They believe that having a phone, computer, or television in their home will distract from their family time. I’ve spoken with many Amish families about this, and they do not want an endless march of tech toys in their home. They are simply very intentional about what they allow into their lives. Be intentional about what we let into our lives.Ĭontrary to popular belief as well as their presentation in modern media, the Amish don’t shun all technology. Here are six things I’ve learned about living intentionally from the Amish:ġ.
So, what can we learn about the Amish that can help our quest to embrace minimalism?
Many communities embrace solar power for their businesses, and they don’t mind hiring a driver in order to visit neighboring towns. The Amish are life-long learners who regularly use computers at their local libraries. However, any similarities to the Puritans of 17 th century America ends there. In general, Amish don’t have electricity in their homes, they don’t own cars or go to college, and they have large families. They’re known for living simply, dressing plainly, and farming in an old-fashioned way. In case you aren’t familiar with the Amish, they are a group of people whose roots stretch back to the Anabaptist. I’ve noticed many similarities between the Amish and those of us among the “ Englisch” who are seeking to live a more intentional life. I began my own journey with minimalism two years ago when I took a Joshua Becker course. I’ve also visited communities in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Wisconsin. Since then, I’ve published 28 additional books about the Plain people. My first novel about the Amish was published in 2010. Note: This is a guest post from Vannetta Chapman.