Minimalism can be defined in many different ways. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity." I was recently browsing through Netflix, searching for the next series that I could bingewatch when I came across a documentary called "Minimalism." I had some free time, so I decided I would check it out. I'm so glad I did.

The documentary follows Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus as they travel the country promoting their book, "The Minimalists." This lifestyle of minimalism, as I learned throughout the film, is to own fewer material possessions in order to make room for more positivity and happiness in our lives. That is quality over quantity. A few great items of clothing is better than a ton of trendy things that usually just end up falling apart. The same goes for people. A few meaningful friendships beat surrounding yourself with empty relationships and acquaintances any day. We turn a blind eye to the amount of things we allow to come into our homes and our lives. We see empty space, we are bothered by it, and so we fill it up. We are encouraged constantly by advertising and media that more is always better, quantity is more important than quality and we strive to fill the emptiness we sometimes feel within ourselves by buying stuff.

Now, the people featured in this documentary are true minimalists and their lifestyle, in all honesty, is a little too drastic for me. They have completely decluttered their lives and live with very few material possessions. Their homes are practically empty, only containing items and appliances that serve a purpose. I am not in any way implying that I am "converting" to a minimalist lifestyle. I don't personally think that it is the cure for unhappiness. I don't think that there is just one way to be happy. However, I do think that by incorporating aspects of minimalism into our lives, we will be closer to finding lasting happiness. Minimalists search for happiness not through things but through experiences. It’s up to us to determine the difference between necessary and superfluous when it comes to objects we let into our lives because the unnecessary junk that we surround ourselves with creates underlying stress. It manifests in the back of our minds and prevents us from feeling complete.

Everywhere I look, eyes are glued to cell phones. We spend a disgusting amount of time thinking about the amount of likes on our social media. We are so overcome by this era of trend and technology that we often forget to look up. Standing on top of a mountain, we would rather see the breathtaking view through the camera on our phone instead of truly appreciating it. I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to watch this documentary. It has opened my eyes to the disgusting consumer lifestyle that I and so many others are living. It is important to realize that in some ways, our society is not too materialistic, but perhaps we aren't materialistic enough. We care more about the possession of objects than their true material purpose, and I think that this realization is the first step to a more meaningful and purposeful lifestyle.