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.}
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Tyler, this is a great share. I love it. This part of missminimalist.com is one of my uber favourite parts…love the post…love the blog…please stop by and visit me too. Happy Holidays !
This is really thought provoking and a spin on minimalism that I haven’t encountered before! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the beautifully written post, Tyler. It’s nice to be reminded that appreciating and caring for what we have is a joy when we only possess what we need and love.
Wonderfully written! My favorite Real Life Minimalists story to date!
Now this I adore and applaud.
Wow, beautifully written. An important lesson that we all need to remember!
Appreciation is everything in life.
Your story spoke to me deeply. Thank you Tyler (and thank you to your professor too).
The real life minimalist posts are my favorites here on missminimalist, but this one is truly one of the best! I love crafts and I knit and spin regularly, so it will definitely stay with me for a long time.
wow, that really rocked my world. it was told in a way that a person really has no choice to appreciate the message. once to surrender to eliminating the excess you
never want or need to go back. thanks for a great lesson to pass on to the non-minimalist. they might really get it after reading this.
Wow. What a wonderful post. Thank you.
what a great early christmas gift-thank you.
Good stuff
So true, so thought-provoking. My husband inherited tools from his grandfather, and this post reminds me of them. Not shiny and fancy, but well-used, with a history. I have a new appreciation for them after reading this story.
I love this post! Very, very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
This is beautiful. Thank you.
Tyler, this was a lovely post. It is so good to appreciate
“the material world” without having to own everything.
As a crafts person myself, I love to make things, and then
I love to see them move along to others who can love them.
An attitude of gratitude, being careful with things, come to
mind, and then the freedom of not needing to possess.
This is one of the best explanations I have ever heard…I will definitely be sharing this aspect on my blog!! Thanks for sharing this, Tyler…This was wonderful!!
I’ve recently relocated to a smallish town in Mexico. It’s near Christmas now and as I tune into the US television networks at night I’m struck dumb by the contrast of day to day life here in Mexico with the screaming consumerist messages coming in on the tube from the US networks. I wonder what the Mexicans might be thinking as they see this stuff. It’s not a cliche that Mexicans have a deep set of shared values about the meaning of family, tradition and the true value place. And I wonder what they might be thinking about me, their light-skinned neighbor from El Norte.
I really enjoyed this post. It was a real and true reminder that minimalism is a philosophy of life and living. Just wonderful.
That’s a great story and a good stick to measure what you should keep – get rid of anything that you don’t love and use.
I hope when Tyler says “I’ve already thrown out about half of what I own” he really means that he had a yard sale, donated, or sold things.
Best post ever! Thank you, Tyler.
I love your blog. This article is wonderful. Enlightening to know the difference between materialism and consumerism. Its inspiring, I always look forward to read your monday posts, real life minimalists. Thanks
Really great story, Tyler! I also miss the times when people didn’t have so much and really appreciated and took care of the things they did. This consumerist throw-away culture where newness and trendiness rule is sickening. I admit I have some objects that I cherish, an old enamel mixing bowl, a wooden cutting board made of reclaimed lumber, the linen sheets and napkins I have made.. Sometimes I think I’m too particular about the things I like and let in my home, and it’s too materialistic, but at least it’s better than mindlessly buying and discarding…
spot on! i love this perspective. it’s not so much about how much (or how little) you own, but that you appreciate and love your possessions because they have meaning and importance in your life. and i’m finding that while i do appreciate and love some things i’ve purchased for myself because of their usefulness or beauty, the things i deeply treasure are things are old and have a story.
I enjoyed this post. I think it’s important to treasure the actual treasures, those made with care and love and quality.
That was a beautiful read. Thanks for sharing it. Love this blog. Happy Holidays to you!
Enjoyed this very much. My father, who is 95 years old, still uses his father and grandfather’s tools. Thanks for a great reminder.
Love this. This story was beautifully told. Thank you for sharing.
