Why I Wrote Worthwhile & Worth Having
The Farm at Les Collettes, Cagnes. Auguste Renoir, 1908–14. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
To the world, my love for “fancy” things and my love for a simple, quiet life seemed like a contradiction. To me, it was a harmony I finally learned how to articulate.
When I relaunched my company, Sukio, earlier this year, it was with a clear and simple mission: to help you design a life filled with the worthwhile and worth having. For years, I had been living by a personal philosophy that brought me immense clarity and contentment, and I felt compelled to share it. The result is my book, Worthwhile & Worth Having: The Unlikely Minimalist's Guide to the Luxury of Less. The story behind why I wrote it is, in many ways, twofold.
First, I wrote it for myself. For much of my adult life, I felt like I was living with separate puzzle pieces that didn't quite seem to fit together in the eyes of others. I am the person who might strategically invest thousands of dollars in a handbag, yet I live a profoundly simple day-to-day life. At first glance, no one would ever suspect I was a minimalist. I called myself "unlikely" because I knew the world of stark, austere minimalism felt foreign to me, just as it does to many. Writing this book was my way of making sense of my own choices, of articulating the value system that allowed me to balance a penchant for certain luxury items with my core values. It helped me understand the "why" behind the decisions that had become second nature.
Secondly, I wrote it for you. I wanted to create a guide for people who, like me, find elements of minimalism appealing but are turned off by the common stereotypes of constant deprivation. I also knew that the idea of "luxury" has gotten a bad rap, often equated with careless excess and materialism. My book aims to strip away the stereotypes on both sides. It argues that minimalism is more than an aesthetic, and true luxury is rarely about ostentation.
I’ve come to understand that the things that are truly worthwhile and worth having are not necessarily tied to their monetary value. They are the things that provide comfort, convenience, enduring beauty, and peace of mind. By embracing the principles of minimalist luxury, we can reframe how we spend both our money and our time. Consumption is a bigger part of our lives than we often realize, and once we become intentional about it, it opens doors to new opportunities, helping us design a life that feels authentic, aligned, and deeply satisfying.
Available for Pre-Order!
If you see a bit of yourself in the story of an "unlikely minimalist" and are looking for a new blueprint for intentional living, download a free preview of Worthwhile & Worth Having and begin designing a life that authentically reflects your own values. And be sure to find me at @hellosukio on Instagram and Substack.
