One of the most challenging things I believe anyone can face while adopting a minimalist lifestyle is with friendships. It鈥檚 hard because on a normal day, you are facing a lot of challenges with friends, relationships and the likes, then you start adopting a minimalist lifestyle and find out that the challenges have taken a whole new form that can completely alter the dynamic of your friendships.
I鈥檝e had several friends, and I鈥檝e faced different challenges when it comes to each of these friends. I remember a friend of mine who actively felt like I was judging her when it came to shopping. At that time, I was consciously trying to stop impulsive buying and was succeeding. My friend liked to splurge a lot. Buying more of everything than was needed. I found it adorable sometimes, and genuinely didn鈥檛 judge her in words or even actions for how she was.
But when we鈥檇 head over to the counter. She, with her shopping cart overflowing, and me with my little basket of necessities, and I鈥檇 feel the stare burning a hole in my back. There would be a few sprinkles of snide comments where she would say that I鈥檓 making her feel like she was doing too much. That she didn鈥檛 have better things to do with money, and they were really all projections and not what I was thinking.
So yeah, one of the challenges you鈥檇 face in your friendships adopting a minimalist lifestyle is the accusation that you seem to be judging them. Just by your actions. Same with activities. I love low-key activities. I would prefer serene walks and quiet, indoor gathering to loud bashes and parties, and my friends may not just understand that. There鈥檚 a lot of clash when it comes to your personalities if you鈥檙e intent with living as a minimalist, and more often than not, as I鈥檝e come to experience, you may enter an altercation or two.
But one of the beauties of minimalism is how it strengthens friendships even with the challenges. I, for one, have had better and deeper conversations with my friends since. There鈥檚 always this liberty to be more open minded about your beliefs, and also about things you care about. About your relationship with that person. About issues you both may have. There鈥檚 a lot of liberty because a principle of minimalism is meaningful relationships
You are able to make the most out of your experiences with your friends because you are intent about building impactful, non-toxic relationships. And there鈥檚 this thing about memories and experiences as opposed to possessions. Naturally, I鈥檓 not big on gifts. I appreciate and love them but quality time and even more quality conversations is a way to solidify my friendship with someone.
And minimalism helps me achieve just that. I understand the need for my friends and I to build a relationship that transcends possessions towards something a lot more meaningful. Something we can cherish and hold onto. It鈥檚 truly beautiful just all the things minimalism does even without trying as far it鈥檚 something you鈥檙e genuinely cultivating.
This week鈥檚 #KISS question was on how minimalism may challenge or strengthen a friendship, and I do see the challenges every day as it involves my friends but I also see all the ways we can create magic out of it as well.
Image is mine.