Brilliant! Very thought-provoking to see how the REAL term (“Materialism”) has been co-opted by a hyper-consuming society (who perverted its meaning to now equate with “consumerism”) which is now universally–and incorrectly–derided as an evil. True materialism as explained so eloquently here is definitely what we need MORE of. I’m certainly going to incoporate this into my own personal ethos.
Seriously man, this brought a tear to my eye. Very well said, Thank you.
Fantastic, thought-provoking post.
What a wonderful story. Thank you Tyler. So full of heritage and good lessons in life.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a minimalist tale told in such a way. Very refreshing! Thank you so much for sharing, Tyler
Materialism vs. Consumerism… I loved this post. I’ve always considered the two to go hand in hand, but now I see they’re so different. I had a professor back in college who told a similar story about the way our current society deals with objects. Not only do we jolt out to buy or replace an item, but we are conditioned to do so. Things weren’t built like they used to. Shoes, computers, clothes, cameras, tools… Items are now designed not to last forever. Why would you buy more, if it didn’t break? And of course this is a play on our old way of viewing things. My grandfather was a cobbler. My father grew up in his shop and working for him was one of his first jobs. Now my father is 60 years old, and is a soon-to-be-retired engineer. My family’s shoe repair shop went out of business many years ago. People these days rarely pay to have their shoes fixed — they just go to the store and buy a new pair. Oh, how times have changed! It doesn’t seem like such a long time in hindsight, does it?
I had a pair of shoes repaired a couple months ago. They were very good quality shoes and the fit was second to none. When the heel shattered I bemoaned the idea of trying to find replacements, I kept them in hopes of finding a cobbler at some point. It wasn’t easy! Then I saw a “shoe repairs” sign at a drycleaners. I brought my shoes there, where the cobbler restored the heel, and polished the both of them to a new lustre! For a fraction of the cost of replacing these beloved shoes, I got them completely refurbished (I now love them more than ever).
It’s good to hear there are still some great quality cobblers still in business! I suppose you’d mostly find them at dry cleaners, along with many tailors these days. I know a woman down the street who owns a tiny tailor shop and it’s always good to drive by and see she’s still in business…!
A beautiful philosophy, beautifully told.
It reminds me that every ‘thing’ in our life, whether beautiful and treasured or crass and pointless, comes from the bounty of nature. We need to be mindful of how we use and abuse this bounty.
Although I am a low consumer through choice, I have often baffled people by telling them that I am intensely “materialistic”. This word has become so confused with “consumerism” that people cannot understand where I’m coming from. I would have loved to have met Tyler’s professor because he so clearly understands it.
I write sitting on a stick-back country chair which was already old in my mother’s 1950s childhood. It was probably made in the late nineteenth century. I polish it one or twice a year with beeswax and it is a meditation of sorts. With care, this item which has probably already seen one century of constant use, may well last another. I am being materialistic and respectful of the chairmaker who hollowed the seat out of English elm, a tree species almost extinct thanks to disease. I have gardening tools from my ancestors and sewing and domestic equipment from foremothers long past. They are used and valued and I am intensely-careful to look after their material needs so that they can continue to be used and enjoyed by me, and perhaps find another home with someone else when I’ve gone beyond the corporeal. This form of materialism is about love and respect and is the exact opposite of the grabbit-and-run ethos of consumerism. Thank you so much for your beautiful post, Tyler.
Good message will remain in our heart even if it looks like forgotten, but once curved inside well it will appear when it is neccesarry. i god this message from you. thank you for your good message .
What an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing!
I really love the philosophy behind this, however I’m not quite at ease with the language. I don’t quite see the point in trying to re-define the term ‘materialism’. Most people understand it to mean the valuing of material things above/at the expende of the abstract/spiritual/non-pyshical and as such it’s a useful word in our language. Yes it is very closely entwined with ‘consumerism’ as one tends to lead to the other psychologically but I don’t think the terms have become ‘confused’. Consumerism refers to the relentless, obsessive or careless acquisition of things. One can be deeply materialistic (in the usual, negative, sense) without acquiring new things – you can easily imagine someone who hoards and prizes some antique things they have owned forever in a negatively ‘materialistic’ way, and valuing their posession above all other aspects of life. I love the philisophy of valuing the physical objects we are blessed with, but I think it needs a new word.
