a tad less …

minimalism proposes

(quote | gleaned from a CALM meditation)

we live in a culture that encourages us to consume, buy, and own. And why not? There certainly is a bit of joy in acquiring something new, but the satisfaction doesn’t last and doesn’t lead to real happiness. If it did, we’d be overcome with joy every time we opened our closet.

Acquiring more things doesn’t just fail to bring us happiness, it can also lead to more stress.

Our mental state is influenced by our environment, so a cluttered home can result in a cluttered mind. Simplifying and minimizing our living* space may help us experience clarity and tranquility. Minimalism suggests that we spend far too much time and energy focused on material things, which distracts us from relationships and undertakings that really matter.

I only wanted to write one sentence, but kept rewinding the meditation 15 seconds because of the wisdom of the words. Thought of my nephew and our convo a few Christmases ago.
I have often sensed, heard, felt, and even seen the aaah whenever the idea, impulse, or desire to declutter surfaces. And although it is something I kind of do in January, it really isn't.

This lifestyle philosophy invites us to reassess our values

and ask ourselves what would actually bring a lasting sense of well-being … the idea isn’t to get rid of all our belongings or to cease to consume altogether.

i think that lushness and a large amount of whatever one likes is not an issue as long as it does not replace (or mean to replace) a longing … a hiding … a – you know what i mean

Yes, there is beauty in lushness, but there is also comfort, for who wants to feel barefoot, naked, and exposed?

A wee bit intense, but it is a thorn on my proverbial side.

I was in Taiwan for 7-10 days one winter, just before the Chinese New Year, which is lunar, therefore not on a specific date, and during dinner, one of the company managers expressed how tired he was, as he had been preparing for the New Year: decluttering, cleaning everything, "getting ready to have a clean slate" were his words.

A bit like spring cleaning here in the US. I ❤️ the idea of clean slates 🙃. I don't have to begin on a date.

A New Year lends itself to beginnings because it marks a cutoff from the previous one. Of course, a beginning could be any day. In fact, all beginnings are ... Every. Day.