinions represent the thorns among the roses. Consider yourself warned. 17 changes and conjectures to beware 1.  A well-known regular You're going to get to know local charities, consignment stores, and maybe the dump too well as you clear out your clutter. 2.  So much time As a minimalist, you'll have to f...

When we come to the end of a calendar or fiscal year, or start gathering the paperwork we need to file tax returns, we may think back on our financial decisions of the past 12 months.  Or we may have this internal heart-to-heart as each bank statement or credit card bill arrives in the mail. For many of us, these thoughts bring regret.  Maybe we're unhappy about overspending, missed savings opportunities, or major expenditures that now seem unwise.  Maybe our level of debt causes anxiety or shame.  In spite of our intentions and resolutions, we may wonder how we let ourselves make these terrible choices yet again. Don't follow this trend. If you're in this situation, you're not alone.  The average American family added 14% more credit card debt in 2022 , and even more in 2023.  Auto and personal loan balances are up, and Experian reports that mortgage debt has seen record growth.  Millions of Americans spend more than they earn every month , the exact ...