At its core, being a minimalist means intentionally promoting the things we most value and removing everything that distracts us from it.
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Embracing minimalism brings freedom from the all-consuming passion to possess. It steps off the treadmill of consumerism and dares to seek happiness elsewhere. It values relationships, experiences, and soul-care. It lets us see all that we already have and reminds us to be grateful.
—Joshua Becker, What Is Minimalism?
I don’t pay much attention to talk about minimalism because Andy and I never got into consumerism. That’s one reason I married him. (The other is he wasn’t interested in status, another trap to avoid in my view.) Are we minimalists? According to the first paragraph we always have been and it has nothing to do with things. Are we distracted when things get messy? Mostly not, as long as we can easily find what we want. We’re too busy focusing on what we’re doing.
The quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention.
What do you think?
July 7, 2022
I think I could never be a rtue minimalist. But the cutest tiny houses are all the rage now.
It’s fun to see what other people do. I don’t decorate for the seasons, but I appreciate reading posts of people who do. I don’t know if Becker would call that consumerism, I think the practice can bring great joy.
I am definitely not a minimalist. I’ve got way too much stuff in my house. I’m getting to the point where I wish I was though.
I can relate to that.
I’m more a minimalist but my husband is not – always a tug of war when he wants to get something new. My motto is “if it works keep it” – his is “if it is an upgrade buy it and dump the old”. I better watch it – I am “old”!
It’s hard.
Interesting! ‘Wish I’d learned to appreciate Simplicity in my younger days. While I used to covet and chase after the highs, now I realize they had little-to-no lasting value. Life is better in the Slow Lane!
Our lane here is getting very slow. 😀
I could never be a minimalist but I don’t consider myself to be a consumerist either because I’ve never had to have the latest of everything or tried to keep up with the Jones. If anything I’m a preservationist because I don’t like to see quirky old stuff go in the dumps.
That’s a great description.
I’ve always been a minimalist, especially when I was living in a poky bedsit where there was only room for the bare essentials! Now we have a house we have a lot more possessions, but anything that has no purpose or which we don’t enjoy is got rid of. I guess that’s partly a reaction to my mum, who was a compulsive hoarder.
🙂
I’ve never liked labels. but I realize I’ve called myself a ‘cozy’ minimalist for years! I have always hated to shop. and I enjoy nature so a lot of indoor ‘stuff’ doesn’t appeal to me. I would call Andy a minimalist! given the definition you use here. but working in the clutter would probably drive me crazy! LOL.
I have to have clear spaces. clutter everywhere makes me feel like I’m drowning. weird I know. my dad was the same way. wonder if it’s inherited?
but look what Andy accomplishes!!! he’s amazing. minimalist or not! xoxo
When I’m immersed in a problem/project I tune out messes. When I’m finished I start tidying a small area and gradually add to it.
I never really thought about minimalist in this way. I always thought it was related to how we have things in our homes. I don’t like clutter and do not want a room full of things unless they have a use. this description, I think I fit. I have always bought only what I need and do not collect or hold on to THINGS. sometimes I wish I did. in my senior years i am able to accept what the table looks like where Andy is sitting but in my young years I would be going crazy looking at it. I wish I had known what I know now, back then.
We’re always changing, hopefully for the better. 😀
I’m a minimalist in certain areas of my life – like clothing and particularly shoes.
But my art could be more minimalist if I bought single sheets of paper or a pack of one – however things evolve and a single sheet of paper can easily be cut up into tiny squares! A couple of weeks ago I bought just “one pen” a specialist pen, but didn’t even inquire about other colours in the range!
I think it’s more fun to have more material and choices, but the important thing is to figure out what works best for each of us.