I started to embrace the minimalist lifestyle around December of 2016, dedicated to live an uncluttered life and wanting to be a basic man, far from my materialistic self when I was younger.
My desire for minimalism was triggered when I got worn out with pressuring myself to wear new clothes everyday, even to the point of purchasing substandard outfits just to fill the void.
When I decided to unclutter my closet followed the uncluttering of my things – owning a lot of things that I actually didn’t find practical at all, bought things in the moment and piling it up unused. I then decided to give it all away, leaving me with owning just the basic things that I need. I felt relieved.
For how many years now, I lived in monochrome fashion, and it didn’t matter now when people question why I have always worn black, sometimes gray, brown, and basic earth toned colors in regular days. There is no more pressure. All I have to do is pick any of my shirts and I’m good for the day. Though, I do dress up for special occasion.
I also live a very basic lifestyle with doing and having things that satisfy me – basically surviving while enjoying the beauty of simplicity, and letting things be. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a boring life, in fact, my physical fashion may look plain, but my inner world is way colorful and exciting as it can be. As they say – Wear Black, Think Multicolor. I won’t be thriving in the Creative Industry if I was.
There is a proverb by an Indian Spiritual leader named Osho, he said:
“If you love a flower, don’t pick it up.
Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love.
So if you love a flower, let it be.
Love is not about possession.
Love is about appreciation.”– Osho
Since then, I have just been appreciating things I love without the need of owning it. So, if I decide to have something, that thing is already valuable to me. Much so for love.
Living the minimalist lifestyle has always been a therapy for me, it gave me clearer visions, less noise and more savings. It also made my life more meaningful as I testify to the truth in the saying that Less is definitely more.
