You may or not know what a fan I am of the Minimalism Trend. I believe strongly in the idea that "less is more", have found an unspeakable amount of freedom in simplicity, and consider mere clutter to be one of my greatest enemies (yes, many melt downs of pent up fury have happened in my household, manifesting themselves in my angrily stuffing paperwork piles into trash bags, throwing objects out from under children's beds and pulling clothing item after clothing item out of closets which haven't been worn in years). A favorite movie scene of mine, is the one from “Up in the Air” where George Clooney is packing his suitcase for his next business trip and describing the joy he experiences from the systematized world of traveling he lives in:
When I first saw that movie, and that scene in particular, I realized I have that same love of traveling, particularly flying all by myself, in that for a very short amount of time, I can live in this fantasy that I'm not bogged down by any "stuff" whatsoever because everything I need for my own care can be contained in a small suitcase with wheels, and I'm ready with my driver's license and/or boarding pass in hand to move freely and quickly from Point A to Point B, with little of life's baggage to slow me down. Again, FREEDOM.
I've observed this new Millennial generation making the same types of minimalist lifestyle choices ranging from their abandonment of cable TV and other high dollar frivolity, choosing Instagram over Facebook as they say more by posting less, choosing to spend money on "experiences" over material things, to their alternative "tiny house" living. However, with that last example, I can't help but wonder what GOOD things will be lost, if this movement of dare I say, “self-centered” living with only the bare minimum, continues to become more widespread, specifically with the concept of hospitality and/or giving.
While I've always fought against allowing materialism to creep into my life and my family's, I do hold close to my heart, the value of giving, which sometimes means buying and sending an extra snack in your child's backpack in case another kid in his class forgets theirs, and sometimes means buying a new comforter and sheets, and expensive Downey softener for guests who may come to visit, and stay in your "frivolous" guest room that you may only use half the time you're alive, at best. It sometimes means paying for a larger vehicle even if you only have one or two children, for all the times that their friends will be in the carpool or you'll be driving them around town like the taxi cab you never knew you'd become. It sometimes means that you'll stock your fridge with vegetarian items or a junk food item or two, or extra bottles of wine you really don't need, just so you have them on hand when that beloved guest walks into your home. Sometimes the fresh flowers from Costco and the scented Yankee candles are just the "extras" that make your own family feel like they're so happy, even relieved to be home, away from an often challenging outside world.
I'm 50 years old, so of course I see the world differently at my age than Millenials do. I don't long to travel alone on airplanes to far away places nearly as much as I long to have my grandson running around my house, or to have a house full, all my loved ones around the table for a Holiday meal or just because. I STILL wish I had a bigger “comfier” home to bless them with, yet I can take a lesson from the wise 20 and 30 somethings who have enough student loan debt that they have responded with "No thank you," when it comes to incurring MORE debt and living beyond their means. I will not stop utilizing the small home I do have, splurging as I can for any opportunity which presents itself to show hospitality and give to those in need. Yet I will continue to purge as I can.
Maybe when you tackle some spring cleaning in the near future, you’ll realize that it’s also the perfect time to replace your dingy, dated flooring and take a lesson from the minimalist: a clean slate and a beautiful foundation to build a simple yet warm space where love and hospitality reside. You can never go too far with those kinds of precious “basics”! Call us at Flooring Direct Temecula TODAY!!
By Michelle Norris