Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words (click here for details).
This week we hear from Tyler, who tells us how the words of his philosophy professor inspired him to follow a minimalist path. His story is a wonderful illustration of mindfulness when it comes to possessions.
Tyler writes:
“The problem with society,” my 64-year-old philosophy professor opined, “is that we aren’t materialistic enough.”
Making this statement in the middle of a senior-level philosophy class was jolting to say the least. He continued.
“Materialism, in its essence, is about appreciating things- items. When I was a young boy in Norway, I had a neighbor who was a carpenter. My parents both worked and so when I got home from school I would often go over to his workshed and watch him build chairs, benches, railings and all manner of wonderful things. He put so much concentration, energy and pride into everything he build. I can remember him now, bent over, nose almost on the piece of wood he was shaving, checking the level and ensuring that it was carved to perfection. It was obvious that to him this thing, this object, made of wood, lacquer and sweat, had meaning. It was, ultimately, never more than a chair or table, but it represented and contained something wonderful. Craft. Appreciation. Here was a piece of wood that was now something to be used and cherished in everyday life. And his tools? I remember his tools. He had a hammer that looked like it was a hundred years old. I asked him about it once and he told me, ‘This hammer was my great grandfather’s. He left it to my grandfather, who left it to my father, who left it to me. I have to polish it regularly, and from time to time, refashion the handle when it gets too worn.’
His screwdriver? ‘Ah yes, a gift from my wife’s family. It had been her grandfather’s. He used it every day till he died.’
The saw? The hole punch? The level? All were ancient and prestigious in lineage. All took hours of work every year to keep them serviceable. Finally, I spotted a set of pliers and, picking them up, inquired what ancestor they had come from. My neighbor’s face sagged and with disappointment dripping from his voice he said, ‘Oh… those. Those are new.’
Last week I needed a screwdriver. I know I own at least 4, but I looked all over but couldn’t find one. Calling for my wife I asked if she knew were the screwdriver was. ‘Which one,’ she asked.
‘Any of them.’
‘I haven’t seen them.’
‘Oh well. I guess I will go buy another.’
That isn’t materialism. That is consumerism. The two are no longer complimentary, they are adversarial. Consumerism says, ‘Buy me. Own me. More more more. Then in a week when you’ve lost me or I quit working, get another one.’
Materialism says, ‘Appreciate me. Take care of me. Do right by me and I will do right by you. Treat me well and I will be the only one you will ever need.’ ”
As he spoke I realized what he was talking about was a life in which you didn’t own more than you needed and loved that which you owned. It is a lesson I sadly forgot, just as he did with the passing years. But I’m starting to remember. I’ve already thrown out about half of what I own, identified the things that really matter and started taking care of them the way they deserve. I thank him for that.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
Related posts:
Subscribe via email
Subscribe via RSS
Comments via RSS
Follow on Twitter
Great post! Very interesting distinction between materialism and consumerism which helps me think there might be a way to balance some of my own struggle with adopting a minimalist and non-consumerist approach to life! thanks.
Very well written too!
[...] on some of my favorite blogs. Over on Miss Minimalist, her most recent Monday spotlight was on Tyler, who wrote a charming post about the difference between materialism and consumerism. Tyler draws [...]
Wow! This article spoke to me! I have never regarded myself as a minimalist (to be fair, I have a bit of a clutter problem when it comes to any kind of paper). On the other hand I don’t own nearly as much stuff as most people I know, and I dont want to either. Reading this blog more and more made me realize that maybe I am a bit minimalist, but I still can’t identify as one. This I do identify with! I am proud to say that I am a materialist. I own things because I either cherish or need them, and if I don’t need them, use them or love them, then out they go. I prefer quality ower quantity and firmly believe that form and function should go hand in hand. I care for the stuff I have and repair it if I can (I am one of the only ones I know in generation who knows how to darn socks!) or if it’s economically feasible (like re-soling a pair of otherwise good shoes). My goal is to have every thing I need and not much else, but I am not a minimalist. I have no plans to cut down on the number of books I own any time soon (but I do apply the one in one out approach so that the number doesn’t increase), I have several pairs of slipper, but I use them all due to cold floors, I have a special vintage water bottle that “lives” at my desk with a spare glass because that’s where I need it (though my it does migrate out to the dining table when I have guests), I have a spare blanket and pillow because I get over night visitors quite often, but I just declined an offer for another spare set because if I ever need it, I also need to borrow a spare bed or mattress, and then I might just as well borrow bedding and linen too. I even (gasp!) have a couple of small and totally frivolous collections (do things like three lovely tea pots of different sizes, several beautiful vases and several candle sticks count as collections if you actually use them all?). My household won’t fit in a large suitcase any more (it did at one point), and I can’t move it all in a largish taxi any more, but at least I can still move everything I own in a van, and I do know where my screwdrivers are (and where they came from)!
Thank you for a lovely post Tyler, I have bookmarked it!
This is my favorite Real Life Minimalist Post!
I love to craft things as well; specifically, I like our small home to have finely crafted architectural details. I love the sence of history and permanence they impart to our home.
But I’ve puzzled over weather or not this conflicts with my new-found embrace of minimalism. Am I being consumptive?
Your beautiful post, Tyler, has helped me resolve that issue once and for all.
Thans so much, Tyler.