What is Minimalism?

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

I’ve been to write about minimalism’s relationship to sustainability, especially for First World people, but I’ve had lots of reading and assignments to do, so that’ll have to wait. For now, check out this piece from Zen Habits about minimalism. Lest Google images fool you, minimalism is not about living in sterile white containers with cube furniture—it’s much more than that:

It’s basically an extension of simplicity — not only do you take things from complex to simple, but you try to get rid of anything that’s unnecessary. All but the essential.

Minimalism says that what’s unnecessary is a luxury, and a waste. Why be wasteful when the unnecessary isn’t needed for happiness? When it just gets in the way of happiness, of peace? By eliminating the unnecessary, we make room for the essential, and give ourselves more breathing space.

Now, exactly what is essential will vary from person to person. So someone might look at my essential things and say “That’s too much — it’s not minimal!” But they’d be wrong — because essential is subjective.

Read more at: On minimalism :zenhabits.

It’s one reaction to First World’s complexity and unsustainability, but it’s not the only way to be sustainable. But I’m sure most readers wouldn’t be hurt by reevaluating whether they need all the things they possess.