Review: Take back your life and enjoy the "elegance" of minimalism!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 2, 2014
What a wise and well-written little book!  It's a short read, but leaves you with so much to think about.This is NOT a de-cluttering guide, but an introduction to a lifestyle that eliminates the behavior that leads to clutter.  In a non-condescending way, the author explains that minimalism doesn't equate to poverty or de-cluttering.  If you become poor, you may lose possessions (by necessity, not choice) but you will probably experience sadness and anger, rather than relief.  If you force yourself (or are forced) to give up some of your precious possessions, you will also be left feeling deprived. Eventually you will get more stuff to fill the empty place in your life.  How many times have you read of friends and family cleaning out the house of a hoarder, only to have the hoarder fill it back up in record time!?!This book isn't about your "stuff."  It's about examining your FEELINGS about your possessions and determining if those feelings are adding happiness and peace to your life or stress and turmoil.  As the author points out, it's not just material things that clutter up our lives, but also activities and even people!  Are you buying what YOU want to buy? Doing what YOU want to do?  Spending time with people YOU want to be with?  Or are you following the path of least resistance and frittering your time, money, and emotions away without finding peace and happiness?In my long life, one thing that has always struck me is that the happiest people are those who feel that they have control over their lives.  The saddest, angriest people are those who feel they have no control.  This book is about taking control of your life in a way that is possible for ALL of us.