One of the most fulfilling ways of clearing out the road to minimalism for me is to give.

Friends who move to Amsterdam for a year get the rug that has been collecting dust somewhere underneath my bed. Other people I make happy with a coat I don’t wear anymore. When things have the potential of making a bit of money I consider selling it online, but the idea of making other people happy without them having to spend money… It’s the best feeling!

But it can get even better. Going through my books every once in a while, I always find some that were fun reads but that I don’t desire to keep. Most of these books I pass on. To random people. Whom I don’t know and probably will never meet. I leave books on trains and in café’s for example. Hoping that someone will be brave and curious enough to pick it up, open the first page and read:

 

For me this is a good way of parting from things.
It leaves me with the happy thought that it might be used by someone else.
The idea that someone reads it and passes it on.
Somewhere.
Who knows where it will travel to.
This is minimalism for my material soul.
That replaces something material with happiness.
With a smile on my face.

 

 

 

 

It doesn’t always go as planned in my dreamer’s mind, though.
A couple of weeks ago I left another book on the train.
When I was about to get off, a boy tapped me on the shoulder.
“You forgot your book, miss.”
Such a kind, thoughtful gesture!
I told him I’d finished it and left it for someone else to read.
At the signal of closing doors I quickly jumped off.
Leaving the confused boy behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a question: did you ever find one of my old books?