Joshua Becker's Blog, page 28

Five Reasons to Retire Often

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Jillian Johnsrud.

When my husband and I were married 20 years ago, things didn’t look very bright for our financial future. Between us, we had $55,000 of debt and low-earning career paths. But despite the circumstances, I knew I wanted more financial freedom. 

Then seven years ago, we started pursuing a more minimalist lifestyle.

We decluttered and got rid of half our possessions. We also downsized our commitments and obligations, freeing up calendar space.

I realized that pursuing financial freedom and minimalism had a lot of cross-over principles. They both encouraged you to examine your life. What really matters to you? What added to your life, and what was a distraction? And most importantly, both concepts helped you create something unique to your values and goals, even when that ran counter to cultural norms. 

I remember our first year of marriage, driving around in my Geo Metro. I had been reading through the Old Testament, you know, as the young kids do. And I came across this idea of sabbaticals. I had known about taking a day of rest each week, but this concept of taking a year of rest every seven years was intriguing. Driving around in my beater car, I posed the idea to my new husband. “What if we took off a year every seven years? It wouldn’t be so complicated. We could just set aside a bit extra, just for that purpose.”

He looked at me perplexed, “Honey, I don’t think people actually do that anymore.”  Indignant, I said, “Why not, it sounds like an amazing idea! I think we should at least try.” It was a short conversation, but it stuck with me. What if we saved up a bit of money to take periodic breaks from our work? Sure it was unusual. But imagine the possibilities. 

Over the next decade, we took all the little opportunities that life handed us. Unexpected job losses, requesting time off, and the gaps between careers. With a good amount of hard work and a fair amount of luck, we actually became financially independent when I was 32. But that’s another story for another day. 

Along the journey, we have taken a dozen sabbaticals or mini-retirements. I define a mini-retirement as anytime you take a month or longer away from the 9-5 to focus on things that matter to you.

My family and I are currently part-way into an 8-month-long road trip. While logging a lot of steps, a lot of drive time, and watching my kids play in the ocean, I’ve been thinking about all the amazing benefits of taking a mini-retirement.

Here are five of the big reasons I’ve taken a dozen mini-retirements and the most common reasons my coaching clients take time away from the 9-5. 

Get Caught Up

So many of us feel like we are behind, especially on everything that isn’t urgent but is important.

Between work, family, and commitments, some things sit on the to-do list….indefinitely. All these things act like open tabs on your phone or computer. Each one left open isn’t a big deal in itself, but when there are 100 open tabs, it creates a mental burden that we carry through our days. 

When Adam and I decided to take a year off seven years ago, we had a list of 100 things to get caught up on. The years before were busy. We had adopted three kids, bought and renovated three homes, and worked full-time. It was an intense season of our life. We need time to get caught up on decluttering projects, a kitchen renovation in one of our rentals, finishing our master bath, and visiting family. 

Maybe you’ve missed holidays and birthdays. Maybe you missed vacations. Maybe there are 20+ books you have bought over the last few years and just haven’t had time to read. Maybe you didn’t make it to your friend’s wedding, and now they have a 3-year-old you still haven’t even met. Maybe you just want to finally clear the pile of mail off the counter and drop off the donation bags in the trunk of your car. 

But there simply isn’t enough PTO, vacation time, or weekends to fit it all in. Taking a month or six months off allows you to get caught up on all those things that are important but never seem to make it to the top of the to-do list. You can call your aunts and chat for an hour. You can see your niece’s sports game. You can say yes to your friend’s birthday trip. And slowly but surely, you will close the tabs and feel like you have a whole lot more bandwidth to think clearly. 

Do Something New

When life is full (and it’s always full), there is rarely room for something new and big. Those things will take a lot of mental and emotional energy to get going. Plus the time commitment. Taking a break from your 9-5 can give you that time, energy, and mental space to try something new. 

When we took a year off seven years ago, we were also ready to take a big adventure as a family. We bought a pop-up camper and set off with our five kids on a 6-week adventure. This served two functions, we were able to visit both sides of our family and do something new with our recently expanded family.

That trip served as the first test run of taking long trips with our kids. After that, we took a 10-week road trip to ten National Parks. Then we upgraded our pop-up camper to a 26-foot hard-sided camper. Last year we did three months traveling over the winter. 

People ask if we are nervous about traveling with our kids for eight months in a camper and homeschooling. Kind of. There are always unknowns, and every trip has unique challenges. But we have tested and scaled this trip many times to get here. 

About 10 years ago, my husband, Adam, took six months off of work. During that time, we started buying and renovating homes. We had no experience with renovations. We had never even owned a home before. I won’t say it would have been impossible, but we probably wouldn’t have bought two homes the first year if we were both working full-time. His taking that time off made it possible for us to start this whole new element of our lives. Now our rentals make up about ⅓ of our income. 

If you give yourself a month or a year, you could take on a whole new adventure, hobby, or project. Things that are just too hard to fit into life after work between dinner and bedtime. 

Family and Friends

The year before Adam left his 9-5 was one of the hardest for me as a parent. We were about to adopt the three half-siblings that had been placed with us. And they had so many appointments, with so many people. Every week there were 10+ appointments put on my calendar by the professionals in their life. Plus, the uncertainty of it all, not knowing if they would be placed with family or be adopted by us. 

I was tired. And stressed. And generally felt like I was about to drown. 

This wasn’t the mom I wanted to give my kids. I wanted them to see me at my best. Rested, joyful, and fun. Instead, I felt like they mostly saw me at my worst. Running on cortisol and caffeine but barely awake. 

Every time my friends invited me to do something, I said no. To everyone. I promised that if they kept asking, one day, I could say yes. Just not today. We were in survival mode. 

Then I found out I was pregnant. In a two-year span, we would go from one kid at home to five kids. All of them under seven years old.

When we found out we were pregnant, I called a time-out. There was no way I could add an infant to this equation. We were on the financial independence plan but originally planned for Adam to work a few more years; now it was the time for a new plan. The new plan was a year off. 

Sometimes we can’t give people our best. Sometime we just can’t give them enough. And if you wait until the typical retirement age, you might miss your chance entirely. Your kids might be grown, your parents in poorer health or the season just passed you by. Enter mini-retirement. Taking some time away from the 9-5 gives you a chance to focus on the people in your life that matter most to you. 

