I receive a comment recently that one reader did not think I was minimalist at all. While that reader is certainly entitled to an opinion, I think we need to be more compassionate with people and see how their lives may necessitate different things than ours. Minimalism is not a competition, or a one size fits all lifestyle, but a path.
I have reduced my items even more since I last posted the clothing items I own this post and I am indeed still trying to pare things down because it is an ongoing process as we bring things in and as things change in our lives. That being said, please consider my lifestyle:
1) I live in NY where we have 4 definitive seasons: winter, which necessitates me wearing 3 sweaters at once many days because I aenimic & always cold; summer, which necessitates tanks, pants and dresses as temperatures vary fro 70 – 100 and it gets muggy and clothes get dirty easily on NYC subway; and fall and spring, where the temperature varies from 50 to 80 degrees (In fact, it was 58-60 all week, and this weekend will be 80), so it can require a long sleeve tshirt or mid weight sweater and even tshirts.
2) I work in a business setting that requires strictly business, not even business casual clothing. I meet clients often, and am judged on my image as a result, so I can’t wear 5 outfits every single week. I have pared down my choice in colors to red, black and navy, so that makes mixing and matching easier, but people notice if you’re wearing the same 5 things all the time.
3) I also have an active social life, and it is not practical for me to wear my strictly business clothing to do many activities.
4) I live in an apartment, and I am very hygienic, but I have to drive to the laundromat or walk 15 mins, then of course take time off to do it, so I don’t have the luxury and convenience of just having a few items that I can wash over and over.
5) I have not even mentioned the necessity for different shoes and coats for the different seasons.
With all that being said, I’m sure many people in my position do not dare to become minimalist even a bit. In fact, I know none, though will be glad to meet any so we can share tips. I know I will never be as minimalist as some people are with just 50 items or who work from home, have more laid back jobs or live where the seasons are not so dramatic from one another. However, I am trying to only keep what I use consistently, and not purchase superfluous things that I don’t use or need. I also try to purchase things from an ecological standpoint if I can afford them, but sometimes I can’t. I don’t eat animal flesh 80% of the time (20% flexible when I visit the homes of others or there are no nutritional options like tofu or eggs in restaurants as I am allergic to wheat flour products, such as seitan. In these cases, I will consume only seafood.)
As they say in yoga practice, a little sustained effort is better than extreme, but scanty effort, so that is what I’m trying to do – to be a little more minimalist as my life permits each day.
I welcome any suggestions that you may have. I encourage those who are trying to lessen their load as well.
Om Shanti Om.
I figured out long ago that minimalism was a state of mind and not a count of items owned.
I’m a technology buff and I carry a smartphone everywhere. Some would say it’s an unnecessary gadget and a waste of money. It does simplify my life and I use it, that is I’m not playing Angry Birds, I’m getting stuff done with it.
John,
Thank you for your comment. I completely agree. If we are really talking about necessary things Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs shows different needs that must be fulfilled to be self actualized. Minimalism reduces all the things that do not add to your life – all the excess. I don’t feel like if I threw away all my books and things I enjoy, I would feel as if my life was more fulfilling, but rather more detracted. A new sweater or plate does not add to me in the same way. If an smartphone helps you get more out of your life, keep and enjoy it. Now if you had 3 smartphones, one can say those don’t add to your life, but are excess.
Keep on the path.
Thanks for the feedback. Example, I don’t own an iPad. I never will. It would add nothing to my life and would be one more thing for me to lose, break, have to maintain, etc. But again, it’s not competition. I think the “rule” is do I own my stuff or does my stuff own me.
I have to agree.
To an extent, minimalism is relative, and it’s not a very measurable goal nor a destination. For me, minimalism is a journey–an everyday conscious choice.
If you see someone trying to adopt the minimalist lifestyle, I don’t think it’s wise to say ‘you’re not minimalist enough’. It just doesn’t work that way.
Thank you for your comment and support Raebreak. That is why I created this blog – to speak of my minimalist journey, to help people through my experiences on this journey and also to receive feedback to help me grow as well.
Maybe you own more than 100 items of clothing, but your thinking is minimalist in that you aren’t caught up in the competition of it (competition certainly doesn’t make one’s life simpler). By all means, own 15 sweaters (probably a necessity in NYC); you seem to be aiming for being a conscious consumer and minimizing the unnecessary, and I think that is the whole point. Whatever makes YOUR life simpler.
Thank you for your comment and encouragement, Tmelman. I will be the first to admit that I am not a total or ultimate minimalist. I see minimalism as a lifestyle and a path that I am on. Like any path, there are new routes to be carved out and ways to change and be better an the goal. I am always re-evaluating how much stuff I need and have. I am also allowing myself to learn and appreciate what is important in life with each item I discard or evaluate if I need. I had a lot of my items before I started on this path, and so have held on to some, while immediately discarding others. The main thing I have been trying to do consistently and have been able to do in a successful manner is not buy new things that are not unnecessary. I also plan on doing another overhaul to donate, so if it is helpful, perhaps I will make an updated list of possessions, though numbers are arbitrary to an extent.
Minimalism should be about making your life better. Since we all live dramatically different lives people will use the minimalist concept in different ways. If you have have many possessions but you use all of them and get value from all of them then why would you eliminate any ot them?
Many people are burdened with too much stuff and can make great strides by moving things out of their lives. The benefit can be tremendous. But I question what is accomplished by having 37 possessions or any certain number.