Minimum

The other day I was eating breakfast after French class with one of my friends, and our conversation turned to a topic I thoroughly enjoy-- studying abroad. My goal (a very impractical and unrealistic one, but an important one to have all the same) is to study abroad this summer, preferably in the UK. While this may be impossible to arrange for this coming summer, given that I lack the dough and am currently unemployed, I will nevertheless strive after my goal with all my pathetic little heart simply because I am sick of America and want to see the world.

Anyway, at some point during our conversation, my friend and I agreed that the European way of life is superior to Americans'. My reasoning? Europeans, or rather, my stereotype of Europeans, are minimalists. They don't buy what they don't need, unlike Americans, who buy everything they don't need simply because they're greedy, bored, or someone convinces them they should. Europeans, or at least the Brits, realize that they don't need what they can't have, and choose to spend their time utilizing the shit they do have and spending their money on more worthwhile endeavors.

So, my second goal, in addition to studying abroad this summer, is to become a minimalist. When I return home for Thanksgiving, I've decided that I'm going to take the time to go through literally ALL my possessions and throw at least 50% of them out, or give them to charity. I honestly don't need about 95% of the shit accumulating in my room, but for now I'm setting a reasonable goal for the near future. Hopefully by Christmas, I'll have realized that I miss nothing I've gotten rid of and I will be able to eliminate another 25%, or 50%, if I'm feeling ambitious. I've also just had the brilliant idea of asking for the funds to study abroad for Christmas instead of a bunch of extra pointless shit I don't need and whose acquisition will only prove counterproductive in my attempts to transform into a minimalist.

My stereotype of the Europeans, or specifically, the Brits, are drawn largely from my favorite aforementioned British YouTube vlogger Alex Day, who is probably the epitome of a minimalist. A few years ago, he got rid of all his clothes except for a few t-shirts and pants (3 of each I believe). In addition, the guy owns nothing he doesn't use/need apart from gifts from friends. The guy doesn't even own a metal frame for his mattress. But really? Does he need one? Do we all need one? No. Why are we so obsessed with wanting things that we don't need?

Anyway, since I idolize Alex for many other things, I've added being a superb minimalist to the list and aim to follow in his footsteps this Thanksgiving. In doing this, I will (hopefully) become more like the culture I strive to be a part of, de-clutter my life and be able to think more clearly about everything, bring someone else joy, and bring myself joy.

My one snag (and I look forward to this area of de-cluttering with dread) will be clothes. Fashion, or at least my sense of it, is something I rarely enjoy sacrificing, but in the name of improving myself, I fear it must be done. It is time. After all, fashion is just something else that steals away precious time and brain capacity. I want to get rid of all those little hogs-- all the frivolous and superfluous foo-foos in my life that distract me from the greater things: like becoming who I am meant to become and seeing the world. So, here's to my attempt at changing my own fate and creating a minimum me. Let's hope this ambition sticks better than the one where I said I would blog every fucking day (something I may actually be able to do after I declutter my life).

Cheers.