Improve Your Health

This year I decided to take a hiatus from my business, which for me meant working about 5 hours a week instead of my normal 15. I had two big goals for the year with my extra time and attention.

First, finish up as many house renovation projects as possible. And I took that permission and went down a deep rabbit hole of landscape design and permaculture. Over the summer, I could have been mistaken for a landscaper. 

My other big goal was my health. The pandemic knocked me off course. It was especially hard on my mental health. But it also affected my fitness, nutrition, and stress management. Instead of being thoughtful and intentional in my choices, all things health-related felt disorganized and reactionary. I had made small attempts to get things back on track, with little success. So this was my year to clear the decks and focus on my health. 

First up was getting out of my very cloudy area of Montana for the winter. We came up with a plan to try to be snowbirds. Then I found a group of health and fitness friends to share the journey with.

I paid for a health-tracking app. I hired a personal trainer and nutritionist. I read 100+ articles about nutrition and mental health. My psychiatrist recommended I try a low-inflammation lifestyle. So I reduced my high-inflammation foods and activities and added in a bunch of low-inflammation foods and activities. 

A funny thing happens when you give yourself time, energy, and resources toward just a few goals. And you get all the support and help you need. You make progress! 

Obviously, I think we all should try for our best health while working our jobs. But it’s legit hard. And sometimes, we just don’t have the bandwidth to take on big changes in our lives on top of everything else. 

Many of my coaching clients want to focus on improving their health while on their mini-retirement. They want to get 8 hours of sleep. They want to reduce their stress hormones and start meditating or doing breathwork. Spending time outdoors and with people they care about is part of our mental health. Some want a specific fitness routine, and some just want more movement than they had at a desk job. Taking a walk after breakfast or gardening.

For most people, when they have more time and fewer demands on them, it’s easier to cook the food you want to be eating and feel more thoughtful with nutrition. 

Mini-retirements can also be essential for helping relieve burnout. It’s so hard to recover from burnout while in the situation that created burnout. It takes time, rest, and space. It takes new healthy routines with lots of “active rest” activities.

I’ve worked with clients who are trying to recover from burnout while still at the job that burned them out. And you can make a little bit of progress with better boundaries, more self-care, and taking other commitments off your plate. But honestly, it might take 2-3 years of being very intentional to make the progress you can make in 3-4 months in a mini-retirement. 

Focusing on your health is great to squeeze in where you can. But if you want to make a big change or lots of changes, it’s helpful to have some extra time and mental space to tackle that.

This year gave me the opportunity to start testing ideas of how to optimize my mental health as much as possible. There is a good chance that my Bipolar condition will be degenerative as I age. So I’m trying everything I can to keep my mental health in peak condition to hopefully delay or prevent that decline. It took some trial and error, but I think I found a set of habits that will support my overall health and mental health to the best of my ability and set me on the best trajectory possible to be just as strong and healthy at 50 as I am today. 

New Professional Growth

I want to share two coaching clients who are in this boat. One, let’s call Rachel, has been in her professional field for a while. She’s good at her job. Well compensated. And she likes it alright. But there is that curiosity of “Is this what I want to do for the next 20 years?” But every time a job ended, she rushed to make sure the next one was lined up.

Part of her mini-retirement is taking the time to explore what else might be out there. Is there something that also fits her skill set, education, and interest? Is there something better? Maybe it’s a big change, or maybe it’s a small pivot. But this time, she is taking six months to really explore that. Of course, a mini-retirement can serve a few functions. There were some trips with family and friends. There were some decluttering projects. But there was also rest and recovery from a little bit of burnout that had snuffed out some of her creativity. Now it’s time to research and explore what her next professional chapter should look like. 

I have another client, who we’ll call Tom. Tom never really felt like the 9-5 corporate world was the best fit for him. He always wondered if maybe he could do something different. Create something on his own. So he created a bit of financial runway to be able to take off 6-12 months, and he’s going to try to scale up his own business. Not only does he want the chance to succeed, but he doesn’t want the regret of never really trying. And always wondering if he could have done something different. 

What if there is something else out there for you professionally? It can be tricky to really explore and pursue those things when life and work are already so full. Even having the creativity and mental space to really think about it is tough when you’re a bit burned out. A mini-retirement can give you 3-12 months to rest, explore and start to test and scale something new. 

Why Retire Often?

When I talk about “retiring often” people are generally confused by the idea. Why would you retire more than once? Why not just push through for 40 straight years and then take the next 30 off? There are a hundred benefits to retiring often. And honestly, the non-stop career path has some fatal flaws. 

But the biggest reason to retire often: it will make your life better. It gives you a fighting chance to improve every area of life that matters to you, spanning across every decade. Your whole life, in its width and its depth, can improve. Plus, it’s just more fun this way. 

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Jillian Johnsrud helps people custom build a lifestyle that perfectly reflects their values, passion, and purpose. If you are interested in planning out a mini-retirement or just adding more intention into this coming year, she has a free video course that you might find helpful. I recommend everything she creates.

Encouraging Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.

For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encourage more simplicity in your life.

Five Types of Habits That Will Radically Change Your Life | The Simplicity Habit by Julianna Poplin. Habits effectively automate our lives in a positive way and take the effort out of performing a task; when something is a habit, it’s virtually automatic.

How to Stop Shopping Impulsively in 2023: 23 Frugal Tips! | No Sidebar by Barefoot Minimalists. Impulse shopping to any extent can lead to serious financial stress. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to be more intentional with the things that you buy.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Downsizing for 2023, According to a Minimalist Lifestyle Coach | Apartment Therapy by Dara Zycherman. Before you get going, explore your overarching priorities and your emotional connection to different facets of your life.

Seeing the Gift | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. The Gift is what it has to teach you, how it changes you, how it connects you to the divine, to yourself, to everything around you. The Gift is the sacredness of the moment and of you.

All I Really Need to Know About Minimalism I Learned in the ’60s | No Sidebar by Karen Trefzger. I don’t think our lifestyle was considered “minimalist.” It wasn’t remotely extravagant, but we had everything we needed and more. It only sounds minimalist compared to what’s considered normal and necessary in 2022.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

7 Tips to Help Keep Your Resolution to Declutter | YouTube by Joshua Becker. My hope is that your resolution to declutter will not fade away. But instead, that you and your family will enjoy all the benefits of owning less.

