On minimalism

What fascinates me about minimalism isn’t the idea of owning nothing – it’s the freedom that comes with owning less. It’s like the difference between traveling with a heavy suitcase versus a simple backpack.

Years ago I considered myself a minimalist. I counted the things I owned and was proud to have it under a certain number. I ruthlessly eliminated items that weren’t an absolute necessity in day-to-day life, and even some things that were.

I’d get rid of things daily. If I couldn’t come up with an immediate use case for a thing it was gone.

With all that came a tension. I focused so much on eliminating that it became more of my identity than just living and enjoying life for its own merits. Sometimes I’d have to go buy items back that I’d thrown out.

Now I own substantially more stuff, but a thread remains that I pull at from time to time.

When I travel I try to carry a single bag. Although it’s nothing as extreme as previously. I’ve found as I approach my 40s that a pillow, some comfortable socks, a few extra pair of clothes, and ergonomic devices for my computer all add comfort as well as space to my travel.

I don’t feel that I’ve got it figured out yet though. Spending a few weeks living just out of a backpack frees you from so much of the chaos of life. You’re worried less about your stuff and able to focus more on the things around you and the people you’re spending time with.

Longterm I’m looking at ways to simplify again, owning less things that I have to spend time futzing about, and more time on ideas and things that pull my curiosity.

On a recent podcast someone mentioned they were trying to own as few things as possible that required engines, that’s a good way to think about it.

Via Jan-Lukas Else.