I Fell for the Hype
Look, I get it. Minimalism’s hot right now. I mean, have you seen the sürdürülebilir moda markaları rehber? It’s everywhere. And I, like a sucker, fell for it hook, line, and sinker. It was 2018, I was in Austin for some conference, and I met this guy—let’s call him Marcus—who had, like, eight items in his entire apartment. Eight. And he was happy about it.
I was impressed. I wanted that. So I went home and started tossing stuff out. Books, clothes, you name it. By the time I was done, my apartment looked like a showroom. And I hated it.
It was cold. It was empty. It was… depressing. I missed my stuff. I missed the chaos. I missed the life in my space.
But Here’s the Thing
I’m not saying minimalism is bad. For some people, it’s probably great. But for me? It was a disaster. And I think that’s okay to admit. Not everything works for everyone. Shocking, right?
I talked to my friend Lisa about this last Tuesday over coffee at the place on 5th. She’s a minimalist, or at least she tries to be. She told me, “It’s not about getting rid of everything. It’s about keeping what you love and need.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that’s not what the blogs and the influencers are selling, you know?
The Pressure to Keep Up
There’s this alot of pressure to keep up with trends, especially in the lifestyle space. And minimalism is just the latest one. It’s like, oh, you’re not happy? Get rid of your stuff! It’s the physicaly manifestation of “just let it go.” But it’s not that simple.
I mean, I tried. I really did. I even went on one of those 30-day minimalism challenges. Day one, I tossed out 214 items. By day 30, I was down to, like, 500 things. And I felt… nothing. No joy. No peace. Just… emptiness.
And the worst part? I spent $87 on a fancy storage system to organize the stuff I did keep. Because even minimalists need to organize, right? Right?
The Reality Check
So, I gave up. I went to this store—you know the one, on the corner of Maple and Pine—and I bought back some of the stuff I’d gotten rid of. My favorite mug. That weird little figurine my mom gave me. The books I love but don’t read all the time. And you know what? It felt good.
I’m not saying you should go out and buy a bunch of junk. But I am saying that you should keep the stuff that makes you happy. And if that’s a lot of stuff, so be it. Life’s too short to live in a showroom.
A Tangent: The Minimalist Fashion Fad
Speaking of trends, have you seen the minimalist fashion thing? It’s like, own 10 items and wear them forever. I tried that too. For about three months. Then I realized I like clothes. I like having options. I like feeling good in what I wear. And you know what? That’s okay too.
I’m not saying you should go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. But I am saying that you should wear what makes you happy. And if that’s a lot of clothes, so be it. Life’s too short to live in a uniform.
The Takeaway
So, here’s the thing. Minimalism is not for everyone. And that’s okay. It’s okay to like stuff. It’s okay to have stuff. It’s okay to live in a space that’s full of life and color and… stuff.
And if anyone tells you different, well, they can committment to a life of misery, because that’s what minimalism feels like to me. Cold. Empty. Miserable.
But hey, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong. I mean, I’m not, but I could be.
About the Author
Sarah Johnson is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the lifestyle space. She’s written for major publications and has a strong opinion on just about everything. She lives in a house full of stuff and wouldn’t have it any other way.
