Summary
What does a minimalist lifestyle mean and why is it good to build on it?
In the past few weeks, I’ve also realized that I’ve been living a minimalist lifestyle for years. Before I get into why this is important for what’s happening right now, we need to quickly run through another definition.
What is minimalism?
Minimalism has become very popular in recent years. If you live a minimalist lifestyle, you strive to live simply and only have what you need in your everyday life. Minimalism encourages you to remove distractions and focus on what is truly important to you. In the case of a minimalist lifestyle, the task is to simplify processes.
Source: https://ecofamily.hu/cikkek/minimalista-eletmod
A minimalist lifestyle is something that has been part of humanity for thousands of years, but in today’s complex and fast-paced world, it is more valuable than ever. Minimalism is a philosophy of life and an aesthetic trend that emphasizes the abandonment of unnecessary things, simplicity and functionality. Its goal is for a person to keep only those objects and experiences that truly represent value in their life, thus reducing stress and increasing satisfaction.
Minimalist living is a lifestyle choice that seeks to reduce material possessions, minimize consumption, and live a simpler, more valuable life. The focus is on the essentials and enjoying life, while avoiding overcomplication and unnecessary expenses.
Source: https://www.egyenisegepites.hu/minimalista-eletmod/
I haven’t dealt with this concept until now, especially not with these definitions. However, my realization that I’ve been living a minimalist life for 7+ years is correct based on the above
Why is minimalism good for developing a digital nomad lifestyle?
Because this kind of lifestyle certainly supports the start. That is, one lifestyle supports the other.
The foundation stones I mentioned in points 4th and 6th of the post entitled The Decision are exactly about minimalism. I’m sure that it would have been a bit more difficult for me to make a decision if I hadn’t instinctively developed this lifestyle for myself in recent years.
What does it mean that my life is minimalist?
As a prelude to my divorce, I left home like a bunch of people. I took as much stuff as I could fit in a car. About half of the stuff was my guitar gear, including a 4×12 120-watt amplifier, which is no small thing even among brothers. The other half was my clothes, shoes, and everyday necessities. There were four trees on the lot. I planted all four of them, and they were really big trees by then. I said goodbye to each one. I petted each one, thanked them for being there for us, and told them that we would never see each other again.
In fact, it was in the days that followed that I experienced what it was like to have nothing. Later on, I ended up meeting my trees and having something again, but that’s another story. For four months I lived with the knowledge that I had nothing except what I put on, what I could brush my teeth with, and what I could pluck. The feeling, the knowledge that this was a naturally easy state, has remained with me ever since.
I continued my life in a rented apartment not long after, and then a few years ago I got my own apartment again. The apartment has everything I need in a modern household. My kitchen, bathtub and shower, three rooms, living room, pictures on the wall have been redecorated. Most recently, I acquired a lot of bookshelves so that my 980 books would have a suitable place. There are memories in the apartment, and there are useless knick-knacks. Especially since I have been sharing it with my older daughter for seven years.
Despite all this, my attachment to objects has not re-emerged in recent years. I just moved out of the city, leaving behind a long relationship, with a laptop bag on my shoulder and a large bag of clothes. That’s how I arrived at my current home. I’ve been living like this for two months. I haven’t been to my apartment in Győr since then, there’s nothing I need there.
If I were to set off on a trip around the world right now, I would pack everything I need in 10 minutes. Because I only have what I need.
Now I won’t say goodbye to wood or my many books…
I’ve been living with a table and a bed in my room for 7 years. That’s all I asked for and got in my relationship that just ended. I’m sure I’d be fine with a table and a bed anywhere in the world!
And I don’t need more!
The knife
There is only one object that I will take as a souvenir. First, Gerald Durell’s book The Amateur Naturalist appeared in my imagination, weeks ago, but then I discarded the idea. On the one hand, I have it digitally (I know, it’s not the same), and on the other hand, this book is heavy enough for a joke.
Today I came up with the idea of taking my knife. There are two reasons for this. One is that I received it from a very important person to me. The other is a story that I still think of with peace and warmth in my heart to this day.
The Hargita Székely Folk Dance Theater gave a show in my little village, and we hosted the dancers. Four székely people were accommodated with us for the night. We started the conversation with six of us, but from one to four in the morning, only three of us lasted.
The two guests announced around two in the morning that “István, we haven’t even sung your song! What would it be?”
It was a heartwarming experience when the three of us sang the folk song Zöld erdőben de magos a juharfa (In a green forest, the mapple tree is so high) together. (I recommend listening to it in both the traditional and more virtuoso versions.)
Aztán jött a kés…
Once they asked me if I had a knife? I said I didn’t, to which they replied that a true Székely always carries a knife with them. (I dare to hope to this day that with this sentence they were actually made me an honorary Székely.) In fact, when there were times when the Romanian police took the Hungarian person’s knife, everyone carried two, because if one was taken, there was still another…
– Then, do you know, István, why I carry a knife with me?
– If I need to cut an apple in half, it’s okay if it’s there.
– If I need to chop bacon, I’ll need it.
– If I need to open a locked suitcase, it’s not bad if you have one.
– But I mostly have it so that if I ever meet my grandfather again, he won’t be disappointed that I’m walking around without a knife.
In a green forest, the mapple tree is so high…
In a green forest, so high, in a green forest, the mapple tree is so high,
A little bird, a little bird, a little bird builds its nest there,
The forest songbird also has a mate,
Only I alone, only I alone am an orphan.