I'm drawn to the idea of extreme minimalism, but don't know if I'll ever get there. Extreme minimalism has the potential to be revolutionary, in that it's a rejection of the pervasive consumerist culture. While I probably won't choose to live out of a backpack for any extended period of time, I do enjoy seeing that it's possible.
This has probably been covered elsewhere in the forum, but I see a connection between minimalism and death. I don't mean that in a negative way at all, far from it...I see both as being about letting go and acceptance. During the past 2 years, I've lost several family members and friends, and have been reminded that our stuff is not who we are. We do not have to hang on to everything to create a sense of security or permanence in this ever-changing world. It is OK to be in the present moment and attend to our present needs and preferences. I cannot help but think of a friend who died, and left very little behind. She traveled lightly in every sense of the word, but her life was incredibly rich.
