MINIMALISM: Being a Minimalist for Two Years and Going

Minimalism has become a sort of trend in the last few years, to the point that it has garnered some backlash on the internet. I entered into a more minimalist mindset around the year 2016, right around the time I landed the job I currently have, and returned to Law School. Why do I bring this up? Because big changes were happening and things got hectic. On a related side note: this was also the first brush I had with Bullet Journalling as I discovered that I couldn't maintain a proper planner but still forgot things and appointments. Minimalism has been a journey and it's met resistance from people I love but it's also been a learning experience for everyone.

Image source: Ylanite Koppens at Pexels

Gaining the minimalist mindset is not easy. It's not just to declutter and get rid of everything until you meet some arbitrary number of items. Minimalism has this aura of higher social status, in which you could afford to reduce into this perfect lifestyle. This can also apply to Zero Waste, because of an unfortunate perception. Most of the proponents that espouse these ideas tend to have a certain socioeconomic status that is above the norm for the rest of the world. In regards to Zero Waste, the notion of bulk stores applies mostly to more metropolitan and suburban areas. Then again, a vocal minority can't speak for the majority, and I find myself in that majority. I'll write about my experiences with reducing waste in Puerto Rico but for now, time to focus on the Minimalism.

Like most people in these times, I tended to buy items and collect them (and in a way, I still do, especially if it has a penguin on it). I would buy and store, and go with the trends with fast fashion and other things. As tidy as I could be, with making the bed and leaving my room as organized as possible, my drawers  (all of them) and closet were starting to overflow. Even with the amazing site that is Unf*ck Your Habitat, I still ran into issues. I think it all came to a head when it came to buying a new bed, I wanted one with more drawers and my twin rightly asked "Why do you need more drawers? You already have so many!"

That's when I realized I had way too much stuff and needed to declutter. At the time, I lived with my grandmother, who had gone through her share of hardships and going without. When I started discarding perfectly good items, she immediately jumped in and commented that I shouldn't get rid of this or that. I had to hold firm and personally hand over the bags upon bags of clothes and old purses to the neighbor, who in turns donates these items to people in need. I had to help her understand that all that stuff brought me more stress than actual happiness. The things that stayed reflected my style a whole lot better than the endless selections of things that I once bought and wore. 

Some were gifts, some were clothes that didn't fit. Each item had a story to tell but I had to realize that at some point, the item would just languish in their spot, forever. By that point, I had made it a mission to declutter and minimize what needed to go, and what could stay. Skip to the unholy mess that was September 2017, and by then, I moved back to my parents' place after Hurricane Maria hit the island. I had to somehow move out not just my clothes, but a lot of my art supplies (even after discarding what I didn't use!) and my study materials. 

Minimalism taught me to truly treasure and use up what I already have before buying another item. Sometimes I get the itch to buy something new before the first thing breaks but I hold my budget before I truly get it. I've slipped up and I still have things to discard but it's not overwhelming nor do I feel like I have to live up to a certain standard.

For me, Minimalism isn't about meeting the perfect magazine aesthetic or going to the extremes and living with a very small amount of items. It's about feeling like I have enough to make decisions I feel comfortable, while also keeping my spaces tidy and workable. It's about saving money for the things that matter and letting go of everything that doesn't give me joy or peace.

I'll leave this topic here, and ask you, the reader, what is it about minimalism that catches your eye? What would you improve or critique about it and the most prominent voices in the movement? Are you considering minimalism? Let me know in the comments!

- SP