Since I was a child, I felt comforted in environments that had more space than stuff. Back then, I did not know it was a minimalism or modernism; I just knew I liked it. Everywhere I went, I would streamline my space, my wardrobe, and my lifestyle with varying degrees of success. I have always loved to get rid of things I am not using and to only acquire objects with clean, simple lines that complement each other.
It took until I entered the third act in life to recognize this dream. When we downsized into a small modern home, it required scaling back on possessions and filling our home with furniture that matched the style. For me, with that move, I began living the minimalist dream! Scaling back confirmed that when I have less, my life is more. Living big in a small house is one of the challenges that inspires me. Why is that my life grows when I have less? I think it comes down to three main reasons.
- It’s practical. Having less stuff means less to maintain, clean, and even appreciate. Everything we own requires a commitment to it, or things deteriorate and become no longer useful. We may not be able to find things kept out of sight may when we need them. Things do not serve us well when we do not serve them well. Life with more stuff than I can manage becomes in a way, unmanageable. It affects me that way; I feel uncomfortable when I have things that I am not taking care of. I’d rather have only what I can manage and use.
- It is a soul matter. When I have less in a room, what I do have stands out, it is visible. If I can see it, I can appreciate it. Stuff is not in conflict but rather in harmony, each object leaving room for the other. I have never appreciated more the art on my walls, the rugs, books, plants or other objects than in my current home. When I sit here at my desk, my eye is undisturbed by too much stuff calling for my attention, competing for it. The effect is soothing. There is enough in my home to feel warmth and beauty but not too much, avoiding visual overwhelm.
- It impacts my thinking. How can that be? When I see stuff everywhere I look, with no open or negative space to encourage new thoughts, it fills me with what already is. In general, I am seeking thoughts that are new and creative, not fixed and tied to what already exists. Einstein said that we cannot fix our problems with the level of thinking that we were in when we created them. We need to have new thoughts to have new solutions, to progress and to evolve. It is the purpose of living. Life is about learning and growing. I find it helpful to live in an environment that supports that purpose.
Since this is a dream that I have carried since I was a child, I know it is in alignment with who I am. I also know it is not for everyone. I know many people who are adept collectors. They have lots of things that they value, keep in order, and put to use. It’s a lifestyle that works for them. Typically, they have a skill or a hobby relating to their collection, and they have space to store it and the will to maintain it which is a key component.
Minimalism is trending at the moment, which might prompt people to compare themselves with the model. But there are many ways to be in relationship with the space in our homes and our possessions. There is not one size that fits all.
Collections are for some people, but minimalism is for me. I know it is my way because it makes me happy; it aligns with being me. Even in the midst of a project with materials strewn over the table or when the grandchildren have taken every toy out of the basket, there is still enough negative space in my home to lend a sense of order. When I live in alignment with myself, the results align with my goals and dreams for the greater world.
Minimalism provides space for things I plan to do as well as the unexpected that requires my attention. There’s room for uncertainty. In a moment of discomfort, instead of going toward distractions like internet meandering like online shopping, when I have space, I am inclined to sit with the uncomfortable feelings and choose my response. There is no satisfaction filling the space with things I don’t need. I value the space itself.
Enough said. Even in communication, less can be more. I love editing my work to see if I can use less words to achieve greater clarity. I would rather encourage thought than try to convince anyone of a certain position. If you would like to read more about minimalism, let me know by sending an email or message.
If you are curious about your relationship to open space, you can conduct your own experiments.
Perhaps you have been wanting to clean out your attic, a drawer, or your closet but don’t know how to begin scaling back. Start small. Begin clearing out one drawer, shelf or area. Notice how it feels.
If it feels good, keep going.
