For those who know me best, one of the first words that they use to describe me is a minimalist. Looking back, I was one of the early adopters and it was not necessarily by choice.
I was born in a small fishing village and economically poor by universal standards. I essentially had the clothes on my back and no other possessions. All I had was ambition, imagination, and dreams to propel me.
After moving to America as a youngster, I immediately felt weighed down by the sheer amount of consumerism. Instead of feeling like I hit the jackpot with creature comforts of a new home in an industrialized nation, it had the opposite effect on me.
It is difficult for me to understand the importance of acquiring and possessing so many material possessions. I have family and friends who pride themselves on having multiple items of the same thing and it makes absolutely no sense to me.
I believe that I was born a minimalist and will always appreciate fulfilling my dream of staying a minimalist. I prefer to create memories with interesting people, read books, and see different parts of the world. I truly believe that less is MORE and that many people who have far less are actually happier!