What Is Minimalism?
To say one is a minimalist is like saying that they like food. Everyone does not like the same food, but they could all gather in one place and agree that food is good.
We became attracted to minimalism because we tired of storing things, looking for stuff and paying for items we didn’t need and (I’m embarrassed to say,} frequently already had. But we had no plans of discarding everything we owned, dress in black and live out of a backpack. However we needed a change and through the process we learned and grew. In the beginning we simply wanted to de-clutter.
Our why was that we sought peace. Those moments of rest that offered so much energy and creative vision. We wanted to spend our weekends with friends and family, recharging for the week ahead, not cleaning, sorting and managing our warehouse of objects, many of which were hidden in boxes that we forgot we even had.
In 1964, Fannie Lou Hamer, the civil rights leader famously said, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” I reference Ms. Hamer’s statement respectfully, recognizing fully that our use of this phrase is on a much smaller and less urgent scale, but her words accurately describe how we felt at this particular time in our lives.
So what is the difference between someone who de-clutters and a minimalist?
For us, de-cluttering was the avenue to minimalism. It was our entry way into the freedom and excitement that was revealed when we reduced our inventory of stuff and subsequently, reduced our stress. It became a psychological and spiritual exercise and the results were life changing. De-cluttering is an activity, minimalism is a lifestyle.
Yet, I could see someone visiting our home and exclaiming, “You’re not a minimalist, your table doesn’t fold, you’re clothes have color, your shelves have stuff on them.” My response would be simple, “Really? Because we have real furniture and own more than two pairs of sox?”
A specific amount of objects does not determine a minimalist. It is a lifestyle, a practice that is exercised every time we go outside, on-line, or to the mall. It is a mindful approach to obtaining what we need, not all that we desire. Its creating an environment in which we are at peace and comfortable, and a place where our guests feel the same. A restful temple of retreat – a home.
While I may fail a variety of individuals standards of what minimalism is, I stand firm in this. What you see in our home is what we have. Other than seasonal items, we store nothing. Boots are put away for winter, but books are on the shelf, pictures are on the wall and dishes are in the cupboard. No hidden gems in the closet or garage. And at this particular point on our path, it works well for us. But we will continue to grow in this arena, learning more about the value of experiences, moments, relationships and life. We’ll make adjustments and mistakes and corrections, which of course is OK, it’s all part of the journey.
That is minimalism to us. By using our visible space and not our storage, we are able to manage what comes in and remove what is not needed, wanted or used. Our home is in order, our cars are clean and our work-space is spotless. We save time, money and we maintain a balance that keeps us closer to the peace we were seeking when we began this life changing ride.
Increase the peace,
J & E