Do I believe that minimalism is the "right" way to live?
I typed that semi-rhetorical question intending to follow it with "No, of course not." But then when I processed it, I became less sure.
Is it, maybe, and I'm just too afraid to part with my stuff?
In the ancient church, Christians didn't have a lot of stuff, and what they had was largely community-owned. (*quietly slides political soapbox out from under the bed and climbs upon it* Note that that was a personal decision that occurred within the church, not something forced upon people by the government. *puts away soapbox*)
The Bible tells us to store up treasures in heaven, and that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Materialism is a big problem in our culture. We use possessions to show status, make life easier (sometimes too easy?), and make us feel special. Christmas, Valentine's Day, and weddings have all been cluttered up by "stuff."
Minimalism is about putting "stuff" in its place: if a thing brings value to your life, keep it. If it doesn't, ditch it. If we're honest about what brings value, this test weeds out quite a few of our possessions.
Having less physical clutter tends to promote less mental and emotional clutter, too. Do you ever just feel stressed when your space is messy? I know I do. There's something so peaceful about a freshly-cleaned room. If you live a minimalist life, you experience that sense of peace constantly (or at least more often) because you don't have enough stuff to create a messy space.
I definitely love the idea of minimalism. But I'm NOT a dog person even though I exclaim when I pass a cute pupper, and I'm NOT a minimalist even though I love the idea of living in a clean, spare space.
Aspects of Minimalism I Like
The Purpose - As we figured out above, I genuinely see the point and value of minimalism. "Stuff" should not be master over us. The minute you start to feel controlled or oppressed by your own possessions, you need to make a change.
The Peace - I do feel a sense of peace when I'm surrounded by less. I feel clean, unhindered, like my body and soul have the space to unfurl.
The Process - I think it's healthy and helpful to assess your life with the eye of a minimalist. What things--both physical and non-physical--add value to your life? What things just take up space, actively get in your way, or bother you? Why do you still have (blank)? Why do you still do (blank)? Why are you still friends with (blank)?
The Look* - I actually really like minimalism as a style. In high school, when Pinterest was big and minimalism barely a thing, I would collect images of rooms of gray, white, and black; furnished with simple, clean-cut pieces; and decorated with single items placed on shelves and tables.
Aspects of Minimalism I Struggle With
The Someday Items - I am the person who can create an outfit for any occasion at any moment. Do I need a Great Gatsby-themed outfit? I can make it. Do I need a Lois Lane outfit? I can make it. Do I need a Winter outfit to go as one of the four seasons? I can make it. Why can I do this? Because I have pieces in my closet that are completely random and useless 90% of the time. But the 10% brings me a lot of joy. Minimalism would tell me to get rid of those completely random and usually useless items.
Clothes in General - This is probably because I'm still traumatized from my Pre-Wedding Purge, where I got rid of things I didn't want to move into our apartment or didn't think a "wife" would wear. (I know. Literally no idea why I thought getting married would instantly age me ten years and radically alter my personality. I'm still completely baffled and miffed at Past Me.) During this purge, I donated a lot of items that I've since really missed, which makes me hesitate to get rid of things.
Family Heirlooms - Do I need multiple complete china sets, multiple complete silver sets, a WWI helmet, and a bunch of heavy, dark, old furniture? You bet your bonnet I do not. But one day, I will have them, and they have been in my family for generations. Family is very important to me. Now, I know a minimalist--and even lots of non-minimalists--will tell me that family is not "stuff" and that I can love and respect my family without taking on a burden of possessions. My own family would tell me this. But I struggle with it, a lot.
Books, Duh - Minimalists can be all about reading books and bettering oneself, but they are not about owning books, especially not physical ones. Gabe and I are very much about owning books. One day we hope to have a library, and we've already got a pretty good start.
Do I believe that minimalism is the "right" way to live?
I don't know. But I'm leaning towards "yeah, maybe," and my lifestyle is starting to show it.
In Minimalism Part 3 (the irony of having a million posts on minimalism...), I'll be thinking about how minimalism has changed the way I view gifts and purchases.
~Stephanie
*Does it bother me that I couldn't come up with another P word for parallelism's sake? No, no it doesn't.**
**Yes, yes it does.
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