Choice Versus Force: Minimalism

Minimalism is a popular part of many religions and cults. Give up your earthly possessions. Take no part of the things of this world. Your real treasures are waiting for you in Heaven. I've heard plenty of reasons for giving up everything, especially this new idea of "you will own nothing and you will be happy"

I already own nothing, because no thing has brought me happiness. I tried to collect toy cars, board games, lego sets, all stuff I was allowed to have as a kid. That didn't last long. I had possessions until my dad felt an evil spirit within a Monopoly board. This led to a backyard bonfire where I had to burn everything except for my books while the church joined in a circle to pray.

No more toys and games, you are an adult now.

Life changed drastically a few years later, when I actually became an adult and moved far away. At that time, I owned a seven hundred dollar truck, and I purchased my very first television. Movies and video games quickly became an obsession. I complimented my new life style with a heavy drug addiction involving meth, marijuana, pills, and heroin. Slowly I accumulated a DVD collection, a chair and even a bed. Though my truck died, I bought a car and life was good, new and fresh. I had no worries at all.

Unfortunately that little drug problem led to crime and many great stories later, I lost everything and was homeless. This was also not a worry or problem for me. I had my car and my clothes, which paired well with my childhood of not owning anything else. 

I met someone while selling drugs for gas money. A nice woman who helped me get back on my feet. I quit doing drugs, started working two jobs, and began accumulating things again. Then I married the nice woman, which was a mistake because I'm gay, but I gave up my lifestyle for the security she provided. Naturally, this didn't work out. We split up on our one year anniversary.

I owned nothing but a car when I met her, so I left with nothing but a car. This was okay because 'third times a charm,' right?

At this point in life, I had to do things for myself. A career opportunity came up. Sweeping floors in a machine shop turned into being the foreman of that shop in a few short years. I was good at my job. I bought a house, a cool sports car, and started collecting things again. All the things I wasn't allowed to do, now in my control. Soon my house was filled with expensive lego sets, guitars, computers, video game consoles, and a couch this time- not that I ever hosted any company. No, this life was just for me.

Life was good again, until it drove me crazy. I lost my mind for a year, letting everything go. I wanted to end it all and I came really close. An intentional overdose led to a mental hospital. The hospital led to me losing my job. My new reputation cost me my career as no one wanted to work with the crazy guy they heard about.  After my house was robbed, I lost it too. Insurance dropped me the day before a huge tree hot dogged my roof. Back to living in my car with nothing else to my name,  but at least the car was cool this time.

That's when I moved to the desert. I could continue my career out here while living in a garage apartment. This time was different though. I decided to stop trying. I only needed a car and a cell phone.

Now I'm a minimalist by choice, not force. I own nothing and I am happy. Because I quit fucking caring.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Thanks dad, I'm living like you wanted after all.