On Minimalism

One of the many things I've struggled with over the years is clutter. Not actually having too much stuff, but things that I can do without. I'm the type that gets easily distracted by visual things, so the existence of clutter in my space reflects in my mind too.

A cluttered mind is the enemy of creativity, from my perspective. I need a clear head to think. I also envy those that can function creatively under such conditions.

When I moved away from my previous apartment, this was one of the last items I removed - a solitary wooden chair. I took some time to think how simple and definite it looked in the space. It's function was clear and unequivocal.

As it happened, when I first moved into the apartment - which was completely empty at the time - this chair was one of the first things I bought. I had a mattress, a chair and my computer for the first night. I remember the sense of freedom and clarity I had on that day, not weighed down by how much stuff was in the apartment. I wasn't worried about leaving the door open by accident when I went down to a café with my computer to get some work done. There was nothing for anyone to take from me.

Apart from the sense of freedom and clarity, minimalism has a strong practical aspect too. The ability to "up and go", whether or not one actually wants or needs to, is a liberating one.

Minimalism isn't for everyone though. It's a lot harder to be a minimalist if you have a family, for instance. There are certain things that are needed for basic family life - especially with young children. It's all well and good for the single guy or gal living in a small apartment to be a minimalist and only have 3 items of clothing. It's a different thing for a couple with 3 children.

On a more philosophical level, however, I think minimalism is gaining support as some kind of backlash to how materialistic our society in general has become. It's not surprising that most proponents of minimalism are people that have plenty.

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The struggle

I've been giving minimalism a very good go lately. I haven't succeeded to the point I desire, but I have made progress. For me the most difficult things to rid myself of aren't the shiny things in life. I no longer buy new gadgets just to have the latest one, for instance. My computer is old, but functional. I really don't need the latest Macbook pro.

My issue is with the small personal items that remind me of events of the past. T-shirts, little gifts, letters, coffee mugs, those kinds of things. They are the most difficult to let go of. This is because they carry emotional attachments that are hard to sever.

Regarding letters and other such media, I have made a breakthrough on those. I embarked on a digitising project last summer where I scanned all of them into a thumb drive. So, what used to be boxes of paper occupying physical and mental space, has been reduced to a tiny little flash drive. It's amazing how much storage those things have lately. I also made a backup online in case.

The peace of mind I got after that project alone has spurred me on to find solutions for the other things. At the same time I'm actually mindful not to create more of that stuff, or create emotional attachment to new, pointless stuff.

A great tip, if you don't already practice this, is to get rid of stuff quickly before those emotions form. For instance, all the cards I got for my last birthday where promptly disposed of a week after the day. Had I not, and filed them away as I would have previously done, the sentimental bonds would have formed. Somehow it is easier to throw away a birthday card the day after your birthday, than ten years later.

I am creating a lot less paper junk now. I don't have any paper statements coming through the door, and all advertisements and circulars end up in the recycle bin within the day. No exceptions.

I don't collect business cards. I have never used a single one! So why hold on to them? I don't even bother digitising them anymore. I have no café loyalty cards that aren't digital.

Steem

Can you imagine a world where Steem is accepted in the local stores? In that world I can finally be rid of cash, and all the bank cards that weigh my wallet down.

Thank you for your time.
A Palnet original