The past few months have been quite the adventure, if one wants to call it that. Among the more trying issues have been the loss of transport which made my summer a whole lot hotter, but those two mile walks also gave me opportunity to reflect on some things, and necessitated changes in others. Not being as mobile meant that some things I took for granted (like impromptu trips out of town) were no longer possible. Even routine activities like getting food, paying bills and getting other essential supplies required that I adjust my time and where I shopped accordingly. Obviously, it meant that I had to carry around a lot less then what I used to. Some items simply had to be left at home and only those things that were absolutely essential were brought along. Even the stamina to get from one place to another on foot had to be increased if I was to get these things done. That is not to say that I didn’t have help. Between family and friends there were (and are) constant offers to help, but they have their own lives as well, their own families to take care, their own needs to meet and I just don’t feel that such support should be taken advantage of. Besides, I tend to be a bit more independent and would rather try to get things done myself. I get to listen to a lot more books and music now and the walks have been good for me physically. In fact it’s funny how people talk about the walking I might do as some great hardship yet they do about the same and more at the walking track. All a matter of context I guess. I am alright with it though, and it all works out for the most part.
Getting back to the idea of letting loose of some of the unnecessary things, I was reading a post by Julien Smith entitled “The Brief Guide to Sucking at Life” (http://inoveryourhead.net/the-brief-guide-to-sucking-at-life/) when I came across a link to another site called The Mnimalists (http://www.theminimalists.com/start/). This got my interest since, in a way, I had already started along that road but it never occurred to me that this could actually be a lifestyle. As I got to reading I became more and more interested in the concept what the authors Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus were talking about. I then decided to follow up on the thoughts they presented and have begun their 21 day plan towards this new lifestyle, and why not? I have as much freedom as I could possibly have to trying something new at this stage of my life, plus some of the ideas coincide with a lot of my own feelings. Feelings that have put me at odds with general beliefs and lifestyles. And now to see that maybe my ideas aren’t as far fetched as I seemed. Well, maybe they are, but at least now I know there are others with similar ideas.
I have never been one to post a whole lot about my personal life online. Actually, I have never been one to tell anyone a whole lot about my personal life but for whatever reason I just thought I would share what the next 21 days would be like. From what I have read so far the concept of the minimalist lifestyle seems to have a wide range of latitude and is determined by the person living in such manner. As the authors state, “The point is that minimalism is a tool to help you achieve freedom.” Such an idea may not be your cup of tea but the whole idea of simplicity appeals to me on so many different levels. Perhaps the next few days it may to you to as I document my journey into this lifestyle. I have no idea where this will lead but I already like where I am going and how I feel about it.
