Ev BogueS.R. asked this question on Google+.
"...how do you communicate and explain your minimalistic lifestyle to your immediate loved ones (family, partner, kids) when they somewhat (or fully?) disagree with your lifestyle?"
This is an excellent question. Here's the response that I answered on that thread.
"I don't really use the term minimalist anymore, because it's a label and people get attached to that. Instead, I try to use an action term. What I've come up with is 'untether'.
Instead of labeling myself a minimalist, as people get attached to that and say 'He's a minimalist!' It's all around the action. I've found that it's easier to explain to others when the focus is a specific action, and not a philosophy and label. I didn't always think this way, and it got me into a lot of trouble when I labeled myself and preached philosophy. Close people thought I might be judging them for having more things than me. That's why I don't label or philosophize anymore.
For example, when I left San Francisco in February, I untethered from anything that would have held me in that place. I had purchased a bed, a lot of kitchen stuff like a blender, knives cutting board. I just let it all go, because I realized that holding onto that stuff would cause me much more trouble in the long term. My roommates at the time were grateful for me leaving the stuff to them, because it was an upgrade. Otherwise, I would have given them to Salvo or some other charitable organization.
It helps to tell from experience. G.B. does her best to always tell from experience on her blog, and I aspire to do the same. When I tell from experience about an action. 'I untethered from wearing jeans, because they were uncomfortable and yoga pants are much more flexible. Now I have two pairs of yoga pants. It's really enjoyable to me.' I show from example that I explored that experience and found it beneficial.
Last year I untethered from almost everything, getting down to 47 things, and I found that most of the things I thought I needed weren't necessary. So? I live that way still.
It helps to avoid the labels though, that was the key tension with others in my experience."