Jump While You Can | YouTube by Joshua Becker. I want to jump while I can. Because there will come a day when I cannot. And I don’t want to regret missing my opportunity to do it while I could.

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Uncluttered. If you’re looking for help trying to minimize your possessions, my 12-week course will help you own less, live more, and discover the life you want. But this is the last weekend to sign-up. Registrations ends Sunday, January 15. The experience begins on Tuesday.

15 Little Changes You Can Make in Your Home to Help It Serve You Better

“Your home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it.” —Peter Walsh.

Does your home serve you—or do you serve your home?

That’s not a question most of us ask ourselves, but we should. After all, our homes are meant to serve a distinct purpose in our lives—to be both the place we come back to, and the place we go out from each day.

If your home is serving you well, it is a safe harbor from the storms of life—a place to relax, rest, and connect in meaningful ways with family members.

But it is also a launching pad—a secure port of departure from which you can make a positive difference out in the world with the one life you have to live.

A home serves you when it provides both of these benefits.

A home doesn’t serve you when it takes more than it gives.

When possessing your home (and maintaining the possessions within it) becomes your focus, you end up spending your limited and valuable resources (money, time, energy) taking care of it. That’s when you know you’re serving your home. You’re spending less time living the life you want, because you’re spending more time cleaning, maintaining, and repairing—and perhaps also paying a hefty mortgage for the privilege.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to live more by owning less.

Here are fifteen little changes all of us can make in our homes to make sure it serves us well.

1. Remove decorations that no longer inspire you.

Just because something made you happy in the past doesn’t mean you have to keep it forever. Your life has moved on—maybe it’s time for the decoration to do the same.

Remove the knickknacks and pictures that no longer inspire you. Or the decoration you bought that one time because it was on clearance. Keeping just the items that mean the most to you will help them to shine.

2. Donate clothes you don’t love.

After decluttering your closet, you’ll find more calm and peace each morning when you get ready, rather than facing stress and indecision. Laundry will also get easier. Not to mention, donating unused clothing to a local charity is a simple but meaningful way to help others. 

3. Reject the convenience fallacy.

There are certain places in our homes we tend to leave items out for convenience—a stack of favorite DVDs in the corner, appliances in the kitchen, toiletries beside the bathroom sink. By leaving these things out, we think we’re saving time and simplifying our lives.

That’s the convenience fallacy. Sure, we might save a couple of seconds, but the other 99.9 percent of the time, those items just sit there creating a visual distraction. Create space for your home to serve you—keep them in a cabinet or drawer.

4. Take down signs that don’t inspire a noble life.

I know a woman with a sign in her laundry room that says, “It’s tough living in the fast lane when you’re married to a speed bump.” I get the humor, but I wonder how reading that sign every day might affect her approach to her marriage, even in small ways.

If you’re going to put words up on your walls, put up positive messages that inspire you and call you higher instead.

5. Free up closet space.

One of the biggest complaints people have about their homes is that the closets are too small. And it can bring down our mood every time we think about it.

If you’ve been thinking that you need bigger closets, maybe the better answer is just to own less. Remove some unused stuff—and your closet will feel bigger overnight.

6. Clear your dining room table.

Is your dining room table a depository for mail, backpacks, keys, and other things that are in the process of going from one place to another? If so, chances are that using it for a meal may seem like more work than it’s worth. Put the items away where they belong.

Make your tabletop a clean, open space that says, “I’m ready for your next meal. Gather the loved ones and let’s eat together!”

7. Clean out your entertainment center.

These large pieces of furniture often harbor lots of small items we no longer need. Take out old electronic components, cords you don’t need, and discs and games nobody uses. Get rid of them by recycling responsibly, arrange the devices you do use in an eye-pleasing display, and hide their cords as much as possible.

8. Distinguish between minimizing and tidying up.

Just because a room is tidy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s uncluttered or serves its purpose. Well-organized clutter is still clutter. Never organize what you can discard.

9. Pare down your beauty and grooming supplies.

I don’t know how big your bathroom is, but get rid of the clutter, and I guarantee it will seem more spacious. Empty out all the cabinets and drawers. Separate beauty tools (hair dryer, styling iron, savers, etc.) from beauty supplies (make-up, lotion, aftershave, etc.).

Eliminate duplicates, throw out anything that’s broken or old, and get rid of items you no longer use. Then wash your storage containers and organize what you’re going to keep. You’ll begin to enjoy greater calm and relaxation right in the bathroom you’ve already got.

10. Declutter duplicates.

I call this a minimizing accelerator because it’s one of the easiest things you can do to make quick progress. Start with your linen closet. How many extra pillows, sheets, and towels do you really need?

Other good candidates for eliminating duplicates include cleaning supplies, gardening tools, fashion accessories, home office supplies, toys, books, and kitchen items. Keep your favorite in each category and get rid of the rest.

11. Calm a space for reading.

Even if you aren’t up for decluttering an entire room, you can still “calm” a space. You calm a space when you minimize distractions. Choose a favorite chair and declutter everything around it. Remove anything from the floor that isn’t furniture. Clear the surface of side tables or a coffee table by removing or storing remotes, pet toys, kid toys, hobby items, old newspapers/magazines, mail, books, etc.

12. Clear space for your car in the garage.

A garage is not serving you well if it’s not serving its purpose (which is to house your car). That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with using a garage for storage, but it’s possible to go too far with it—and a lot of us do.

Get rid of all the obvious candidates for decluttering—odds and ends and leftovers, kids’ unused playthings and sporting equipment, duplicate tools, spare parts, etc.

13. Tackle a junk drawer.

Most of us have one. It’s the default resting place for small items that have no better place to be. Or for things we think might have some use but we can no longer remember what it is.

Chances are good you can toss most of what’s in there and never miss it.

14. Set physical boundaries for your kids.

Give your kids a certain amount of space and allow them to manage it how they want. In our garage, we have one shelving unit and one plastic bin. The kids store their outdoor toys on the shelves and keep balls in the bin. When things begin to overflow, we ask them to make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. The same principle applies to a bedroom or a toy basket.

