The Irony of Minimalism

The Irony of Minimalism A word of warning as you consider simplifying your life: if you call yourself a minimalist, or if you tell people you are interested in minimalism, then everything you do will instantly be steeped in irony. Oh, you drive a car? Thats not  very minimalist of you! Wait, you have  more than one pair of shoes?  Hypocrite! You own a blowdryer? Phony! What people dont understand, however, is that minimalism is not about deprivation. Rather, minimalistsâ€"anyone whos deliberately seeking a life with less stuffâ€"find more value in the stuff  they do own. They do this by jettisoning the superfluous, keeping  only the possessions that serve a purpose or bring joy. Everything else goes by the wayside. There is no Minimalist Rulebook. Were all different. The things that add value to one mans  life may not add value to yours. So hold on to that hair straightener, those colorful socks, that collection of angel statuettesâ€"but only if they are appropriate for  your life. Only if they serve a purpose or bring you joy. People will judge. Let them. Judgment is but a mirror reflecting the insecurities of the person whos doing the judging. Heres one  more irony for you: a day after  our recent Chicago tour stop, The Minimalists hosted a free moderated discussion about minimalism at the Apple Store on  North Michigan Avenue. Apple Store? Gasp!  You frauds! Hehe. Well, what better place to talk about living more intentionally  than the most profitable retail store on earthâ€"in front of the people who may  benefit from  our message most. Much better than, say, a Buddhist temple, dont you think? Besides, even though  we dont endorse any particular brands, it would be hypocritical to pretend that we dont  get value from any  Apple products. Related reading: Preaching to the Congregation.