STUFF...lots and lots of stuff. It's human nature to want to posses as many material objects as possible. Thanks to today's society we perceive someone who owns a lot of things as wealthy and of a higher social class. Another reason people grow attached to material things is because they have a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. This is also known as hoarding. I'm aware that there are cases in which hoarding isn't something to worry too much about, but in extreme cases it can cause damage to someone's mental and physical health, as well as those around them. But that isn't what this article is about. I honestly don’t care who keeps what when it comes to material objects. You can own as much or as little as you want. People have their reasons for keeping things, and they don’t need to defend their reasons to anyone but themselves. We associate objects with emotions, memories, or just other people. However, not everyone has an abundance of materials that they feel the need to own for justifiable reasons.
I've been a minimalist for as long as I can remember. When I was very young I liked to have things, but as I got older I began to want less and less material objects. If I didn't need it, there wasn’t a necessary reason to have it. This minimalist lifestyle is also a likely reason as to why I am always extremely organized. There are days where I can be slightly unorganized, but a majority of the time I keep things very tidy and neat. People are always shocked when they noticed that I don’t own a lot of stuff and ask me why I don’t really have anything. I always tell them that I’d rather have experiences than material things. The moments of happiness and adventure that I share with my friends and family are more than enough for me. I hardly even take pictures during those experiences because I’m so caught up in the moment and I don’t want to miss a single second of what’s going on.
Just like everyone else, there are certain objects in my life that I hold near and dear to my heart that I probably won’t ever let go of. Those objects embody memories and emotions that I can only reflect on when I’m holding or looking at them. I definitely don’t think there is anything wrong with people owning a lot of stuff. It’s all influenced by an individual’s personality. Just remember that when you see someone who doesn’t own a lot, it doesn’t always mean that they’re poor or of any lower social class than you. It may be that they aren’t focused on the things that they have but rather the memories that they have. Be grateful for what you do have, but be even more grateful for the ones you love and the unforgettable experiences you have been a part of. This is just another random opinion from a minimalist.
