In my experience minimalism is a difficult thing to define and easy to debate. And even easier to rationalize or dismiss. For me it’s about looking forward not backwards and to be inspired by success instead of comparing to failure. Minimalism is more about the effect that ownership of things has on my life. It helps me see the difference between things I own as opposed to the things that own me.
Minimalism has become somewhat of a “Thing” of late. But I think my first introduction to the concept was the Henry David Thoreau book, Walden, written in 1854. This book can also be picked apart in any number of ways by those who wish to. I see it as an inspiration with lessons that I can apply to my life. I’ve used selected quotes from Walden has sort of an outline on my thoughts on minimalism and how I might live a life with more meaning. It almost feels like a like a book report, as written by an illiterate engineer who’s not a very good writer.
Stating the obvious here but this diatribe is solely about me and my thoughts and experiences. That said I like the way Thoreau starts off his writing. Not a very common disclaimer in this day and age of everyone’s an expert on all things. One of the things I find interesting about passionately pursuing an idea, or ideal, is the perceive judgement others feel. I have never successfully found a way to vocalize my excitement about an inspiring ideal that has a positive effect on my life without running up against this perceive judgement.
Much of what is promoted as wisdom seems to stem from experiences of living a “made up” life. A contrived existence that provides everything but mindful, meaningful living. By that I guess I mean that I feel that I am constantly bombarded with information, aka advertising and peer pressure, trying to convince me that the “normal” life is about consumerism, or capitalism, or religion, or politics. Very little of this “noise” seems to provide value or inspiration towards living a meaningful life.
This is, perhaps, my favorite quote from HDT. And I find it resonates quite well with my own experiences. I spent the first, and most of the second, parts of my life trying to adapt to cultural norms and behaviors before I started to question their value. Basically I was trying, but not really succeeding, in civilized, good behavior. And boy do I regret those years that I spent so poorly. Now when I’m tempted to “fit” in, I try to look a bit deeper to see if it’s “Good” or “Bad” behavior and try to choice wisely.
When I was younger, and even more foolish, I remember commuting to my Engineering job. It seemed like only a minute had passed driving on that endless freeway to work. But it had been 10 years. I realized that if I put my head down a few more times it would be 20, or 30, or… And then my life would be over. That was my first awareness of the “fool’s life”. This is the “normal” life were are compelled to live. I feel greatful that I found this out a bit before the end. But even now I have to be vigilant not repeat that mistake again.
I’m not quite sure how this relates to my diatribe on minimalism, but I just love this quote. We seem to live in a world where the phrase “I Don’t Know” is pretty rare. Same with doubt. I have always been intrigued by questions, and a search for knowledge. But answers and knowledge aren’t always the same thing and most folks are petrified of failure, aka lack of knowledge. Luckily failure and I are lifelong friends.
Now we are getting to the heart of minimalism. It is so very easy to forget that our time on earth is a limited, non renewable commodity. And everything we buy, own or maintain costs us life. I confess that this one of the harder lessons for me to be mindful of. It is so easy to trade away life and get nothing in return.
If buying something costs “life units”, one could say not buying, or owning, something saves their life. Yeah, I get it, one of those oversimplifications. But is it really? I wonder if I will think that on my deathbed.
I think this quote, above all the others, is my inspirational mantra. This is the ideal I’m trying to use to evaluate and judge the choices I make in my life. Years ago I read a phrase that went something like this:
Live your live like you only have 5 years to live because we all only have 5 years to live.
We just don’t know when the clock starts.
And I’m no longer young, so for all I know the clock has already started. So I best not waste life.
Often when I, enthusiastically, pontificate on my ideals folks think I’m trying to change, or judge, them. But nothing could be farther from my reality. It is hard enough for me to facilitate changes in my own life, let alone someone else’s. And I rarely, almost never actually, meet other people where are really interested in change. So the hard work is mine alone. And I’ll die with work still left to do.
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