A copywriter friend of mine was telling me about a writing instructor he once had. In addition to being a writer, the instructor announced she was also a dancer and danced every day. Upon learning this, the class asked where she danced: theater, movies, night clubs? The instructor responded, “Besides dance classes, only in my living room.” The class was puzzled until the teacher explained, “To dance, you have to think you are a dancer first.” It’s the same way with minimalism.
Minimalism refers to living your life with less or as little as you need. That’s different for everybody. Yet I sometimes feel people’s perceptions of minimalism often keep them from embracing it.
What are some of those perceptions? One is that minimalism is kind of boring. No toys or other fun things. Just the basics. Black and white. No color. Of course this is not true. If you like satin sheets on your bed, use satin sheets in a color or three that you love. Minimalism merely states you probably don’t need more sheets than serve your needs.
As far as toys go, maybe you don’t need to own the latest gadgets or media center. Just one that you love and will use a lot. Perhaps your minimalism involves refocusing your free time from the indoors and electronics to the outdoors–hiking, biking, gardening, etc.
Minimalists are often thought to be devoid of sentimentality. That’s often based on not needing to keep every family keepsake that’s been passed on. Minimalists will display the items they treasure and gift or donate the rest rather than store in a box in the basement or attic. I use the glass hutch atop my grandmother’s desk as a shrine to all things family and sacred. It’s not a lot but it’s enough to tell my story.
Mostly, people perceive minimalism as being too difficult to attain. They don’t see themselves living with four shirts, two pairs of pants, three pairs of shoes, etc. Or three forks, three spoons and a knife for silverware. I’m exaggerating here, of course. But the perception exists that minimalism means those kinds extremes. It’s really a matter of making a conscious, daily effort to pare down and simplify your life so that you can live life.
For some, that could mean downsizing from a 3,500 square foot home to a 750-square-foot condo or apartment. It could mean removing the items from your closet you haven’t worn in one year or more. Or it could mean taking minimalism as literally as possible and living with as little as possible. It’s really your choice.
Back to our writing instructor/dancer. You can be a minimalist and have too much stuff, just as you can be a dancer who has never performed in a show. But if you dance every day, you are a dancer. Similarly, if you live every day decluttering, organizing and simplifying–even if it’s just one item or area per day–you are a minimalist.
Need some help starting your minimalism practice? Give me a call at 508-246-6120.
Alex
