There’s a wonderful documentary out there called Minimalism. It features two young men, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who have some pretty neat observations on what makes us happy (and what doesn’t). As you may have guessed, these two advocate for a more minimalistic lifestyle that forsakes many of the material comforts to which we’ve grown accustomed.
As the 21st century has progressed, there’s been no shortage of writers, philosophers, sociologists and other experts who have made it their mission to condemn the consumerism that has invaded American society. Two of the biggest and most important distinctions between these two young men and those scholars are: approachability and practicality.
Joshua and Ryan are observers, not preachers. They encourage awareness, analysis and a path that leads to the template of minimalism that works for you. They don’t just gripe about the tragic and mind-numbing fate of a robotic society – they make suggestions based on the things that have created genuine relief and happiness for themselves and their followers.
Unsurprisingly, many of their values align with the tiny house movement. The documentary follow individuals and couples who have already transitioned in one way or another, and are reveling in their newfound joy. Spoiler alert: mindfulness is powerful and less physical clutter leads to less mental clutter.
Come summertime, we’re hoping this will be the first installment of Tiny SMART House “Movie in the Meadow.” We’ll grab some snacks, throw down some blankets, and project films onto the side of our shop free of charge.
… And for those of you who can’t make it, yes. It’s on Netflix.