Something that I’ve been learning about myself as I’ve gone through my first year of college and begun working 40+ hour weeks is how much Stuff stresses me out. Owning Stuff, managing Stuff, noisy atmospheres, anything involving a lot of sensory input – visual, hearing, touch – really, really stresses me out.
Because of that, I’ve been leaning toward the trend of minimalism. It really appeals to me. The idea of not having a ton of Stuff that has to be moved whenever you change dwelling places, having a relatively clean living space because it’s not filled with Clutter, and not mentally having to deal with the organization of Stuff sounds absolutely wonderful. BUT. There’s always a “but”, isn’t there? As I read more and more about this, I find a couple of things that are often brought up. First, this lifestyle is expensive. It’s only for the rich kids. Second, it relies heavily on being unencumbered by “stuff” which can, but does not necessarily, preclude an environmentally conscious lifestyle. Well, I love a challenge. I am by no means a “rich kid”. However, growing up as a decidedly poor kid taught me a few things about money. Things like forgoing something convenient in favor of saving money or making a wiser choice. And because of that life, I have found it to be no problem to begin saving a good amount of money, even while paying for college. The problem of not being a “rich kid” no longer applies to me, because I’ve learned how to live well and within my means. Sure, it might take me a little longer to build up this lifestyle. But in the end, I’ll still get there and it will be worth it. And besides, I don't believe that ridding yourself of useless clutter should be impossible for anyone, no matter your financial situation. It might be harder to let go of things that might be useful later, but there are definitely ways that getting rid of or minimalizing what is laying around your house could not only be good for your brain but also for your wallet! As for the second point, that is concerning. As someone who’s grown up minimizing waste and living in the beautiful, raw outdoors, I’ve come to have an appreciation for this earth and a concern for our environment. So at the same time as started my journey toward minimalism, I’m also beginning to work toward a zero waste lifestyle, but that's for another time. Sure, I may not fully accomplish the “ideal” of either one, but I’m hoping to strike a healthy balance of the two (and my budget!) that will be beneficial both to myself and this wonderful world that my God created! And yes, I'm still holding on to the many cultures I've assimilated into my lifestyle. I can't wait to see what my unique experiences will bring into this journey and contribute to a better lifestyle for myself! I invite you to join me on my journey, or at least sit back and learn what you can from my experiments and mistakes.
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Dani M
I have lived all over the United States, and have friends from all over the world. One thing I have learned is that Alaska is a unique place to live. The raw, harsh beauty of the land has shaped a raw, beautiful culture. Even as I move in and out of Alaska, I try to preserve the feeling of wild beauty in the things I wear and make. At the same time, I try to learn the rich cultures of the places where I am, and incorporate qualities from all over the world into my everyday life. ArchivesCategories
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