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Be careful with “quick pleasures”

liquorcandyI spend a great deal of time observing and thinking about people, and what makes them happy. One thing I can’t help but notice is that people that are generally unhappy with their lives find fleeting happiness in very frequently engaging in “quick pleasures.” These are the things that become habits, which provide temporary pleasure, but can be destructive in the longer run. Examples of things that fall in this category are:

 

  • Smoking
  • Drinking
  • Drugs
  • unhealthy and/or excessive eating
  • Sex
  • Empty calorie entertainment (TV, video games, etc)

Don’t get me wrong. Most of the things that are considered “quick pleasures” (QP) are fine in moderation. Sex for example, is not only one of the most natural, but it is one of our most necessary activities. I encourage it. But it is a QP nonetheless, and as a result can become very addicting and therefore destructive if done excessively and irresponsibly.

The problem comes in when the QP crosses the line from being a satisfying recreational activity, to becoming a replacement activity to compensate for an unsatisfying life.

Ah, but did the QP problem cause the unhappiness, or did the unhappiness cause the QP problem? Irrelevant! But what is relevant, and true, is that they feed each other. The miserable life forces the individual to find solace in their vices, and the vices allow the individual to not have to face the underlying problem of their life; so the problem gets worse. This is the best case scenario (if said QP happens to be one of the healthier ones). I don’t believe I have to mention the additional ways most of the QP’s  can hurt an already miserable life.

In the end the truth is this:

QP’s don’t cause long term sustained happiness. Living a good satisfying life does; a life of healthy uplifting relationships, a life of purpose, a life of contribution, a life of growth. QP’s if not carefully moderated, can in fact, drain the long term happiness.

So as minimalists, the one thing we should periodically circle back to, is analyzing our lives to determine if the quick pleasures in our lives are in any way draining our long term happiness. If they are, then we have more de-cluttering to do.

 

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“Because I am compelled to.”

Rock-Climbing-1024x640Every now and again someone will ask me why I do what I do. They will ask:

“Why did you write your book?

“Why do you have this blog?”

“Why do you preach about minimalism?”

“Why do you ride bicycle?”

The answer is the same for all these questions.

“Because I am compelled to.”

And every time I give that answer I get the same look, the look of confusion/misunderstanding/disdain. Of course I do. Because the people who understand that answer are the same people who would never have to ask that question. Those people share my feeling of passion. You see, there are two kinds of people in this world: People that follow their passion, and people who do what their told.

The moment a person is born they are told what they should be, how they should act, and what they should work for. We are told by our parents, teachers, friends, elders, the television, the radio, and all media. And since it’s all we know we follow this blindly. That’s just the way it is. But there are those few of us who are driven in a direction different than they would have us go. We are not driven by money, fame, comfort, or image, but we are driven nonetheless. We are simply compelled. This compulsion can’t be explained logically.

Some of us can take our passion to the point where it becomes very prosperous, but most of us can’t or don’t. That is irrelevant however because all of us are happy in what we do. Those who have no passion don’t understand, and many often take some amount of comfort in ridiculing those with passion, especially toward those who have not acquired wealth as a result of their passion. Our passion fills us, gives us purpose. Gives us joy and hope in a world chaotic and corrupt. That is why when I get that look of disdain, I do not hurt or cower. I take pity on them. They will never have purpose other than the same old boring one pre-designed for them. Just another link in the chain, part of the system. A slave. And they will never know our joy.

Here are two very passionate people who had a very unorthodox crafts which are excellent examples of what I am talking about:

Tony Hawk (very prosperous)

Pablo Picasso (lived in poverty)

 

Both left their mark on the world.

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Holiday shopping like a Minimalist

BlackfridayPlease, this year lets practice minimalism in our holiday shopping. Forget the nick knacks and fluff that we usually get our friends and loved ones, and instead give the gift of new and/or good experiences.

Need some ideas? Here are some:

  • A dinner date
  • A Swedish massage at the local spa (my fave)
  • A night on the town
  • A movie
  • A wine tasting tour
  • A Theater show (Broadway, or off-Broadway)
  • Seats at a sporting event
  • Concert tickets
  • Casino trip (I don’t condone gambling……but just saying)
  • A sporting experience (white water rafting, kayaking, hiking, water skiing, sailing, tubing, bicycle touring, sky diving, etc)
  • A vacation

Also, spend money responsibly. Shop local. Avoid giving money to big businesses, and instead support local businesses. Remember, how we spend our money carries more power than our vote did in this last presidential election. Give your money to your neighbor, not the 1%. Big Business only has the power we give them, and they depend on the holiday season for their prosperity. Let’s take the holiday away from them, while at the same time stimulating local economy.

And yes, that means no shopping on Amazon either.