I have followed the writings of “the minimalists” of an on for several years. Not long ago, my family of 7 lived in a 950 square foot, 2 bedroom condo. We lived there for 7 years. Naturally, we became, to a degree, minimalists. It was during that time I discovered the writings of Mr. Millburn and Mr. Nicodemus.
Early to rise reprinted an article of theirs this morning. I found it to be good advice and thought you might as well.
By Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus
Was America’s third president a minimalist? Probably not. We need only look at his 5,000-acre Monticello home, his cannonball-powered clocks, and his powdered wigs to assume that simplicity was not on his mind. But he did have some compelling beliefs that align with our simple-living values. These are Thomas Jefferson’s ten rules for a good life:
1. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have it.
4. Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap; it will never be dear to you.
5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6. Never repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. Don’t let the evils that have never happened cost you pain.
9. Always take things by their smooth handle.
10. When angry, count to 10 before you speak; if very angry, count to 100.
I agree with Mr. Jefferson… until we get to number 10. At that point, I prefer the advice of Mark Twain, who suggested, “When angry, count to 10 before you speak; if very angry, start swearing.”
