Affinity Spaces

Introduction

I love interacting with someone I have never met before, only to find out we have something in common. It could be a favorite movie, shared hobby or even shared religion. Somehow it instantly makes you feel connected in some way. In our digital world, we have found ways to connect with others with similar interests no matter where they live. Affinity spaces offer such value to connecting communities, cultures, and like-minded individuals around the globe. Minimalism is a community that has utilized several different platforms to accomplish just that. I'm going to share a few examples of how Minimalists are connecting by sharing their own stories, looking for advice, or expanding curiosity in regards to a minimalist mindset. 

Social Media: Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube

Social media is a quick and easy way to explore what ideas exist that cultivate around a minimalist lifestyle. Pinterest is one of my favorite platforms to gather and store ideas because I am creating portfolios that are organized into categories. A newbie minimalist could start here and collect some ideas for simplifying their lives right there. Once the information is gathered it can be accessed at any point to keep a person on track. For example, I have a cleaning category in my Pinterest account. I have been able to find simplified cleaning tips and tricks that have saved me time and energy in my cleaning routine. I also have categories for simplified cooking recipes as well as simplified organization. 

Minimalist Blogs and Podcasts

Another way people interested in a minimalist lifestyle, find others to connect with are through blogs and or podcasts. Podcasts are growing in popularity due to its convenience of ingesting the information audibly. Anyone can squeeze in a quick episode that only takes 12 minutes to listen to. A podcast that has great reviews for a minimalist lifestyle is the one I have pictured above, An Uncluttered Life by Karin. I loved this quote from her introduction. "It's not just about the stuff - but it's about the constraints on our time," (Karin). As I have learned in my research about minimalism, clutter comes in many different forms that interferes with our ability to function in our professional and personal lives. This podcast seems to have short episodes that give helpful coaching tips to their listeners inspiring change one step at a time. 

Conferences

For some people, connecting in person is the best way to interact with a shared culture. For minimalists, there are options to attend conferences for those interested in simplifying their worlds. For example, Conferences for Women - Hosted a conference featuring Courtney Carver, the author of Soulful Simplicity. Conferences that I have attended in the past had such an impact on me. There is something so powerful and inspiring about being in the same room with similarly minded people who are learning from someone whose life has literally been changed for good because they were faced with a challenge that was life threatening. Carver, discovered simplicity after she was diagnosed with some serious health issues. Connecting with purpose is a powerful tool amongst subcultures like minimalism.  

Conclusion

These are just a few examples of opportunities that Minimalists can utilize to connect around the world. What I love about global connection is that you can easily see different perspectives based on different cultures and ideals that you wouldn't get to see in your own area. Inspiration is a powerful emotion that provokes passion and motivation for change and I love that it can be a possibility for just about anyone no matter where they live. 

References

Karin. “An Uncluttered Life on Apple Podcasts.” Apple Podcasts, 13 Jan. 2024, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-uncluttered-life/id1555133357.

Pinterest, Mar. 2010, www.pinterest.com/.

Team, CFW. “Conscious Minimalism: Success with Less.” The Conferences for Women, 28 Jan. 2021, www.conferencesforwomen.org/conscious-minimalism-success-with-less-2018-session/.