Living Simply challenge Day 25: MythBusting

     Whenever I hear people talking about minimalism, they usually start saying how they love all their stuff. Really? ALL of it? The average home contains over 300,000 items. I would bet I could sneak in and remove 100 things and no one would notice. They think it's about living like a monk in a TV monastary - living in an 8 x 8 cement cell, cement floors, nothing but one bed, and one lamp on a small table. Today isn't a challenge to do as much as it's a challenge to gain REAL information about minimalism and living simply. I challenge you to read the following myths and truths and expand your mind. If you do no other daily challenges from July or August - do this one and educate yourself...then decide if you could go back and knock out a few of these daily challenges.

Myth 1:
Minimalism means living with nothing/only what fits in one backpack/empty rooms and closets.

Truth1:
No, not at all. It means removing the excess clutter from your house, the things you bought on impulse, things you got as gifts but know you'll never ever wear or use, the stuff that is out-dated and no longer has value or brings joy to you. Once you get rid of the things that mean nothing, what's left is the meaningful things that make your house or apartment a home. Love collecting something and it's meaningful? Keep it. Do you pick up mementos from your travels only to find them sitting where you put them after your trip 3 years ago, gathering dust? Donate, sell, or toss them.

Myth 2:
What a boring life you'd have if you get rid of your technology/tv/car/stuff.

Truth 2:
That's not true at all. Most minimalists do have a laptop, although some only use it where they can get free wi-fi instead of paying a monthly internet bill. Some do get rid of cable or even their tv, but others don't because it's something they use to find joy. You should also note that those who keep it don't tend to sit and watch tv for hours on end 6 or 7 hours a week. They use it to deliberately watch movies, shows, and documentaries they choose (or sports they love), often with other people and they discuss it afterwards over dessert and coffee/cocktails.

Myth 3:
Minimalists only have stuff they got free or cheap so it's all crappy stuff.

Truth 3:
Actually, most minimalists do try to find ways to save money like buying clothing from a thrift store or on places like ebay, which also helps the environment because they're "recycling" something that already exists rather than feeding into the overproducing of stuff no one needs. There are many people in the fashion industry that will tell you they purposely have to destroy perfectly good clothing to continue the 30 day "seasonal styles" so consumers will buy non-stop. Millions, if not billions of dollars of clothes get shredded instead of donating it to worthwhile charities. It's so wasteful! Still, many minimalists WILL purchase more expensive items because of their quality. They'd rather buy a few pairs of good jeans or one winter jacket that lasts for years rather than have to keep repurchasing the same type of items every few months when they wear out.

Myth 4:
Aren't they all vegans and anti-meat industry protesters?

Truth 4:
No. There are vegans, vegetarians, carnivores, pescatarians, and more in any group, whether the members are minimalists or not. It's a personal thing. Some choose a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle for their own ethical reasons. Others enjoy a typical diet with meat and poultry because they want to get the benefits found in them (for example, there is no non-meat natural way to get Vitamin B12 unless you take a lab created supplement).

Myth 5:
Minimalists keep the items they own under a certain number.

Truth 5:
No, most of them don't. Although there are a few, like Colin Wright, who travels the world with one backpack and works with his laptop from wherever he is - that's not the norm. There's all types of books and articles on how to limit things like a closet full of unused clothing.  Some people decide for themselves to do a 30, 33, or 35 piece "capsule wardrobe" where many outfits are made by mixing and matching similar pieces that go together. I currently keep my closet to 35 items or less, but as things wear out or don't fit, I intentionally replace them with pieces that WILL work with the rest so the goal is a capsule type wardrobe, but from where I started, that wasn't possible. I didn't have non-stained shirts w/o holes in them at one point - so yes, purchasing clothing is still a thing for me, but nothing gets purchased without thought, finding it at a below average price (not just on sale, I buy a $35 blouse if I can get it for around $7 for example), and it must match the basic color/style of what else I already own or I don't buy it.

Myth 6:
Minimalists look down on everyone else as if they're better than the rest of us.

Truth 6:
Most minimalists actually are striving for a more simple life. There's no joy, contentment, nor incentive to put others down who don't embrace the concept of minimalism. Everyone's so different that it looks different for everyone. If you really explore this topic, you'll see many minimalists share secrets, ebooks, information, blogs, articles, and more with people - for FREE. They want to bring a message about how to live a happier, more meaningful, intentional live pursuing your passions - whatever they may be. It has nothing to do with making everyone look, dress, and live exactly as they do. They broke away from what everyone else was doing to get where they are - why would they want to create that all over again?

Myth 7:
It only works for single, young, white guys in their 20s.

Truth 7:
Not true at all! There are minimalist out there sharing their stories. They come from all walks of life. There's a Dad with many children, retirement age couples, single people, the breadwinners in their 40s hoping to retire someday, farming families, city dwellers, and those making it work in the suburbs. The differences may be how they don't waste money on buying every new movie, they either rent or borrow it. Maybe they don't buy their kids every single toy on the market, but instead, focus on a few better quality ones that the kids will enjoy rather than a roomful of stuff the kids didn't really want, so they're bored with just 1000 toys all over their floor and in their toy boxes.  Maybe the young couple decides to buy technology a few years old rather than upgrading at full price on the day it comes out. Maybe bartering in more rural areas replaces having to buy all things new. Some write about trading sewing skills in making clothes for things like eggs and produce from another's garden.

As far as race, ethnicity, etc. that has absolutely NOTHING to do with it. We're all people who want a life filled with more joy than stress, who have things we'd like to pursue and things we'd like to avoid. Minimalism and Living Simply is for anyone who wants it. And if someone decides it's not for them, so what? Let them live their life the way that makes them happy.

     Hopefully now you have a better understanding of true minimalism, and living a more simple life - what it is and what it isn't. Now with more knowledge on the subject, you can decide for yourself.