The Minimalists duo are well-known for their dedication to “less”. I’m on record as being intrigued by their work but not a card- carrying, 'Minimalists' disciple. I’m a self-branded 'Enoughist', not a minimalist. But maybe it's splitting hairs. Their recent essay on how to sort your possessions caught my attention and since it wouldn’t let go, I decided to quit pondering and start doing. After all, I've long championed the philosophy of William Morris who is saying much the same thing.
From the Minimalists: “Everything we own can be placed in three piles.
Essentials. Few possessions should fall into this pile. These are the necessities we can’t live without: food, shelter, clothes. While the specifics change for each person, most needs are universal.
Nonessentials. In an ideal world, most of our things would belong in this pile. These are the objects we want in our lives because they add value. Strictly speaking, I don’t need a couch, a bookshelf, or a dining table in my living room but these items enhance, amplify, or augment my experience of life.
Junk. Sadly, most of our things belong in this pile. These are the artifacts we like—or, more accurately, think we like—but they don’t serve a purpose or bring us joy. The average American home contains more than 300,000 items, and most of it is junk. While this junk often masquerades as indispensable, it actually gets in the way of a more meaningful life.
Of course, the personal effects in these piles are different for everyone. The widgets that add value to my life might be junk to you, and vice versa. The key, then, is to continue to question the things we bring into our lives, and to question the things we hold onto, because the stuff that adds value today might be tomorrow’s junk.”
Essentials are described concisely. Nonessentials need a bit more explaining. And junk, needs more still. And so it is with our possessions- a few essentials, a healthy dose of nonessentials and a sea of junk.
Lest you think you have little junk- think again. In my own exercise to sort the wheat from the chaff using the Minimalist Method, I realized how very much junk I do own. Just because something is in good condition and you have space to store it doesn’t inoculate it against being junk.