This is why I love reading the comments. The comments page is often more though-provoking than the article.
I looked up the origin of the word materialism, and the results were surprising:
“In philosophy, the view that the world is entirely composed of matter. Philosophers now tend to prefer the term physicalism, since physics has shown that matter itself resolves into forces and energy, and is just one amongst other physically respectable denizens of the universe. Materialism in this philosophical sense has a history stretching back to Greek atomism, and emerges in the modern period in Hobbes’s Leviathan, and the works of La Mettrie. It is opposed to mind-body dualism, and bears uneasy relations to realism about universals and other abstract entitites.”
So we can quibble about whether the “true” meaning of materialism is the excessive consumption or genuine appreciation of goods. Fact is, they’re both wrong. The philosophy of Materialism can be traced to 600 BC and we’ve been twisting its meaning ever since.
I liked this piece and it was definitely an eye-opener, but as CJ said, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel and change the definition of materialism yet again. I have a hard time explaining to my family what minimalism is; I don’t want another word to redefine!
Great post!
I agree totally. Those things which we use often, and which have meaning for us are what we need to concentrate our time and effort on. If they are family heirlooms, so much the better.
So good. I have noticed that in my cutting back too. Having less means I value and take care of what I have even more.
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing this story, especially at this time of year. Somehow this reminds me of a practice for
mending pottery called “kintsugi”. This practice mends breaks with lacquer and gold, making the mend point beautiful!
I never forget that, when I think a part of life is “damaged”. Nevermind the breaks. Mending is a worthy art!
[...] Miss Minimalist: Tyler and his philosophy prof [...]
Wow. This has provided more food for thought than many things I’ve read recently. It’s beautiful and illustrates perfectly what I’ve been thinking lately about appreciating possessions and pursuing minimalism…
I hope you don’t mind that I’ve written a track-back post with your blog linked!
Again, thanks for the awesome post
This post makes me think about “mindfulness” instead of mindless consumerism. I am practicing mindfulness and it teaches us to re-engage with the senses instead of focusing on thought. Its a beautiful simple way to declutter the mind of thought and of decreasing the thought resulting in the urge to consume.
The intense concentration and focus applied to the objects created is an example of mindfulness. As is the mindful maintenance of his tools.
A beautiful story. Thankyou. I will treasure my mothers Janome sewing machine from 1984 even more!
[...] so I am reminded of what’s important to me every time I go online ( I particularly enjoyed this Monday’s post on the difference between materialism and [...]
@CJ–this is not a redefinition of “materialism” except to remind folks of its first and most technical meanings. Keep in mind that the story is told by a philosophy professor. Philosophy has been discussing materialism since, well, since there have been philosophers. Materialism is a position that all that exists is matter; alternately, matter is the primary “stuff” of life. As the material (literally) for a world, it has great value.
Currently, when we talk of someone as being materialistic (different ending), we indicate that their priorities are not ones we value.
Whatever words we use, I am happy to be reminded to value and care for well made and useful things; to refuse to participate (as much as is possible) in planned obsolescence and throwaway culture. Thanks.
That is the core of my desire to embrace minimalist living… I want EVERYTHING I own to say ‘Appreciate me…I will be the only one you will ever need.’ It is an uphill battle in this consumerist marketplace. Just try buying something built to last — it is much more difficult now than it ever has been!
I genuinely want my belongings to say, ‘Quality over Quantity is what counts here’ and have that reflect onto my other areas of life beyond the material things.
I love this, Tyler! It reminds me of a talk I heard at a homeschool conference several years ago. Cecile Andrews (author of “Circles of Simplicity”) said much the same thing. If we became MORE materialistic, we would care for things more carefully and keep them longer. Her point was that this would create a less wasteful, more sustainable and ecological way of living, but you are correct that this is also the essence of minimalism. Thank you for sharing!