Much of what I am going to write right now would seem like common sense, but it is not. If it was common then it would not apply to each of us so often.

For the sake of being accepted or belonging, we allow the people closest to us to hurt us in so many ways. Even in ways we do not realize from day-to-day because we accept their behavior toward us because “that’s just how they are,” or “they mean no harm by it”. We make excuses for them. But their behavior or attitude is harmful and therefore completely unacceptable. It’s harmful to themselves as well as others. These people are what I like to call “TOXIC”. Here are some tell-tale signs of TOXIC people:

I have given a great deal of thought as to why people feel the compulsion to have, keep, and own things. Why so many struggle to acquire the material “riches” our world has to offer. I have spent a great deal of time observing these people; friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. I have also spent a bit of time observing those who are not so materialistic. Not necessarily other minimalists, but people who do not seem to get any joy, or as much joy in consuming. Through these observations I have come to an interesting hypothesis:

People who have the compulsion to possess things feel this compulsion as a result of an unspoken belief in our capitalist society that one must own things in order to use these things. That no matter where they are outside their home, they need to treat each place like it is a museum (stay behind the velvet rope) and not until they pay the admission fee, are they allowed to touch what is behind the glass.

Contrary to this, the person who has no interest in acquiring an abundance of material possessions believes that the whole world that they live in belongs to them anyway; it belongs to everybody. There is no urge to own a swimming pool, because there is a local gym they belong to where they can use the swimming pool whenever they want; or they can go to the lake. They have no urge to have a lawn of their own. If they want to see, smell, roll in, play on, or run on fresh cut grass they can visit the local public park. And that usually has the best kept grass anyway.

It’s the difference between insecurity and complete security.
Think about it. Consider the extremes: a hoarder versus a minimalist.

Hoarders seldom leave home (the hoard itself). And when they do its only to shop. They tend to be very introverted, have very few friends. Outside of their home they always seem in a hurry, as if they are very uncomfortable. As if they are in foreign territory, and they better hurry up, get what they want, and get out before somebody notices them. When they are home, they are finally safe in THEIR world within THE world, and as long as all the things they like are within those walls they are content.

Minimalists on the other hand are seldom home. Usually at home only to sleep, eat, read, or maybe work. They tend to be extroverted. Everyone they bump into is a potential friend, and is treated as such. They tend not to be in a hurry, very laid back. You will often finding them just strolling, taking in the sights.

Specific Example:

Say a hoarder/collector is interested in a food processor they see at Target. They will look at it in the store and try to think of how they will make room for it in their kitchen. Then of course they will purchase it. They will buy the processor and keep it in their kitchen so that way it is available to them in the event that they will need it. It will already be safe within their tiny comfortable world.

If a minimalist is interested in a food processor they will look at it and consider if they have any specific immediate use for it. If so, then they will purchase it. If not, then they will feel no need to purchase it now, but now they know where to find it in the event that they do. There is no need to keep it easy access in their home because the world IS their home. There is no need to keep it stored in their kitchen because Target IS their kitchen.

Now those were extremes, but I see examples of this all the time in people every day. I’ve seen a friend of mine buy a waffle-maker because in theory it sounded like a good idea. but that waffle-maker made it’s way from the shelf in the store to the back of the closet within an hour, and there it has stayed ever since. That was two years ago. This is a deep insecurity, no two ways about it.

With so many things we desire, the following is true:

We don’t have to own it, to use it. And even if we do own it, that doesn’t guarantee that we WILL use it. And with that being the case ……. where is the value in ownership?

Big Business would have us believing that we must posses things we don’t need. That we must have an automobile with 200+ horsepower even though we all share the same road, and therefore have to follow the same speed limit. That we must serve “such n such” brand of succulent chicken at our table, even though it is all GMO. That we must wear this outfit/makeup/bra to attract, because we are not beautiful just the way we are. That we must be put on medication to negate the effects of your illness (likely brought on by all the tainted food that they have been selling us our entire life).

I turn on the TV and for a 30 min program I get to watch two commercial breaks, each with twelve commercials throwing suggestions at me; both clear and subliminal I’m sure. I open up a magazine and 50% of the pages are adds; and three inserts. I can’t walk down Main St without seeing billboard signs everywhere with adds.

Government would have us believing that in order to stimulate the economy, we need to buy more. Govt can, and is being bought, and therefore does not act on the interests of all the people. Only 1% of the people (less than that even). So govt cannot be trusted to mitigate the problem. So it falls on US.

As if you needed another reason to live a minimalist lifestyle, how about you purify your mind and body of all these toxins. How about you do your small part in giving power back to the common man. Lose the TV that is feeding you informational garbage. Quit the impulse shopping that is having you buy things you don’t need, and don’t enrich your life. Shop local when you do shop, and help boost your local economy. That money creates jobs in your community, growth, and ultimately that money comes back to you. That’s right.  Money spent toward Big Business usually goes toward some “big shots” third summer home. Get your food from a local farmers market. That food is fresh, all natural, and has no GMO’s (most of the time).

If you make these simple changes in your life, then others will pick up on it too. Before long this will make a big difference on our economy nationally. Start your personal revolution.