The Accumulation of Happiness

Let me begin by saying that this website is a place for my wife and I to share our experiences on our journey to a minimalistic lifestyle. As I started thinking about what I wanted to write about in this first entry, several things came to mind. I could talk about what we are doing, how we are doing it, or why we are doing it, but none of those things really resonated in me as a great first post for our blog. While we do want to talk about the other topics I mentioned eventually, today I want to write about the perceived accumulation of happiness that has led us to this point.

Several months ago, as I was sitting at my computer desk playing a game on our desktop computer with a Kindle Fire propped up next to me steaming a movie, I had a thought. I sat there wondering if this is what it took for me to be happy. Did I need multiple devices with the ability to do similar tasks, was I accumulating happiness or was I just accumulating "stuff". This thought led me further into my mind and I began contemplating all of the useful hobbies and tasks I could accomplish with the time I was currently wasting. Right then I was hooked on this idea of a minimalistic lifestyle. Being content with what I have, and finding happiness in the meaningful relationships that surround me. I thought about how much better of a husband, father, and person I could be if I really bought into it. Unfortunately, after very minimal effort, I gave up quickly on this idea and went back to the status quo. The same status quo that a majority of Americans live in every day.

Fast forward to this week, and picture me sitting at my computer desk playing a game, Kindle Fire propped up next to me streaming a movie once again. This week I realized that I was again trying to find happiness by the accumulation of "stuff". I spoke to my wife about minimalism for a second time this week and she was exceptionally supportive and enthusiastic about the idea. While we do have differing ideas and opinions we look forward to sharing with you, we both agree that our lives and the life of our son can be improved with a drastic change. We will be continuing to update this blog during our journey to try and help others to determine if this may be the right choice for them. Hopefully, over the next several months we can begin to accumulate happiness and remove the need for our accumulation of stuff!

- Ryan