15. Count the “clutter cost.”

It can be hard to get rid of things you spent a lot of money on. But keeping things you no longer wear, use, or love also has a cost—every object carries a burden as well as a benefit. The burden or clutter cost is the money, time, energy, and space an object demands of you.

If you’re having trouble letting go of a spendy item—or any item—remember to consider the benefit-to-burden ratio for before you decide to keep it.

You may not be able to do all fifteen right away, but there a few from this list you can accomplish even today.

A home that serves you well is a beautiful thing. It’s less distracting and more calming, which makes it both a joy to come back to and an inspiring place to go out from.

Don’t wait any longer to have a home that gives more than it takes. 

Clutterfree in ’23

“I have significantly less stress in my life and more self-control. Most importantly, I’m becoming more like the mom and wife I want to be.”— Caryn Seney

Becoming Minimalist is a website that reaches people from every walk of life—those who are living a minimalist life, those who are just discovering it, and those who are in the process of achieving it.

I have talked and emailed with many of you. And I know the process is easier for some than others.

There are many of you reading this blog who desire to live a minimalist life, but are struggling to achieve it. You want to own less, but you’re not sure where to start.

For that reason, I created Uncluttered specifically for you.

Uncluttered

Uncluttered is a 12-week online course designed intentionally to help you own less, live more, and discover the life you’ve always wanted. And I’m proud to say it may be the most effective decluttering program on the Internet today.

75,000 people, from all over the world, have used the principles to declutter their home and life, and you can too.

I only offer the course three times each year and I’m excited to start the New Year Edition in just two weeks.

But registration ends Sunday, January 15.

The course includes…

Videos with step-by-step instructionsInterviews with leaders in productivity and minimalismLive webinars tackling specific clutter topicsLive Q&As for members to ask me questions every week Manageable weekly decluttering challengesAnd perhaps best of all: accountability and encouragement from a super-engaged community

Every Monday, you receive a video from me, an exclusive interview with one of the brightest minds in the simplicity movement, and/or written content prepared exclusively for the course. You will receive a weekly challenge to complete at a time convenient for you and opportunities to engage with the community in a private Facebook group. You can also interact with me directly during live webinars and live question and answer opportunities.

The course offers everything a book or blog post cannot: community, accountability, and opportunity to ask questions.

“I got way more out of this course than I ever expected. And it was the best online group I’ve ever experience.” — Rose K. Lebanon, NH

The Details

The course begins on Tuesday, January 17. Registration is open now, but ends on January 15.

The cost is $99.

I am personally involved in every aspect of the course. Helping people live more by owning less is what I am passionate about. I host the webinars. I answer questions in the Facebook group. And I host live video chats. I have come to understand how essential community, accountability, and ongoing encouragement is for people. And I work hard to craft that culture for the Uncluttered Course. 

When you join Uncluttered, you’ll receive lifetime access to the course.That means you can take it as many times as you want (or need). I know life can be busy, and the unexpected can happen at any time. But we’re here to help you succeed. And if you ever want to do the course again, or just enjoy a decluttering refresher, you’ll be welcomed back.

Stop letting guilt and overwhelm stand in your way. The home you want is less than 12 weeks away. 

If you’re ready to finally find victory in your clutterfree journey, this is the time.

Visit Uncluttered to join us.

FAQ

There are a few questions I get asked every time I offer the course. Let me take a moment to answer a few of them. I think you’ll find this helpful:

Do I have to be available at certain times and days?

No. The material is released each week on Monday mornings. Participants log-in at a time convenient for them to view the material and begin the weekly challenge.

There are three live webinars that happen during the course—but even those are recorded and made available immediately afterwards for people who cannot attend the live event.

Can I work at my own pace?

Yes. Everyone who signs up for Uncluttered has lifetime access. I want everyone to succeed in this process. If you fall behind for any reason, the course materials will be ready when you are ready to continue or start again.

How much time is needed for each week?

Plan on 20-30 minutes for each week’s prepared material (video + short reading).

The time required for each weekly decluttering challenge vary a bit depending on the week and how much you want/need to declutter. Plan on 2-4 hours of decluttering each week to see significant results.

Is Facebook required for the course?

No. All of the course material is found on the Uncluttered website and weekly emails introduce each week’s topic/challenge. Facebook is a valuable part of the course for conversations and community with other participants, but it is not required.

What if my family isn’t onboard?

First of all, you are not alone. This is one of the most common situations for people taking the course and I will provide lots of conversations and resources to help you with this—including a webinar with specific ideas, a children’s book, and a Couple’s Discussion Guide.

However, it is important to note that you signing up for this course won’t automatically change your spouse, partner, or child. I’ll challenge you to start with your own stuff first and lead with love, grace, and patience as we bring along others into this journey of owning less.

Other questions?

I’m happy to answer them for you in the comment section below.

Either way, if you need to take this step and are ready to make changes in your home to find more calm, peace, time, and money… join me for this next edition of Uncluttered.

I look forward to personally helping you find victory. Join the Uncluttered Community today.

72-Hour New Year New You Ebook Bundle

For the next 72 hours, the New Year New You Bundle is available.

What is the New Year New You Bundle?

For the next three days, 21 authors have come together to offer 21 of the most helpful ebooks & courses on living an intentional life for $49.

If bought separately, the products would total a retail value of $350. But for the next 72 hours, we’ve come together to offer them all in one place for one low price.

Why the Simple Bundle Sale?

For the past couple months, I’ve been wanting to collaborate with other bloggers that I admire on a special project that would benefit our readers and would be fun for all of us to do together.

The New Year New You Bundle was born. The start of a new year is a popular time for people to reflect on changes they’d like to make. This bundle provides valuable resources in some of life’s most popular resolutions: decluttering, habits, money, and health.

Some of the best resources, from some of the best writers on the planet, all together at once for a limited time. It’s a great deal for our readers, and a wonderful way to continue promoting positive life-change around the world.

Where can I buy the books?

The Bundle can be found only on The New You Bundle website for the next 72 hours. The sale starts right now, but ends Tuesday night at 11:59pm ET.

What books and resources are included?

