Mi Journey con Minimalism

Photo by Killari Hotaru on Unsplash

On a random day on YouTube, I come across a video by creator Matt D'Avella titled "What Minimalism Really Looks Like..." I don't know what hit me to click and watch it, but those 8 minutes and 31 seconds would become the most impactful moments in my life. It's been more than 5 years, and I still can't wrap my head around what I would be without this concept of owning things with intent – understanding the difference between need and want.

The very next moment after watching the video, I started to rethink my wardrobe and all my possessions. I began decluttering with such enthusiasm that I wanted to get rid of everything. Though I didn't, the feeling was extraordinary. From that day onwards, whenever I felt a little low, decluttering became my go-to activity – a practice that continues to this day.

I remember in my English lecture, we were supposed to give a presentation on any topic (which was a privilege at that time). As a group member, I suggested minimalism as our topic. Though it was challenging to explain and convince my teammates, I ended up creating the entire presentation and spent the whole lecture discussing it. While the professor was impressed, my classmates weren't as convinced. In between the presentation, I even critiqued one of my group members for owning an expensive smartphone instead of investing in his guitar playing (he's really good at it). I knew the coming days at university would be interesting, with many comments about minimalism – not mean, but you know what I mean.

One thing I found really difficult was explaining and helping others understand the concept of minimalism. Not that I wanted people to adopt it, but I often had to explain my choices when I didn't buy or own certain things. Is minimalism simply about owning fewer possessions? In a nutshell, yes. But "less" is relative. If you play music, you might have many instruments and musical equipment because that brings you joy. I read books and could use a Kindle, but I enjoy holding actual books – the smell and feel of them brings me joy.

To me, minimalism is about what brings joy and understanding the distinction between what I truly need and want. If I haven't worn a pair of jeans in three months, even if they're new, I'll give them away. I recognize it as a bad purchase, and there's no point in keeping something I don't use. Thanks to marketing and advertisements, I want everything I see. But when I think about it consciously, I realize I don't really need most things. I do own plenty of stuff – lots of books, cycling gear, and... well, I think that's it. I've never deprived myself of buying anything. If I need something or if it brings me joy in a sensible way that aligns with my understanding of minimalism, I buy it.

Let's see how long I can continue to be mindful of my purchases and possessions.

One small part from the video by Matt D'Avella

"Since everyone's interests, values, and lives are different, we all own different things. And on top of that, our lives are constantly changing, so what we own today we might not own tomorrow. But if we don't make decisions about what to keep, by default we'll hold on to everything and will be left with sheds, storage lockers, and basements packed with stuff."

Hey just my story no preaching here.

Gracias.