Comments on: Enough with the Minimalism Bullshit http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/ Because someone has to answer the question "What now?" Tue, 30 Aug 2024 18:17:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Michelle http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1235 Michelle Sun, 24 Apr 2024 00:25:16 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1235 Late on this, because I let my blog reader get epically, epically behind. But I am TOTALLY ON BOARD with what you're saying here. I'm sick of self-righteous minimalists, personally. The fact that I enjoy my material possessions and yes, love buying new shoes does not make me a bad person. (And that's not even projecting, I've heard minimalists say those sorts of things word for word...) Late on this, because I let my blog reader get epically, epically behind. But I am TOTALLY ON BOARD with what you’re saying here. I’m sick of self-righteous minimalists, personally. The fact that I enjoy my material possessions and yes, love buying new shoes does not make me a bad person. (And that’s not even projecting, I’ve heard minimalists say those sorts of things word for word…)

]]> By: Allison http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1233 Allison Fri, 22 Apr 2024 02:27:30 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1233 I just moved today and did pay several hundred dollars (plus bribed family) to move my possessions. I don't feel like my things are anchors. They make me feel safe and happy - I've always been someone who likes to "nest". If I lost it all in a fire, I'd certainly be sad, but there are few items that would really devastate me to lose. It doesn't matter. Just because I don't <em>need </em>things to be happy doesn't mean that things can't add happiness to your life - it depends on the person. It's great that you choose that type of lifestyle. I too have lived with few possessions, but I hated it. My problem isn't with minimalist but rather with the minimalist bullshit that says it is the right way of life for everyone. It isn't. I just moved today and did pay several hundred dollars (plus bribed family) to move my possessions. I don’t feel like my things are anchors. They make me feel safe and happy – I’ve always been someone who likes to “nest”. If I lost it all in a fire, I’d certainly be sad, but there are few items that would really devastate me to lose. It doesn’t matter. Just because I don’t need things to be happy doesn’t mean that things can’t add happiness to your life – it depends on the person. It’s great that you choose that type of lifestyle. I too have lived with few possessions, but I hated it. My problem isn’t with minimalist but rather with the minimalist bullshit that says it is the right way of life for everyone. It isn’t.

]]> By: Rose http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1230 Rose Thu, 21 Apr 2024 17:41:42 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1230 Ouch, yo. Here am I getting ready to drive from Illinois to Texas and you're telling me I SHOULD pay $1000 to lug a truckworth of crap with me? What about the joy of starting fresh, of being light in life and uninhibited by material anchors so that you're free to go wherever the winds of fate may take you? That goes for you family folk too--kids and dogs pack up much better than a garage full of junk you think you someday might use! Our reasons for loving our things are the memories and emotions attached to them. What if all those things you love were lost in a fire? Would your happiness go up in smoke too? Things are dangerous storehouses for your joy; they too easily become traps and excuses for staying in merely tolerable circumstances. Being a minimalist isn't about rejecting ownership for the sake of being able to boast that you can pack all your belongings in the back of a mini Cooper, it's about acknowledging that the things that REALLY matter in life are not the weird shoes or ugly heirloom or collection of postcards that we have but the feelings, people, and history those things stand for. A minimalist says, "I don't need more things to be happy." Because it's true! Few of the things anyone owns make the owner happy in themselves. It's the context of their ownership that make them special. If we tell you to give away everything you own and chase a dream, or even to give up everything you own and take stock of your life exhileratingly unburdened, it's only because we're tried it, and we know how great you can feel once you do. Ouch, yo. Here am I getting ready to drive from Illinois to Texas and you’re telling me I SHOULD pay $1000 to lug a truckworth of crap with me? What about the joy of starting fresh, of being light in life and uninhibited by material anchors so that you’re free to go wherever the winds of fate may take you? That goes for you family folk too–kids and dogs pack up much better than a garage full of junk you think you someday might use!

Our reasons for loving our things are the memories and emotions attached to them. What if all those things you love were lost in a fire? Would your happiness go up in smoke too? Things are dangerous storehouses for your joy; they too easily become traps and excuses for staying in merely tolerable circumstances.

