RE: Becoming minimalist: when having fewer possessions means living a better life
To @stilt21 and anyone else who thinks this is a load of BS...
A desire to de-clutter your life is no more baloney than is a desire to reach a healthy weight. Just as we have forces within our American culture that can lead to eating disorders, we have forces that can cause us to become obsessed with material possessions to an unhealthy degree. At one and the same time, we have TV shows like "The Biggest Loser" and county fair "competitive eating" contests. We have people who will buy a house so large they can't afford to furnish it, while seeing other people selling or giving away possessions so they can focus on what they believe will truly give their lives meaning.
The bottom line, for me, is that material goods, of whatever type, eventually wind up in a landfill. It's the IM-material goods that last, that don't have to be insured, cleaned, or maintained, it's those things that retain their value and importance. And it's not a matter of feeling "superior" to your neighbor either. It's a choice, and isn't that what this country is supposed to be about? If someone has trouble with my choice in this matter, maybe it's time for _them_ to examine their own choices and not be so defensive about them.