I’m glad you asked. Here is a list of all 21 ebooks and/or courses you’ll find in the New You Bundle Offer:

Decluttering—

1. Clutterfree with Kids by Joshua Becker

As parents, balancing life and managing clutter may appear impossible—or at the very least, never-ending. But what if there was a better way to live? Clutterfree with Kids offers a new perspective and fresh approach to overcoming clutter. With helpful insights and inspiring stories, the book serves as a valuable resource for parents.

2. The Ultimate Guide to An Uncluttered Life by Allie Casazza

Unavailable outside of Allie’s online courses, this power-packed PDF will help you develop a life-giving morning ritual to start each day off right, simplify the time-consuming task of meal planning and grocery shopping, and setup simple home rhythms so what needs to get done gets done.

3. Essential: Essays by The Minimalists

The best of The Minimalists. This collection of essays has been edited and organized to create an experience that’s considerably different from reading individual selections. From simple living, decluttering, and finances, to passion, health, and relationships, Essential is for anyone who desires a more intentional life.

4. Minimalism by The Minimalists

In their debut book, Joshua & Ryan, authors of the popular website The Minimalists, explore their troubled pasts and descent into depression. At age 30, both walked away from their six-figure corporate careers, jettisoned most of their material possessions, and started focusing on what’s truly important.

5. The 5-Day Clutter Shakedown by Dana White

In this short video course, Dana teaches her five step No Mess Decluttering Process through clear explanation and visual demonstration. This is the same process taught in her book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life. Seeing exactly how it works will give you what you need to get started in your own home.

6. Less: Minimalism, For Real by Rose Lounsbury

Less offers attainable steps that you can take to achieve the clutter-free, functional home you crave. Through candid stories from her life as a minimalist blogger-turned-businesswoman, Rose will inspire you to stop spending your time dealing with your stuff and start living a better life with less.

Habits—

7. 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine

Do you have ideas, hopes, and dreams for what you want to accomplish in your life, but you feel like you’re being held back by a lack of personal discipline? This book will help you prioritize goals so that you can accomplish them faster than ever, make a plan to conquer obstacles, stop making excuses and get the job done now — and then enjoy the rest of your day!

8. The Habit Guide Ebook by Leo Babauta

A great guide for anyone who struggles with habits. Some of the essentials from the guide include: The basic mechanics of forming a habit; The one reason we fail to stick to a habit; A dozen+ tested and effective methods for overcoming that obstacle; Solutions to the most common habit problems; And a whole section on forming the most common habits: exercise, eating, meditation, writing, sleeping well, beating procrastination and more.

9. The Optimal Living Daily Workbook by The Optimal Living Podcast

Featuring prompts (and quotes) inspired by personal development experts like Joshua Becker, The Minimalists, and Courtney Carver, this 216-page digital workbook and journal is designed to help you create action items to move forward with your personal, relationship, and financial goals.

 10. Break The Twitch by Anthony Ongaro

Break the Twitch is all about taking a step back, identifying the Twitch—the impulsive, unproductive responses we have to discomfort—minimizing those distractions, kicking the clutter, and doing more of what matters. If you’re tired of your life being left on autopilot and you long to live more intentionally, you need this book.

Money—

11. The (Un)Budgeting Guide Ebook by Bob Lotich

Inside this eBook from Certified Educator in Personal Finance, Bob Lotich, you’ll find the most important concepts to get started with your Single Category Budget. This is different from traditional budgeting approaches that have you cutting up credit cards and shaming yourself into living like a pauper. This is where (un)budgeting comes in.

12. The Guide to Retire Often by Jillian Johnsrud

Why retire once when you can retire often? Explore the lost art of mini-retirements and sabbaticals. You’ll learn the benefits of retiring often, how to plan your time away, and how to budget for your mini-retirement (including health care options). Plus how to set yourself up to find even better employment when your done.

13. The Debt Free Toolbox by Lauren Cobello

A digital library of helpful tools and resources for paying down debt faster, taking control of your budget, learning how to have effective money conversations with your spouse, and have less money stress than ever before.

Health—

14. The Simplicity Space Little Library by Courtney Carver

Courtney has carefully curated a selection of her most-loved and influential videos (with transcripts) of great conversations, coaching, and workshops from her larger Simplicity Space Membership Library. This little library of resources is offered no where else outside her Membership Community.

15. One Day at a Time by Marc and Angel Chernoff

This 60-Day workbook will help you grasp the reins of your destiny by taking control of the small but powerful things you do each day: your rituals. Rituals are about rhythm. They are about practicing what you want to manifest in your life.

16. Daily Reminders by Marc and Angel Chernoff

The morning is vital. It’s the foundation from which the day is built. And that’s why we have to be mindful of how we speak to ourselves when we first wake up. What we tell ourselves first thing in the morning is a big part of what we hear for the rest of the day. Positive morning reminders are honestly one of the simplest and most powerful tools for mental growth.

17. The Productivityist Playbook by Mike Vardy

Are you ready to take your productivity to the next level and become a “Productivityist”? The Productivityist Playbook provides a framework to help you hone your productivity skills, no matter where you are in your journey. With this playbook, you’ll be able to identify and track your goals, create effective processes and techniques, and learn how to become the most productive version of yourself. Unlock your full potential with this playbook and become a Productivityist today!

18. New Year New You Freezer Meal Plan by Erin Chase

With this Quick Start Guide, dinner is now healthier, more hands-off and totally hassle-free.The practicality and simplicity of make ahead freezer meals is undeniable. They are cheaper than fast food, faster than sitting in the drive thru, and the health and nutrition of these meals surpasses the other fast-food options out there.

+ Bonuses—

19. Simplify Magazine: The Decluttering Issue

In this issue of Simplify Magazine, we tackle the important issue of living clutter free. The insightful articles were written by professional organizers, storytellers, life coaches, authors, and some of today’s leading minds and voices in the simplicity movement. You will find thoughtful and practical ideas on spring cleaning, thinning out your closet, and decluttering your mind.

20. 30 Days to a Simpler Life Course by Brian Gardner

Complete with action plans, challenges, stories, and recommended further reading on topics such as home, digital, finances, work, mind, and life, this 30-day email course will inspire + encourage you to design a simple life. Delivered as a PDF file.

21. 33% Off the Uncluttered Course by Becoming Minimalist

The Uncluttered Course is 12 weeks of guided instruction, community, encouragement, and inspiration to help you declutter your home. Receive 33% off the registration price for the January Edition (beginning January 17). A $33 value.

