Social Q & A Session

aminimylist

Dear Readers,

I hope these weekly writings so far are entertainment and fun read to you. As usual, I will be discussing a topic related to minimalism. This time, I am coming with something different and instead of me writing about minimalism, I wanted to see what people think about it and have their voices mentioned on my blog. Therefore, I drafted few questions and interviewed seven random people so I can see their insights about this lifestyle. I won’t be sharing their first and last name; however, an initial will be put next to their responses.

* Below are the questions I came up with:

1. Have you ever heard of minimalism?

2. And do you know what it means?

3. What are your thoughts about minimalism?

4. If you were to choose a minimalistic lifestyle, what would be the three main reasons that driven you to make such a decision? 

5. Do you see yourself as a minimalist in the future? And Why?

* Interviewees responses

Interviewee 1 – VY from Andhra Pradesh, India

1. Yes

2. yes

3. Nothing. It is hard … because it is hard to control temptation even though it is not necessary.

4. a) Budgeting

b) Just to give it a try. 

  c) N/A

5. Yes, because it is a good sustainable cause.

Interviewee 2 – AB from Connecticut, USA

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. I think it can be useful. My dad used to be a hoarder, and decluttering was really helpful for him. Me personally, although I am trying to get rid of a lot of things I don’t use anymore, I don’t think I could be a true minimalist. I do hold on to some things I have sentimental attachments to. But mostly, when I do throw things out, I feel like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

4. a) It would make traveling and moving easier. Especially if I were ever to move to a different country

5. Maybe when I really old and emotionally preparing to transition out of this life.

Interviewee 3 – YB from California, USA

1. Yes

2. a) Mostly I do, basically, that one keeps only the things they actually use and need

3. I think that it is a great principle to live by for a “cluttered room is a cluttered mind”

4. One reason is the place I live in is by far the worst place, not as bad as holding, but some areas are hazardous to walk by. I, unfortunately, have no control over that, except to offer my landlord to help her clean up. Most of the time she agrees.

B) Second, I also have in my room a bunch of items and clothing that I have not used in years. I have stared at the heap for a few years, imagining that one day I will wear them on a special occasion. I am tired of dreaming because digging through the heap is more work than it’s worth.

Third, all that time dreaming that anyone actually cares or remembers what I wear can be used to improve myself.

5. ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY

Interviewee 4: – HS from Cameroon, Africa

1. Yes. However, I never dive deeper in the subject.

2.Thanks to your blog I know more about its meaning and its implications.

3. I think it is a great philosophy of life that everyone should adopt (at least partially) to have a mental and somehow a financial stability. Moreover, it will be a way to save our planet by avoiding all the waste generated the consumerism.

4.Control my spendings

Teach great value to my children

Contribute to the protection of the planet

5. Sure

Interviewee 5: – DMTJ from The Bay Area, CA

  1. yes


2. In my opinion minimalism is about living simply and being content with less.


3. personally I think being minimalistic or living a minimalistic lifestyle is a way to train yourself to be content with the “little things” in life.


4. If I were to choose to be a minimalist I think the three main reasons would be a) to save money b) to teach myself to be content with what I have and c) to learn to be more conservative


5. I feel that in this generation we constantly consume and want instant gratification but that ceases as you get older. I would love train myself to be more minimalistic

Interviewee 6: NS from San Francisco, CA

  1. Yes I have heard of minimalism

2. I think I know what it means. It’s like not over indulging or having more than you need. It’s like having less things and only having what you really need or want.

3. I think that I like the concept but it sounds pretty difficult and it requires alot of self control.

4. I’d choose it to practice self control and restraint. Another would be to control my spending and lower it. And third could be because of its environmental sustainability impact.

5. I don’t really see myself as a minimalist now or in the future just because I have a lot of things and I usually end up acquiring more and I have difficulty lowering the amount of things I own.

Interviewee 7: C from USA

  1. Yes! I have heard of minimalism
  2. Yes
  3. I think minimalism can be a transformative lifestyle change that can help clear your mind and it’s great way to only have what you need
  4. The three main reasons would be

    a) To move away from the bad habit of buying things to make myself feel better

    b) I think minimalism would have a profound impact on my mental health. I would have a less clutter

    c) I think minimalism can be better for the earth
  5. I would love to be a minimalist! Right now I hold a high regard for objects and trinkets which makes minimalism kind of tough but I want to be more strategic with my collections and know when it’s time to let them go!
  1. Yes.
  2. I am not entirely sure what minimalism is, but it seems to be a way of living that encourages mindfulness of how we use the resources our daily lives through only keeping items that meet daily needs in our possession.
  3. I think that minimalism is a beneficial practice because I assume that there is a component of internal reflection and introspective transformation that can be good for one’s overall stress levels, mood, and attachment tendencies.

I also think that it only seems like an impractical lifestyle, here in the United States, because it challenges the capitalist consumer ideology that we have been lead to internalize as people living under a capitalist economy.

  1. I would be driven by the fact that it would 1) teach me how to not confine to capitalist consumer ideology
    2) It would teach me to be more resourceful and manage my resources better
    3) It would result in me practicing an eco-friendlier lifestyle
  2. I think that, in the economy that we live in, being a minimalist can
    seem like a very challenging choice. So, it would take a bit more convincing to help me to fully commit.
  1. Yes.
  2. I am not entirely sure what minimalism is, but it seems to be a way of living that encourages mindfulness of how we use the resources our daily lives through only keeping items that meet daily needs in our possession.
  3. I think that minimalism is a beneficial practice because I assume that there is a component of internal reflection and introspective transformation that can be good for one’s overall stress levels, mood, and attachment tendencies.

I also think that it only seems like an impractical lifestyle, here in the United States, because it challenges the capitalist consumer ideology that we have been lead to internalize as people living under a capitalist economy.

  1. I would be driven by the fact that it would 1) teach me how to not confine to capitalist consumer ideology
    2) It would teach me to be more resourceful and manage my resources better
    3) It would result in me practicing an eco-friendlier lifestyle
  2. I think that, in the economy that we live in, being a minimalist can
    seem like a very challenging choice. So, it would take a bit more convincing to help me to fully commit.

However, this is not a lifestyle that I am completely ruling out because I sense that minimalism would positively impact my overall mental health, could potentially teach me to better support marginalized communities and help me lower my carbon footprint.

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