Sunday, July 6, 2008

ANGST AMONG FRIENDS

03: THE MINIMALIST vs THE PACK RAT

By Angela

OK, so I had a conversation the other day about people like me - pack rats. I am a pack rat. But I am a small-time pack rat. I have managed to surround myself with things I love: art, books, music, plants and games. Most people find my home warm and inviting, but a few people have commented on the number of things in my house. There is an explanation for the quantity. I went from a large house to a much smaller apartment. With the move, I actually got rid of a lot of clutter from my life and it was very cathartic for me. But I kept the things that really matter to me. I am happy with what I have. I don’t want or need anything new, at least for now. Therefore, in my opinion, there is no clutter in my home, just the things I love.

However, the person I had the discussion with said that a home filled with as many things as I have is the sign of an indecisive person; a person who can’t let go of things. I disagreed but was not in the mood to argue (which, normally, I love to do) and so let the issue drop.

But I have been thinking about this and the more I think about it, the more I disagree. I am decisive and I can let go. Being decisive is what I have spent the last eleven years of my life doing and letting go is what I have spent the last two years of my life doing. I have let go of pain, I have let go of clothes, shoes, games, books, mementos and other knick-knacks that no longer have any significance to me. But, if my desire to surround myself with things I love means I am indecisive and can’t let go, does that mean minimalists are commitment-phobic? Does it mean that they are indecisive?

I think my home shows my ability to become committed to something. It shows I become attached to the things I care for. It shows loyalty. It means that in my personal life I can make and keep commitments. It shows I am committed to the people I care about. It shows I am loyal to those I love and am not quick to discard relationships or people.

If I go along with my critic, the opposite must be true about minimalists. They are impulsive and stubborn, unable to commit, unable or unwilling to become attached. They have nothing in their homes because they are indecisive. They are afraid to get involved, afraid to show an interest in something and quick to discard people and relationships. And if those statements are true, does that mean minimalists have few friends, don’t make friends easily, form attachments rarely and reluctantly? Does it mean they run from commitment?

Isn’t it Albert Einstein who said, “ "If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?"

Let me know what you think it means to be a pack rat or a minimalist. If you agree or disagree. Then, look around your home with a discerning eye. Are you too cluttered? If so, go through your things and get rid of any items that no longer hold any significance for you. Experience the sense of freedom it can bring. Remember, letting go grants you permission to begin something new.

If you are a minimalist, ask yourself why. Be totally honest with yourself. You may find that your minimalism may have more to do with reluctance towards emotional attachment than any thing else. That realization will be very cleansing. Maybe that will be your freedom to open yourself up to new and possibly meaningful attachments. If nothing else, maybe it will help you to put new paint on your walls.

There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.
-- Author Unknown

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am also a pack rat. I have been married for over ten years and my spouse helps to keep my tendency to acquire and keep things in check. Other than my home, my office is clutter free and I am very decisive in all aspects of my life. Whoever it was who said a pack rat is indecisive, never met a true pack rat.