If any of the preceding resources spark your interest, you can purchase them individually or you can purchase them all for $49 this weekend only. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

But the offer does end in 72 hours. Don’t miss it.

Becoming Minimalist’s Top Posts of 2022

A special thanks to each of you for making 2022 such an enjoyable year here at Becoming Minimalist. It was my fourteenth year of writing on this blog, and I have loved every moment of it!

Whether you have been reading all 14 years, the last 14 months, or just the last 14 seconds, I’m glad you’re here.

Becoming Minimalist continues to reach people beyond my wildest dreams as we grow every year in new ways. As before, this growth has occurred because of the support from readers like you—thank you for helping to spread the inspiration.

Thank you for sharing this website on social media and with your friends and family. This website exists only because of your support all these years.

Here are some numeric representations of our growth:

Becoming Minimalist was read by over 6 million people last year.Our Facebook page grew to over 2,600,000 followers.In total, we reached 150,000,000 people last year on Facebook—that is 2% of the world’s population!190,000 people currently receive Becoming Minimalist posts via email. Sign-up here to do the same.200,000 people subscribe to our quarterly magazine, Simplify Magazine .7,599 new people went through the Uncluttered Course last year.65 new videos were posted to YouTube last year and subscribers grew from 217,000 to 260,000.Over 30,000 people have now used the Clutterfree App to declutter their homes.And our Instagram following is now just short of 100k people.

But some of our most significant successes this past year are not found in the numbers above:

My book, Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life , released in April and became a #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller.The Hope Effect, our non-profit continues to change how the world cares for orphans. Your continued support allowed us to expand into a new location this year: Cambodia. More than 2,881 generous people have donated and become part of the solution.

In case you missed any, here are the top posts on Becoming Minimalist from 2022.

Most Popular Posts from 2022 (as determined by readers):

How to Have More Time and Money. What if there was a way to have more time and money available in your life? There is a solution. And it is available right now, without spending a penny (literally).

14 Reasons I’ve Been Able to Sustain Minimalism for 14 Years. Minimalism is a lifestyle I was attracted to immediately and it is an approach to life that I continue to pursue—even 14 years later.

How I Became an Early Riser. Not everyone wants to be an early riser, but I always did. Here are the exact steps I took.

The Greatest Conversation Advice I Ever Received. Everyone wants a friend who cares about them (selfless), who pays attention to them (good listener), and can understand the world and their point of view (learner). Asking questions provides that opportunity.

Ten Steps to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck. According to a recent study, 7 in 10 Americans live paycheck to paycheck. If that is you, you are not alone. But it is also probably not a place where you want to remain.

My Personal Favorite Posts from the past year:

The Compliment I Most Want Said at My Funeral. There are any number of compliments I would like said at my funeral. But there is one compliment, maybe more than any of the others, I hope will be said of me.

The Difference Between Busy and Non-Busy People. Busy has become the default state for many of us. But is the state improving our lives? Certainly not.

Owning Less is Better than Thinking About Owning Less. You will never experience the benefits of owning less by thinking about minimalism. You can only experience them by putting the principles into practice and actually owning less.

Most Popular Guest Posts in 2022:

Why Minimalism is Especially Good for Introverts by Erica Layne. An introvert’s brain chemistry is uniquely suited for minimalism. 

Here’s What It’s Like to Own Just 134 Items in the World by Charlie Brown. The average American household owns 300,000 possessions. I own 0.05% of that number.

Six Things I’ve Learned from the Amish About Living Intentionally by Vannetta Chapman. What can we learn about the Amish that can help our quest to embrace minimalism? Here are six things.

100 Things I’d Say to My 18-Year-Old Self About Minimalism. There is wonderful truth contained here for all of us to hear—whether for the first time or the hundredth time.

Most Popular Outgoing Links from the past year:

The Swedish Philosophy of Lagom: How “Just Enough” is All You Need | Big Think by Jonny Thomson. “It’s not simply learning to ‘enjoy the simple things,’ but also appreciating that sometimes less really is more.”

Everything Must Be Paid for Twice | Raptitude by David Cain. One financial lesson they should teach in school is that most of the things we buy have to be paid for twice.

Minimalist Living: 14 Simple Ways To Easily Improve Your Life | The Savvy Couple by Brittany Kline. “If you can identify even just a few areas of your life where simplifying would give you noticeable benefits, then I’d say it’s time you just dive in and get started!”

10 Choices You Will Regret in 10 Years | Marc and Angel Hack Life by Marc Chernoff. “If only…” These two words paired together create one of the saddest phrases in the English language.

Most Popular YouTube Videos of 2022:

8 Reasons Successful People Wear the Same Thing Every Day. If you have ever wondered why some successful people choose to wear the same outfit everyday, or better yet, if you are considering adopting a more streamlined wardrobe yourself, here are 8 convincing reasons.

The Three Most Essential Habits for Living Well. There are countless healthy habits that improve our lives. But I have found that when I practice just three effectively, most of the others take care of themselves.

7 Lies That Lead to a Cluttered Home. Nobody, when asked what they most want to accomplish in life, responds by saying, “I just want to own as much clutter as possible.” Owning more stuff than we need isn’t something people purposefully set out to do. But somehow, it happens—despite being a great source of stress in our lives.

Whether you have been reading Becoming Minimalist for one week, one month, one year or longer, thank you. This blog owes its success to the support of its readers. Thank you for reading. And thank you for sharing these posts with others.

I look forward to an exciting 2023. 

I am excited to offer the Uncluttered Course again next year (registration will open on January 4th for the New Year’s Edition). I’ll also remain active creating videos for YouTube and Facebook and will continue publishing Simplify Magazine and Simple Money Magazine.

In addition to continuing to offer those valuable resources, I look forward to offering some new resources this coming year—including something just for Professional Declutterers/Organizers and a new project that will be more faith-based than anything else I’ve created before.

No doubt, Becoming Minimalist will continue to evolve and be redefined.

But this website will always stay true to its core message that there is more joy to be found in owning less than can ever be found in pursuing more. We will continue to invite as many as possible to discover this truth in their lives. And I hope you will join us.

