Subtract: 5 Reads for Spring Cleaning

Clear space, clear sight.
Spring doesn’t ask for change. It simply makes room for it.

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With the season changing, I figured it was time for a little spring cleaning—not just around the house, but with the things we consider “essential.” What we keep. What we let go of.

This idea really hit me after reading a blog post by Derek Sivers on the idea of subtraction. He pointed out how most of us treat fulfillment like a number line—always needing just one more thing to be happy. Whether it's a product, resource, or achievement, we assume happiness is somewhere out there, just a step ahead.

But what if it's not? What if removing something brings us back to zero—and we find we're still happy?

He shares a story that’s stuck with me:
A karate teacher came home to find his place had been robbed. The new flat-screen TV? Gone. His stuff? All missing. But the worst part? Silence. His dog, Bella, wasn’t there to greet him. She was eventually found, thankfully, hiding in a closet. But that moment shifted everything for him.

He moved to a smaller place in Texas, gave up the cable and TV, and chose a slower life centered around Bella. It wasn’t about downsizing—it was about realigning. He realized comfort isn’t the house, the screen, or the paycheck. It’s who’s waiting for you when the door opens.

Rather than overshare what minimalism or fulfillment means to me, I wanted to highlight a few resources that shaped how I think about it. These aren’t just about cleaning up—they’re about making space for what matters.

1. Derek Sivers – "Subtract"

“It won’t make you happy.”
Sivers says if he could post one billboard in front of every mall, that’s what it would read.
???? Read the full blog post

2. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Amazon: Buy Here
Rubin realized one rainy day that time was slipping by—and she wasn’t focusing on what really mattered. She set out to dedicate a year to rediscovering joy in everyday life.

3. Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki

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Sasaki isn’t a minimalist guru. Just a regular guy who was stressed, insecure, and buried in stuff—until he stripped it all down. His journey starts with a folding mattress and ends with peace of mind.

4. The Art of Discarding by Nagisa Tatsumi

Amazon: Buy Here
The book that inspired Marie Kondo. Tatsumi encourages us to rethink why we keep things in the first place—and gives real steps for letting go without guilt.

5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Amazon: Buy Here
Her question—“Does it spark joy?”—has become a global catchphrase for a reason. This isn’t just about organizing your home. It’s about curating your life.

If you’ve been thinking about trimming the excess or resetting your priorities, I hope these help you as much as they helped me. And if you decide to grab one of these books using the links above—it helps support this blog in a big way.

Thanks for reading, and here’s to finding value in what stays… not just what goes.