Minimalism isn't a new concept by any stretch but it is gaining more traction in recent years. There is a movement of people who are tired of the consumerism that has overtaken the United States in particular. But before we get into what minimalism is I think it's worth our time to discover what the opposite is. Materialism or consumerism...I don't know what we want to call it but it's an abundance of stuff! More stuff than our homes can hold and more than we need. Our Country has made having stuff into an addiction. This addiction to possessions takes on many faces. It might be having the latest and greatest electronics, the newest cars, the best food, clothes, toys, shoes, decorations, homes, etc. It has been reported that Americans own about 300,000 items in their homes (LA Times ) and that 1 in 10 people rent storage units (NY Times ). You know what that means right? We have so much stuff we can't fit it into our homes. We don't use it and it just sits somewhere collecting dust. For what? In case we need it someday?
So this brings us to minimalism. At its core, minimalism is about only having what we truly NEED and what truly brings VALUE or purpose to our lives. So minimalism can look different to various people but you find that those who are pursing minimalism, while having different amounts of things, have contentment with what they have. If it's in their homes then it's because they treasure it.
For me, I'm exploring minimalism because I don't want to have the excess anymore. It has only brought more discontent in my life because I have to clean it or organize it. On a larger scale, minimalism represents letting go of our American lifestyles that we've been told we need. It's about stopping the wastefulness that has saturated our Country. It's a chance to reclaim our lives and find happiness not in what we want but what we have. Minimalism gives me a chance to spend my energy and money on others who are truly in need instead of building a house full of things that I'll probably never use.
That's minimalism in a nutshell, but there are many layers to it as I'm discovering. I'm not "there" yet but I've begun the process and I already feel better. I hope you'll at least think about what you have that you don't use or need. Who knows you might find a new level of contentment that you didn't think you could experience!
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