Lily’s Gift

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of the mountains, there lived a young girl named Lily. She was kind, gentle, and always willing to help others. She particularly loved helping her mom bake cookies for Christmas.

As Christmas Eve approached, Lily was getting ready to celebrate with her family. She was so looking forward to enjoying a festive meal with her family, exchanging presents with loved ones, sitting around the fire with grandpa, and awaiting the arrival of Santa in the morning.

Once all the preparations were complete, just as they were about to sit down for dinner, the phone rang.

Lily’s mom answered the phone and her eyes quickly swelled with tears as she looked lovingly toward her daughter.

Lily felt a lump in her throat. And even though she already knew what her mom was going to say, she was still unprepared to hear the words out loud—her best friend Emma’s mother had passed away from cancer.

Emma had been Lily’s best friend for as long as she could remember. Her mom had been sick for many months and was getting worse. She knew the time was late, but everyone had hoped she would live through Christmas.

Her passing on Christmas Eve was particularly devastating, even if it was not entirely unexpected.

Lily was heartbroken for her friend and knew that she needed support and comfort. Without hesitation, she asked her family if she could visit Emma on Christmas Eve. Her parents and siblings understood her desire to help her friend, and they agreed to let her go.

Lily bundled up in her warmest coat and set off through the snow-covered streets. When she arrived at Emma’s house, she found Emma and her father sitting by the fireplace, looking lost and alone. “Lily, I’m so glad you’re here,” Emma said, throwing her arms around her. “I’ve been feeling so alone without Mom.”

Lily hugged Emma tightly and did her best to offer words of comfort. She told Emma that she was not alone, and that she had people who cared about her and wanted to help her. Together, they spent the rest of the day sitting quietly, talking, crying, and reminiscing about Emma’s mother.

As the evening turned to night, Emma’s father thanked Lily for coming to visit. Her presence was a gift to the family, but time was getting late.

“Lily, you’re a true friend to Emma,” he said. “But I’m afraid you’re going to miss Santa’s presents if you stay much longer.”

But Lily didn’t care about the presents anymore. She knew Emma needed her more than anything, and she was determined to stay by her side as long as was needed.

As they sat by the fireplace, talking and laughing, Lily could see the weight lifting from Emma’s shoulders. And she knew that she had made the right decision.

When it was time for Lily to go home, Emma and her father thanked her profusely. “Lily, you are the best friend anyone could ask for,” Emma said. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“I’m just glad I could help,” Lily said, smiling. “Merry Christmas, Emma. I love you.”

As she walked home through the quiet, snow-covered streets, Lily heard a church bell ringing in the distance. The sound filled her with a sense of peace and comfort, and she knew that someone more important than Santa had been watching over her that night and smiling upon her.

And as she fell asleep that night, dreaming of a brighter future for Emma, Lily knew that the true joy of Christmas was not about receiving gifts, but about giving love and support to those who needed it most.

Minimalism Introduces Us to Intentionality

When Kim and I (+ two kids) began minimizing our possessions, I was just looking for a little relief.

I was weary of living paycheck to paycheck. I was weary of spending so much money on myself while knowing there were others that needed it more. And I was weary of the time and energy being wasted on cleaning, organizing, repairing, and maintaining our home.

When my neighbor introduced me to the word minimalism, I began to see clearly how the excess possessions I had accumulated were stealing my time, money, and energy. And how minimalism was the change I needed in life.

In many ways, our decision to intentionally live with fewer possessions was motivated entirely by discontent.

But regardless of our motivation, shortly after the decision was made, we found countless life benefits. Minimalism introduced intentionality into our lives:

We found intentionality in our values and passions.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.

And while this looks different for each person, it always requires its pursuer to further define his or her passions—and discover intentionality because of it.

We found intentionality in our finances.

Owning less, by itself, didn’t provide us with more money (except for the items we sold), but it did provide us with more opportunity for the uses of our money.

For example, once we became attracted to living with less, and the hold of consumerism on our checkbook was broken, we could use our money for more valuable purposes than buying from the clearance rack at the local department store. New opportunities to help others became available—and new decisions were forced because of it.

We found intentionality in our health.

Six months after discovering minimalism, I faced an upcoming birthday. After spending so many months removing the clutter from our home and life, the last thing I wanted to receive was anything that could become clutter.

While brainstorming nonphysical gift ideas, I noticed a Planet Fitness that had just opened down the street from my house. And for the first time I had the motivation, the finances, and the time to get in better physical shape.

We found intentionality in our diet.

Interestingly enough, the last thing you want to put in your body after working out is junky, processed food. So we started making healthier food choices: more fruit, more vegetables, less sugar.

More time and less desire to buy possessions… introduced me to a gym membership… which then introduced me to healthier diet.

I also began to form new friendships with other simple-living advocates, many of whom modeled intentional diets. Over the years, we have experimented with many of their ideas. Each time, we discover new foods to eat and increased understanding about the food we put in our bodies.

We found intentionality in our spirituality.

Minimalism offered the opportunity to slow down. It also provided the motivation.

As I began to realize how much of my thinking had been hijacked by advertisements and a consumer-driven society, I was drawn to the practice of meditation and solitude. I was drawn to find new voices for guidance.

Being raised in a religious home, I was also drawn to find the voice of a higher power—one who knew far more and could reorient my life around greater, more eternal pursuits. This voice is still and small. And it requires each of us to slow down long enough to listen.

We found intentionality in our relationships.

Owning less opened the door for new relationships in our lives. We were able to become more involved with our neighbors and our community. We were more willing to have people in our home, as preparing for their arrival became easier.

We spent less time shopping and cleaning and organizing and began to spend more time with the people who made life enjoyable. Our capacity for and appreciation of relationships began (and continues) to grow.

We found intentionality in work.

The longer we lived with fewer possessions, the more our view of money began to change. Having a lot of it became less important to us. Our essential needs are met and we have enough left over to practice generosity—what else is needed?

As our view of money shifted, so did our motivation for work. Work became less about the weekly financial deposit and more about the value and contribution we could provide to people’s lives. It opened the door even wider for honesty, cooperation, people, passion, and joy at work.

We found intentionality in our heart pursuits.

Living with less opened the opportunity for contentment, gratitude, and generosity to take root in our heart. It forced us to redefine happiness.

