Minimalist Upkeep Part 3: Life Changes

It is important to recognize, that as our lives change, we must let go of the old to make way (and room) for the new. As our passions and priorities change, we have to consider if our possessions associated with the old activities we do not do much anymore, are worth the maintenance time and space they take up. This can be difficult, as we often have a hard time letting go for fear we would lose a piece of ourselves, lose connection to that passion.

When we feel this way it is important to remember: These things we own are only tools; just tools. Tools used to help facilitate our passions. They are not the passions themselves. The passions are inside us. And in the event that our priorities and/or passions change back, most of the time these tools are easily re-attainable.

Here are some common life changes people go through that bring on difficult possession purging for many:

  • Marriage – All the material associated with the bachelor life must go. So lose the 3 stage beer bong, and pool table.
  • Children – It’s impractical to keep the flashy sexy sports car. It is far more practical to have the sedan, wagon, or mini-van.
  • Last child moves out – Downsize the home.
  • Retirement – No doubt there are a lot of materials that were work associated that can be purged. A uniform, dress shirts, ties, etc (depends on the profession of course).

Minimalist Upkeep Part 2: Merging

Look for opportunities to combine two or more types of possessions into one. This will save money, space, and enable us to get more value out of the things we own. Technology has been assisting in this process since the invention of the computer.

Examples:

  • Pot holder and oven mitt (same thing).
  • Game console and computer.
  • Photo album, music, movies, and computer.
  • Toothbrush and bathtub scrub brush ….. just kidding (yuck).
  • Game console and streaming online TV.
  • Shampoo and Conditioner.
  • Thanks to the invention of mobile APPS (applications), we are able to merge lots and lots of things to exist digitally on our mobile devices (or computers). Thanks to the convenience of Apps, we do not need to own any of the following possessions:
    • Calendar (with reminders)
    • Mobile music player (MP3 player)
    • GPS device
    • Alarm clock
    • Game console
    • Flashlight
    • Compass
    • Camera
    • Audio recorder
    • Social media connection
    • Information portal (news, weather, etc)
    • and oh yeah ….. phone
    • SO MUCH MORE. Anything that doesn’t need to be physical, has an app associated with it.

All of these possessions can just be applications on a mobile device.

Halloween season is upon us

Anyone who has been following me for over a year knows that I am fanatical about Halloween. In my home it is the biggest holiday of the year. Bigger than Christmas. Every year my wife and I watch horror movies in abundance and attend all the local horror themed events. We love to both to scare, and BE scared.

It was last year, just after the Halloween season, that the Christmas music started to be playing on the radio. Right smack on Nov 1st. ARGH that agitates me. Not just for the fact that it started TOO EARLY, but also for the fact that Christmas is the only holiday that gets so much support. I’ve never heard Thanksgiving music, Easter music, Valentines Day music, or  …….. Halloween music radio play. It was then I decided that there must be Halloween radio play somewhere. Well it turns out there is ….. however ……. my findings were disappointing.

There was an XM radio Halloween station, but we have to pay for XM radio. There were a few free online radio stations but they were very hokey and meant for children. No no. I was looking for something one could play in their car in the middle of the night down a dark country road, that might make them feel a tad uncomfortable. Something with not only horror themed rock and roll, but also Horror movie themes, and spine chilling sound effects being played in between all that.

Since I could not find such a radio station, I made one.

So from Oct 1st to Nov 5th, you can tune into “WHHR Hudson Halloween Radio” from your computer or mobile device through the mobile app “Radionomy”, and other apps Roku, Tizen, Sonos, and Windows. I have also embedded the radio station player in the sidebar of this website; just hit PLAY|>.

OR, you could go directly to WHHR via Radionomy HERE .

WHHR plays:

– Horror themed Rock & Roll.

– Horror movie themes.

– Halloween party tracks.

– Halloween classics.

– Spooky and spine chilling sounds.

(Let me clarify, that while this post is not particularly minimalist related directly, It does illustrate the living a minimalist life permits the time, mental energy, and motivation for creativity.)