Minimalism is what has the potential to make anyone happy. It’s the best thing you can expect from living a minimalist life.
And the worst?
This same minimalist life can present you with utter emptiness, if, somehow, you manage to flip the coin of your perspective. I have seen them both and don’t want to take a side. The best part is, I have learned to convince myself when to indulge myself in minimalism and when to shower in lavishness. Although the latter doesn’t happen all the time, sometimes I count towards the most subtle luxury to celebrate and make myself contented with.
From an early age, I have lived with the bare minimum. I cannot definitely say it’s mostly because of affordability as I can clearly see how other family members are living their life, but somehow I didn’t feel the urge to go beyond my absolute necessity— thriftiness it can be labelled with. And I have lost so many opportunities to enjoy the juiciness of life that I sometimes regret it. Good times I could pass with my friends only if I wished.
But that didn’t happen. And nobody to blame it for except me and my unusual sense of “letting go.” You can call it the drawbacks of minimalist living.
However, I have gained more than I think I have lost in that way. Perhaps I have lost the temporary liveliness of showing off in front of my friends and came back home with a discontent heart that yearned for fame and attention, but they taught me a lesson. A lesson that still keeps my head high even during the utmost crisis.
Those moments of “dissatisfaction” have forged me into an adaptive soul— a ready-made entity who can enjoy the tiniest achievement to its fullest, a person who finds solace knowing that he has little but they are enough. Not everyone can do that. Not even many of you can think of that. Yes, this is where my pride lies. This is where a minimalist triumphs over you and others.
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But you need to skip what others are saying about you— this is the challenge you must be ready to overcome. And my friend, it’s harder than anticipated. Our thoughts can easily be polluted with gossip, no wonder why many of us fail to stay on the course. There will be people trying to influence you with the golden side of luxurious living. But what they won’t tell you is the darker period when you are no longer in a condition to afford the luxury.
I have heard of many people living their dream life with high-end gadgets, luxury cars, flamboyant outfits, and everything extravagant. But most of them were unnecessary as those items were meant to show off rather than serving everyday purposes. Unfortunately, they had to sell their belongings to survive the Covid-19 crisis. Just in a few months, their luxurious life slapped hard in their face and now living in social disgrace. What’s the use of such expensive things when they can stand by your side when it's your desperate times? Only if they were sensible enough to live as nothing but a necessity, they could have survived the hit. Only if they could foster the idea of minimalist living….
Anyway, best wishes to the community and the contributors— you have made this place so awesome and awe-inspiring. Here’s to years to come! Happy anniversary!