Each author is using their own definition of minimalism. There's no point in arguing over whose definition is better.
Minimalism: It Works
51–60 of 64 posts
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
I mostly agree with you except for this "You can't possibly expect me to believe that only having five shirts in your closet will make you a different person, or even a different worker. " stripping away everything that you don't actually use in your day to day life has a remarkable psychological effect.
Those things you threw away also have a 'remarkable psychological effect' when you need them. "Where'd I put those snow chains?" Possessions make life simpler.
It's a matter of balance. I like having more than 5 shirts because I don't want to do laundry every week and, in fact, not having to do laundry all the time makes my life simpler. On the other hand, if you have so many clothes that deciding what to wear becomes a difficult task, or you need to build an expansion on your house to store them all, then you have probably gone to far the other direction.
Snow chains are great if you do things that require them. I used mine just today. But, we all know that guy with the monster 4x4 truck who never actually goes into the woods.
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why is it that your definition of minimalism is paucity? The movement's canonical definition is: the right amount of things for your goals. If you are a cook, a well-appointed kitchen is the Right Thing to have. Anything less is just a conceit, and itself a violation of the goal-oriented thinking we've been talking about. There is this idea of zen and asceticism that has crept into the conversation and honestly I'm n…
Woah woah woah, a there's a movement for this? I think I'll go found a movement based on coupon shopping. Be one with the discount.
Too late. There are some hardcore coupon shoppers out there. People who buy $100 worth of food for $5.
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
I mostly agree with you except for this "You can't possibly expect me to believe that only having five shirts in your closet will make you a different person, or even a different worker. " stripping away everything that you don't actually use in your day to day life has a remarkable psychological effect.
Those things you threw away also have a 'remarkable psychological effect' when you need them. "Where'd I put those snow chains?" Possessions make life simpler.
Possessions don't automatically make life simpler.
Possessions that you use regularly, value, and are worth more than the trouble they bring you might make life simpler. Possessions that are merely things you're storing "in case you need them", and are moving from one place to another, certainly don't make your life simpler.
I've known many people (including myself) who have found themselves in a position where they wanted or had to move and discovered in the process that when it came down to it, they could happily live without half of the stuff they had accumulated over the years. I did that in my most recent move, and a year later I do not miss any of it, and am still getting rid of things (30+ computer science books recently, and am now moving onto the photography equipment that just gather dust in the closet).
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
I mostly agree with you except for this "You can't possibly expect me to believe that only having five shirts in your closet will make you a different person, or even a different worker. " stripping away everything that you don't actually use in your day to day life has a remarkable psychological effect.
Those things you threw away also have a 'remarkable psychological effect' when you need them. "Where'd I put those snow chains?" Possessions make life simpler.
Not necessarily true. The article argues the inverse and I would tend to agree. Observe a woman's routine for dressing up for work or a social event; it's an adventure. From the selection of clothes and shoes to the handbag. Need I say more?
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
Those things you threw away also have a 'remarkable psychological effect' when you need them. "Where'd I put those snow chains?" Possessions make life simpler.
Possessions don't automatically make life simpler. Possessions that you use regularly, value, and are worth more than the trouble they bring you might make life simpler. Possessions that are merely things you're storing "in case you need them", and are moving from one place to another, certainly don't make your life simpler. I've known many people (including myself) who have found themselves in a position where they…
The few possessions I don't use regularly also happen to be the ones that are the easiest to move. Not to mention these sorts of things tend to already be in a box in my closet, practically packed and ready to go.
Aside from the negligible space they take up, they certainly aren't having a negative effect on my everyday life, so removing them would have no tangible benefit. In fact, their loss would deprive me of the artifacts of what's been a fairly interesting life so far. Any bulky items (eg small appliances, furniture) that would create any sort of hassle have already been given away to friends who would find them useful.
But I'm not sufficiently self-absorbed to call this a 'movement'. In the words of BSNYC^, it's just a matter of categorizing my things under 'Shit I Need' and 'Shit I Play With'. There's nothing complicated about that.
^ http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-smugness-keeping...
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
Those things you threw away also have a 'remarkable psychological effect' when you need them. "Where'd I put those snow chains?" Possessions make life simpler.
It's a matter of balance. I like having more than 5 shirts because I don't want to do laundry every week and, in fact, not having to do laundry all the time makes my life simpler. On the other hand, if you have so many clothes that deciding what to wear becomes a difficult task, or you need to build an expansion on your house to store them all, then you have probably gone to far the other direction. Snow chains are g…
FYI, the 'other hand' you describe is a psychological disorder, not just a habit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oniomania
Re: Minimalism: It Works
#58I think there are basically two reasons why one maintains a minimal set of possessions.
One is dumping out most of your stuff because while part of you would still like to have them you think you'll be happier that way. (And because others are doing it also so there must be something on to that.)
The other one is having learned to not need that stuff any longer.
Re: Minimalism: It Works
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Re: Minimalism: It Works
#60Minimalism is not necessarily about doing without, its about maximizing utility in the things you do have.
Minimalism is having one very good screwdriver instead of a whole drawer of lousy ones that you're "meaning to go through one of these days".