Simplicity: From Maximalism to Minimalism

As I write, I am reflecting on how I came across minimalism. It wasn’t taught or shared with me from someone I know, but rather I believe it was an accumulation of experience that guided me to reflect on the way I lived and how I would like to try to live. In this longer post I want to share how I had come across minimalism, what it means to me, and what I have learnt so far. I am not yet a minimalist. But I intend to live intentionally and with less.

Minimalism: a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity.

(“Minimalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minimalism. Accessed 17 Mar. 2024.)

How The Journey Began

It is difficult to pin point when I changed, if I changed, or whether I became enlightened as I aged. I do remember that it may have something to do with moving home to another part of the country. I was young, perhaps just turned 16, and I was given the task of packing my room. This brought to perspective how much of a hoarder I had become and how difficult it was to part with items. I over packed cardboard boxes to the point they were difficult to lift.

Here, I found: stickers I wouldn’t dare use because they were so pretty; empty yet beautiful note books; hair accessories I would never wear; every card, receipt, letter, drawing, gift, and shiny thing; all the memory cards for game consoles I no longer owned; all of my old school books and rewards; and the list continues. I kept everything. The opposite of minimalism: maximalism. It never occurred to me that I do not use these things, will not use these things, and did not use these things until after I moved four more times.

The First Transition

It wasn’t until I moved home to go to university that I thought about my relationship with items. During the first year, we had to move out completely during the Christmas, Easter, and Summer holidays. I thought I was being clever by only bringing the clothes I needed for the season, but I still brought as much as I could fit in the car on my first move. Did I use most of it? No. Did I end up buying new clothes and items actually needed for university? Yes. So, by Christmas, I went home with more than I left.

I am not sure where I heard it, but I learnt that an exchange student moved with two suitcases and planned to stay the whole year. So, upon my return I tried to do just that. I didn’t succeed, but I did bring fewer items. By Easter, I recognised I did not use anything I left at home and went home to declutter. I donated everything else, but placed my memory boxes in the attic. I was definitely beginning to reduce my belongings, but I still added to them at this point.

Secret Hoarder

Second year at University was different. I didn’t need to move frequently and I made sure I chose a room that could fit my belongings. The bed had drawers underneath and so it seemed perfect. What actually happened was that I filled them up with books and things I thought I didn’t really need to use. I never opened those drawers during the whole year. My room looked quite empty, but if you were to open my drawers or wardrobe, you would see a different story. I also had posters and photos on my walls. I was aware that I needed less, but I still kept hold of things.

The Two Suitcase Rule

It didn’t stop there though. During this final year at university, I had a very clean and minimal look to my room. Here is when I discovered zero waste living, so not quite minimalism just yet. This year I deleted Facebook, but I used Youtube more and noticed many videos talking about zero waste over recycling. I saw a video where a lady spoke about how recycling is good but better to live with zero waste. She also gave advice on what we could do instead.

Realising I could do better, I found a local farmers market that did everything from fruit and vegetables to pasta and spices. I reduced my plastic usage and waste significantly. By the end of this year, I also converted to eBooks. By this point, I had stopped buying from fast fashion brands, rarely entered a grocery store, and walked to class everyday. Here, I began minimalism without realising.

Now, I found zero waste living and minimalism a little more difficult in Paris. I did find a market, but I didn’t find a place to refill my food cupboard. When I went home for Christmas this time, I came back with a few books after helping my mum spring clean and clear out. One of the books completely changed my perspective and view on items. This was Goodbye Things by Fumio Sasake.

I will make a post on exactly what I learnt, but it helped me reduce further what I held onto that lived just in storage. This was when my journey towards being more minimalistic began: I began reading many perspectives, practices, and principles and adapted my life to be as minimalistic as possible.

And so, this is why I have created Flacon of Oats as a home to share experience, reflections, and lessons I had learnt on Life, Motherhood, Home as well as some aspects of creativity. I am not yet a minimalist. But I intend to live intentionally and with less.