Happiness was no longer for sale at the department store. Instead, we discovered it was a decision available to us all along. And once we stopped looking in the wrong places, we were able to find happiness in the right places.

We entered into minimalism because of discontent in our lives. But among its greatest gifts, it brought us intentionality. And we couldn’t be more thankful.

If you only get one life to live, you might as well make it the most intentional one possible.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

My desire with each Weekend Reads is to provide you with articles and posts that encourage simplicity and minimalist living. Below, you will find links to blog posts and news stories that I hand-picked over the last couple weeks. I hope you find inspiration and practical help inside them.

That is my goal on Becoming Minimalist: to intentionally promote simplicity in a world that needs to hear it.

I Have Found the Best Christmas Gifts You Can Give (Spoiler: they’re all free) | The Guardian by Nell Frizzell. There’s joy to be had if you pull yourself off the meathook of consumerism.

Why Even Entrepreneurs Need to Rest Over the Holidays | Inc. by Mandy Gilbert. Follow these tips to start 2023 with new energy.

What Is The 90/90 Rule That Can Help You Declutter Your Space? | House Digest by Brooke Younger. According to the American Cleaning Institute, most adults spend six hours every week cleaning their homes, but the chore list doesn’t end there.

Opting Out of Consumerism at Christmas | No Sidebar by Julia Ubbenga. Christmas can be a season of simplicity, generosity, connection and peace. Or it can be a season defined by more stuff, busyness, and stress. A season rendered insipid by a frenzied pursuit of possessions.

99 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas | Becoming Minimalist by Joshua Becker. If you’re still looking for gift ideas, here’s a helpful list of 99 I put together a few years ago. I thought it might be helpful to post here again for you.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

The Christmas Decor We ACTUALLY Keep as Minimalists | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Kim and I take you on a little tour of the Christmas decorations we keep in our home.

12 Simple Ideas to Spread Holiday Cheer This Week | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Here are a few ways we can intentionally spread some holiday cheer this week and make it a little more wonderful for everybody.

***

In 2023, I’m partnering with Marc and Angel Chernoff of Marc and Angel Hack Life to bring you The Live Well Tour. Come see us on Saturday, February 25 in Houston, TX, along with special guest Preston Smiles. Tickets available here.

10 Simple Christmas Truths We Need to Remind Ourselves Every Year

Every season of life requires intentionality to keep us purposeful in how we spend our time, our money, and our energy.

But maybe no season requires greater intentionality than the holiday season.

We are bombarded for months with offers, advertisements, and store displays begging for our attention. The calendar fills quickly with both obligations and opportunities. And healthy habits are routinely exchanged for unhealthy ones as visual cues pile up around us.

A season set aside for happiness and joy unintentionally produces stress and anxiety—not to mention hospital emergency room visits.

To claim greater intentionality, here are 10 simple Christmas truths we need to remind ourselves every year:

1. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to enjoy the perfect Christmas.

Retailers will try, again this year, to convince you of all the things you need to buy to create an amazing holiday season for your family—gifts, ornaments, lights, food, clothes, even inflatable characters in your front yard.

But none of that stuff is required for a perfect holiday.

2. Keep your main thing the main thing during this holiday season.

Each of us will define our holiday “main thing” differently. Many will seek spiritual renewal. Some will celebrate family. Some will refocus on giving to others. Some will seek rest. Some will set aside this year to remember the passing of a loved one. Others will consider the opportunity to evaluate the passing year and refocus on the next. Many will choose a combination of the above.

But your most important step is to define your main thing this holiday season and not allow anything to distract you from it—not the presents, not the activities, not the food, and not the obligations.

Often times, all the things we think will help celebrate the main thing, only distract from it.

3. Memories are not made of toys.

Recall your most precious Christmas memories. Maybe one or two involve a gift that you received.

For the most part, our most precious memories from the holiday season involve time together with loved ones—not things molded out of plastic.

4. You don’t need to continue holiday traditions that leave you overwhelmed.

It was Rachel Jonat who first said, “Reminder: we don’t have to continue holiday traditions that leave us broke and overwhelmed.”

She was right. But we need to be reminded every year!

We are in control of our lives and decisions—even during the holidays. And you can remove yourself from the hustle and bustle whenever you want (or need) to.

5. Look for those who are hurting.

Christmas is a difficult season for many—especially those who suffered a significant loss during the past year.

Take an extra moment this season to reach out to a friend or family member going through their first Christmas experience without a loved one. Sharing some Christmas cheer will increase their joy… and yours.

6. Your presence is the greatest present.

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. When you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.

You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. You can buy a present, but you can’t buy more time. So give the gift of your undivided attention as much as possible this holiday season.

After all, if you are spending too much time and energy away from loved ones this holiday season searching for the perfect gift, maybe you are looking in the wrong place.

7. Don’t overspend your budget.

70% of Americans will overspend their holiday budget this year.  Be reminded again: Don’t do it.

Your Christmas joy will not be enhanced by spending more money than you have.

Remember that making payments for the next five months on your Christmas purchases is the quickest way to end up with negative memories about the season rather than positive ones.

8. Clutterfree gifts are absolutely possible and appreciated.

The holidays do not need to result in extra clutter in your home or child’s room. The giving of gifts can be done in thoughtful and meaningful ways, without overspending or contributing to consumerism.

In fact, there are clutterfree ways to both exchange gifts and show love to others.

Here are 99 ideas for you to both request and give.

9. The holidays are a season to be grateful, not discontent.

Discontent is the fuel that allows consumerism to flourish.

As soon as we believe another purchase will improve our lives, we tie ourselves to consumeristic outcomes.

Unfortunately, there is no season like the Christmas season to foster discontent in our lives. And this tendency is quick to ruin the entire season for all of us.

When discontent grows, gratitude shrinks. It takes consistent reminders to celebrate all that we have, rather than focus on all that we don’t.

10. Christmas is a time for peace.

The Christmas season is to be a celebration of peace, goodwill, and reconciliation. Yet, for many families, thoughts of peace rarely accompany the holiday season.

Instead, the exact opposite is all too common. Years of bitterness, resentment, and depression have been piled on top of misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misbehavior.

And while it’s unreasonable to assume that every family will find peace this year, it is reasonable to assume that at least one family will. And maybe (just maybe), it will be yours.