Why minimalism should not be about the “numbers”

Can we take a reprieve from turning the aspirational pursuit of a life worth living into a simplified checklist or a step guide?

I get it. It is easy to understand. It provides clarity into how we go about achieving a life beyond the stuff, clutter, excess, etc.

But…

It is not about the number of steps you take.

It is not about the number of items you remove.

It is about you.

It is about working towards something that is important to you. It is about removing the distractions that consciously or unconsciously hold you back. It is about taking the time to evaluate what it is that you want out of your own journey.

Now, removing the stuff is the right start point. It is visual, it is physical, and you can remove a little and see instant progress.  And if numbers are helpful in the beginning, then use them. But don’t let them solely define your effort.

What we need to recognize is that the numbers are the headline. They grab us and draw us into the link for a few minutes to read and share. We feel a sense of validation when we are already doing 3 of the 6 recommendations. And then we play mental leap frog. We start to think that if we can dedicate just a little more time we can be a true ‘minimalist’ when we are taking action on the remaining 3 recommendations.

There are no certifications to solidify your membership into the minimalist group or club. Numbers will not secure you a pass to the party; because it does not exist.

The secret is, when you have done your best, and feel content, you’ll realize you are exactly where you should be.

1,038

The Origin Story...

Discard, donate, or sell the number of items that corresponds to the day of the month. Straightforward and an enlightening take on decluttering life. This is not my concept. It is that of Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus; collectively The Minimalists (game instructions).

I was ready. I was willing. And for the sake of my marriage, so was my wife. ☺

So our journey began...

Quickly and effortlessly, we surged through multiple areas in our home. In short order, we were in places we don’t frequently access (guest closets, linen cupboards, etc.) and then moved onto our main living areas. Throughout, interesting questions arose, like “do we need 2 pizza cutters?” or “how many winter coats do we need?” (we live in MN).

But then you move past easy.

And here is where the game gets interesting.

You start looking deeper at yourself and your possessions. A genuine end-point on the road less traveled in America. In all sincerity, we did not believe we had a lot of stuff. We are not collectors, savers, or hobbyists. But somehow, unbeknownst to the conscious self, things accumulated. Speaking only for myself, books and CD's were the BIG obstacles. Both of these entities I felt somehow represented me; capturing who I was/am and communicating it outward. I've been downsizing my book collection for a few years (thank you, public libraries). But then I took a pass at the collection, and then another one. I kept removing books. Books I sincerely enjoyed were just amusing when really thought about. Books I thought I would read that sit dormant. The ‘one-day’ aspirational hope is a myth; interests change, I've changed.

CD's are my Achilles heel. The collection is years in the making. But the years of building came when digital music options were not plentiful. And after several challenges to my beliefs, I concluded that while music will always provide endless joy for me, the physical form it is in will not. I can trust the acceleration of digitization.

We are done with the easy questions and onto the hard...like is this suburban square footage necessary?... I don’t know where the journey will take us. But we are having the essential conversations.

Simplify.

This is our goal. But, it is a concept that bears infinite outcomes. 1,038 distractions are removed.

Momentum is building...