Less is Ageless

After reading a few blogs, here and there, about minimalism and living large with small possessions, it hit me. These uncommon writers, who make changes and challenge themselves, are not exactly young squirts like myself.

I AM a young squirt, so to speak; I don't have kids, and I certainly haven't retired and found a zen existence after spending 15, 25, 40 years on stuff. (Apparently youngsters do have kids though, according to Forbes.com, and I don't believe in a zen existence anyway). But some of these people in the last few years or months are coming to see an issue with their way of life and wanting to make it right. They desire a fulfilling existence, and it's apparent that possessions are not the answer. Hence, they turn to a more purposeful life, one that is filled with less stuff, and more intangible qualities like love and peace.

It makes me wonder: am I too young to begin? Is this "Minimalism", quite bluntly, a passing fad to me? I simply cannot appreciate the preciousness of a child to his/her parents. I don't know the stresses of a full-time, 9-5 job, a house payment, a car payment, credit card debt, or high social and academic circles. And finally, I'm ignorant of how truly small the slice of time and space is that I have. It seems on the one hand that I, and my fellow young people, are not equipped with enough normalcy and cultural experience to live a different life.

What if there was a different way to enter into a purpose-driven life? 

In the beginning,  instead of consumerism, what if kids were taught the value of giving? Instead of pride in possessions, could children learn the benefit of satisfaction through sacrifice?

Here lies the convergence of the experienced, and the teachable. There's the ones who tried the poverty-inducing, soul-killing cycle of "Keeping Up With The Joneses" and found it wanting. Then we have the younger generation which is often ignorant and open to influence (new things are intoxicating, I think).

Instead of watching the young people in your life start their own cycle of consumerism or other harmful cycles that you've been through, take action! Continue writing, if that's your thing; talk to them, get involved where they're at. Even if your value systems are on a whole different level, the most important aspect is the example you set. When you place a personal priority on something like family time, clutter or clutter-free, etc., they are watching. Whether they acknowledge your influence or not, you make a difference. 

Eventually, there will be those who aren't waiting for a mid-life crisis to turn things around. Check out The Rebelution for a real-life example. If you know of others, I'd love to hear about them.