Unearth What Matters

Actionable tips and practical advice to help you experience more by living with less

Gift like a minimalist: 16 meaningful gift ideas for any occasion

Gift like a minimalist: 16 meaningful gift ideas for any occasion

Are you sick of giving gifts just because it’s Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, and television commercials or societal expectations tell you it’s the right thing to do? Are you looking for gift ideas that are truly meaningful and appreciated by those on the...

Eight reasons why travel makes you a better person

Eight reasons why travel makes you a better person

On 15 March 2019, New Zealand lost its innocence when a terrorist attack occurred resulting in the deaths of 51 people, many of whom were refugees from war-torn countries who had made New Zealand their new home. In the aftermath of the attack, it was disclosed that...

Debunking Minimalism: What it is (not) and how it came about

Debunking Minimalism: What it is (not) and how it came about

Decluttering and reorganising seem to be the pastimes of people during the COVID-19 lockdown. And there is nothing wrong with that. We can all use a spring clean every now and again. All too often though we’re finding decluttering and minimalism being used as if they...

Could you gift differently these holidays?

Could you gift differently these holidays?

Every year, in the weeks and days before the holidays (or Mother’s/Father’s/Valentine’s Day), the same frenzy unfolds: Facebook groups are full of ‘What gift should I get for … ?’, often followed by ‘They already have everything’. Retail stores are packed; parking...

How to adopt minimalism into your life

How to adopt minimalism into your life

In another article, I used Paul and my journey to minimalism as an example of why adopting minimalism could change your life. It’s a continuing process. But thanks to minimalism, we now live our lives with more awareness and intent and are true to our values. We...

7 Steps To Writing a Commitment Statement That Works

7 Steps To Writing a Commitment Statement That Works

As human beings, we all have our own values, beliefs and attitudes that we have developed and continue to develop throughout the course of our lives. When Sandra and I got to know each other, initially as friends and learned about each other’s history and previous...

Ten things I can’t live without

Ten things I can’t live without

We can all live without most things. As humans, we cannot live without air, water and food. No matter where I am (and how warm it is), I need clothes and shelter. So maybe this article title should really be Ten things I don’t WANT to live without. Also, things are...

Not ready to die – a letter to my former self

Not ready to die – a letter to my former self

Sunday 07 May 2017 – Today marks the tenth anniversary since two policemen came, collected me from my workplace and, under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, took me to Middlemore Hospital in Auckland where I stayed for nineteen nights....