Minimalism and Happiness - A Perspective

Some of you might associate the word "minimalism" with the post WWII art movement in which the works were stripped down to it's most fundamental features. Other folks might think of the musical term in regards to repetition, stasis or steady pulse..... or you may think of the late 90's architectural style.

This is not what I'm writing about.

The term "minimalist" is often applied colloquially to designate anything which is spare or stripped to its essentials.

The minimalism I speak of is living a minimalist lifestyle.

As we know, most of our grandparents and some of our parents experienced the Great Depression. The majority of people went without something.... and in extreme cases, even basic essentials like shelter and food. America's involvement in World War Two (WWII) helped to pull the country together and get us out of the Great Depression....folks who were used to going without continued to get by with less to support the war effort .Rationing Coupons were the order of the day. After WWII, men returning from overseas acquired jobs and since they were used to living a modest lifestyle, they knew how to sacrifice in order to save for things (something we have a hard time doing these days) and also were able to have a family, a house, a car and a vacation. A large amount of our parents came from post WWII families. Their parents wanted to give them a better life....this was passed down to us, but with growing research in advertising, the advent of TV and technology, changes in our society, and the rise of the financial/credit card industry, we want to give our kids everything right now.....

In the present day, we are constantly bombarded with advertisments for things that we don't really need....you can get it now...90 days same as cash. The stress of keeping up with the Jones' has taken a toll on us. Our society is different now. Traditional roles in the household and relationships are different.....There is a lot of competition for disposable income. With most of us, we don't know any better because we were raised that way. We, as Americans ate a lot, were made to clean our plates, and if we go out to eat, we expect to get a whole lot of food or we feel like we got ripped off.

Why do I choose to live with the minimum? A nice yet sparsely furnished apartment, an old bomb of a car that runs good, travel on a dime?

One reason is spiritual. According to the Buddhist notion of Impermanence - Everything we can experience through our senses is made up of parts, and its existence is dependent on external conditions. Everything is in constant flux, and so conditions and the thing itself are constantly changing. Things are constantly coming into being, and ceasing to be. Nothing lasts forever. I feel free from the worries of acquiring and maintaining things that I don't really need. As I've stated in other hubs, I can be happy with food, shelter, peace and quiet, an Internet connection, a basic cell phone, a Thermarest and the things in my backpack. I understand that folks with kids prefer not to live like this.....but you'll have that.

The second reason is financial. I don't have a means to support that sort of lifestyle, nor do I want to. How would I be able to save for a retirement? (Another thing that was lost with the WWII generation - saving for a rainy day). Like anyone else, If I hadn't started planning for that when I was 30, You can assure that I'd be living under a bridge when I can't work anymore.

I'm reminded by a quote from Thomas Jefferson that used to hang on the refrigerator - "I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.”

It's not hard to transcend into a minimalistic way of living....you just have to really want to do it, and then do it.....picture it in your head as it were, visualize it....then do it. Just like working out.