Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Boden.
Hi Diane, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was quite the opposite of a minimalist in my late teens/early twenties. I was someone that needed a new outfit each time I attended church (at least a new top.) I hated wearing the same combination of clothing more than once every couple of months. I wanted the newest, shiniest things. I actually got myself into a bit of credit card debt before I even turned twenty-one. Who I am at thirty is remarkably different – of which I somewhat attribute to age but mostly to my pursuit of minimalism. If we’re talking about a moment that led me to minimalism, I’d say an experience in my parents’ basement with my husband. We were looking for something, and he turned to me and said, “Look at the these things that are all in boxes that were once your parent’s hard-earned working hours.” From that moment forward, I started viewing my possessions (and acquiring possessions) differently. It was that moment which really allowed us to hone in on what was important to us and where we wanted to spend our money and intention.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’m a very all-or-nothing thinker. In some ways, minimalism has felt releasing, but I’ve talked about this on my podcast that sometimes I can allow it to make decision-making harder. I tend to make no decision or get overwhelmed by options in this oversaturated consumerist world.
Adding children has made the process more challenging (as they are their own little people with different interests). I try to allow freedom within boundaries. For example, you can fill up a shelf, but that is the allotted space. If you’d like something else, we can work together to figure out what to get rid of/donate to make room for something new (specifically around birthdays and the holidays!)
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the creator and host of the Minimalist Moms Podcast. I began the podcast five (almost six) years ago as a creative project and it has turned out to go beyond my expectations. I’m most proud of helping moms (from all around the world) declutter their homes and, ultimately, their lives. The feedback has been so encouraging and has pushed me to continue to produce weekly episodes with a wide variety of guests. I think the show is different from other minimalist podcasts because, well, it truly was one of the first out there discussing minimalism specifically from a motherhood perspective. I also think it’s unique because I don’t just speak to decluttering your home but more of the mindset of living life with intention.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband has been a huge supporter of this work. He has made it possible for me to carve out time in our busy schedules to continue to produce a weekly (sometimes twice weekly) show. He’s been the best support both mentally and taking care of the kiddos so I can squeeze in work when I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.minimalistmomspodcast.com
- Instagram: @minimalistmomspodcast
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minimalistmomspodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqSj5gYX_QvxTx-oYAN0GQ
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08X1TR6BG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
Image Credits
Rob Hardin