Being a minimalist isn’t about rejecting ownership for the sake of being able to boast that you can pack all your belongings in the back of a mini Cooper, it’s about acknowledging that the things that REALLY matter in life are not the weird shoes or ugly heirloom or collection of postcards that we have but the feelings, people, and history those things stand for.

A minimalist says, “I don’t need more things to be happy.” Because it’s true! Few of the things anyone owns make the owner happy in themselves. It’s the context of their ownership that make them special.

If we tell you to give away everything you own and chase a dream, or even to give up everything you own and take stock of your life exhileratingly unburdened, it’s only because we’re tried it, and we know how great you can feel once you do.

]]> By: Allison http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1151 Allison Thu, 14 Apr 2024 17:31:08 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1151 I don't know if most minimalists are travelers/backpackers with no families, but most of the outspoken ones are. I agree with you that getting rid of things we don't need does serve a purpose. I think some minimalists just preach that forgetting the phrase "we don't need." They just preach to get rid of things, and that can be as unhealthy as hording. I don’t know if most minimalists are travelers/backpackers with no families, but most of the outspoken ones are. I agree with you that getting rid of things we don’t need does serve a purpose. I think some minimalists just preach that forgetting the phrase “we don’t need.” They just preach to get rid of things, and that can be as unhealthy as hording.

]]> By: Allison http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1150 Allison Thu, 14 Apr 2024 17:26:31 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1150 Thanks for your comment, Mike. I think there are some true minimalists out there who are doing great things, who understand that this isn't the right lifestyle for everyone. I just have a problem with the hipster movement that this is the only valid way to be happy. :) Thanks for your comment, Mike. I think there are some true minimalists out there who are doing great things, who understand that this isn’t the right lifestyle for everyone. I just have a problem with the hipster movement that this is the only valid way to be happy. :)

]]> By: annie http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1148 annie Thu, 14 Apr 2024 09:04:20 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1148 Holly crap. i think you read my mind on this one. I couldn't agree more with what you said about de-cluttering and organizing. Getting rid of things we don't need does serve a purpose. And being a Minimalists doesn't make you better. I wonder if most minimalists tend to be backpakers travellling, and people who dont have children. My family and I are semi-mobile. We don't embrace minimalish per say but we have reduced our belongings to essentials based on our lifestyle. There are certain things though that we just can't get by without. A few kitchen gadgets, cofffee press, hand blender. Board games, awesome workout clothes. Once we settle down, il be happy to have my big screen t.v. again. LOL. Holly crap. i think you read my mind on this one. I couldn’t agree more with what you said about de-cluttering and organizing. Getting rid of things we don’t need does serve a purpose.

And being a Minimalists doesn’t make you better. I wonder if most minimalists tend to be backpakers travellling, and people who dont have children.

My family and I are semi-mobile. We don’t embrace minimalish per say but we have reduced our belongings to essentials based on our lifestyle. There are certain things though that we just can’t get by without. A few kitchen gadgets, cofffee press, hand blender. Board games, awesome workout clothes.

Once we settle down, il be happy to have my big screen t.v. again.

LOL.

]]> By: Mike http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1147 Mike Thu, 14 Apr 2024 08:48:52 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1147 You are right! People tend to confound minimalism with uncluttering! I guess any "true" minimalist will tell you that if a thing makes you happy, you should keep it in your life. It's all about the feelings, like you said. I guess the minimalist wants to focus only on the things that make him truly happy. Then you're in a far better position than him. Why? Because you've got even more things that make you happy to wear/use/look at than him! YAY! :) You are right! People tend to confound minimalism with uncluttering!
I guess any “true” minimalist will tell you that if a thing makes you happy, you should keep it in your life. It’s all about the feelings, like you said.

I guess the minimalist wants to focus only on the things that make him truly happy. Then you’re in a far better position than him. Why? Because you’ve got even more things that make you happy to wear/use/look at than him! YAY! :)

]]> By: Kirsten http://aftergraduation.net/blog/enough-with-the-minimalism-bullshit/#comment-1142 Kirsten Tue, 12 Apr 2024 23:10:58 +0000 http://aftergraduation.net/blog/?p=267#comment-1142 You could not be more right on! You could not be more right on!

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