For most, Christmas is a time of abundance, but for one man, it is a day of radical simplicity. Robin Greenfield, a 39-year-old environmental activist from the United States, will spend December 25th without a tree, decorations, guests, or any presents whatsoever.
From Marketing Millionaire to Possession-Free Pioneer
Robin's current lifestyle is a stark contrast to his past. Growing up in a low-income household in the 1990s, he experienced traditional Christmases. Later, as a marketing company owner in North Wisconsin, he was on a path to becoming a millionaire by 30, deeply focused on material wealth. By 2010, he realised his lifestyle was causing "extreme destruction." This epiphany sparked a radical change.
He began a profound experiment in minimalism, giving away nearly all his belongings. By 2020, his entire worldly possessions numbered just 44 items, including a towel, passport, computer, and a single book. This year, he took it further, publicly giving away everything—including his clothes and shoes—during a walk from Canada to Los Angeles.
Living with "Absolutely Nothing" and Foraging for Food
For four months, Robin owned nothing at all. "What I learned from that was how little I needed in order to be happy and healthy," he explained to Metro via a Zoom call on a laptop with a broken camera. His lifestyle extends beyond possessions; he has conducted experiments like not showering for 1,000 days and wearing all his litter for a month.
He now lives in a sauna house on a friend's land in rural Wisconsin, which he vacates every other Sunday. His latest project involves consuming only foraged food and medicine, which has necessitated acquiring some tools and preserving equipment. "Most everything I own right now... is for food," he notes, using leaves instead of toilet paper in a composting toilet.
A Christmas Day Like Any Other
For Robin, Christmas holds no special significance. "It will not be any different from any other day," he states. His dinner on December 25th will be the same as every other day: foraged wild rice, venison or fish, mushrooms, stinging nettle, harvested sea salt, herbs, and fruit sauce.
He has actively avoided the holiday for 15 years, even travelling to Mexico with friends to create a new tradition of seeing how long they could go without realising it was Christmas Day. He views Christmas as a "consumer-driven holiday" that fails to live up to its espoused values.
The Message: Less Stuff, More Meaning
Robin's core argument is that modern consumerism has not delivered on its promise of happiness. "We're at an all time high for depression, anxiety, loneliness and overwhelm. So clearly, this excess is not working," he asserts. He champions the benefits of downsizing, which he details on his blog, including saving money, breaking societal constraints, and reducing environmental impact.
He hasn't owned a phone for nearly a decade, finding being offline crucial for "focus, clarity, balance, health and happiness." For him, true contribution comes not from possessions but from presence, knowledge, and inspiring others. This Christmas, his ultimate gift is a provocative question to society: do we really need all this stuff?
