Can Minimalism Save Us All?

Can Minimalism Save Us All?

A while ago I approached a number of friends and colleagues with a simple question. I asked them “What would you do if you were given $10 million?” There was a similar thread running through the responses I received. When asked if they would continue working, most said that they would either cut back on their hours or stop working altogether. Many felt that they would spend more time traveling, writing, or pursuing other areas of interest.

The responses I received gave me the sense that, sadly, most of us are living lives that are vastly different than what we view as ideal. It seems few are able to live the lifestyle that they have always dreamed of. Perhaps this is where minimalism can help.

Last year, I watched the documentary Minimalism, on Netflix. The film by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn, seemed to suggest that there was a freedom for all of us in living with less. On their website, www.theminimalists.com, the authors define minimalism as “… a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important – so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom.” Perhaps this lifestyle could even foster better relationships with others or lead to less harm to our environment from consumerism.

Over a year later, I remain intrigued by the concept. In some strange way, minimalism almost feels as if it has the potential to connect to my own roots. My parents grew up in Ghana with severe poverty. My father, now a retired ob-gyn, wore his first pair of shoes at age 15.

My parents came to the United States to give their children a better life. For them being able to have a nice house and nice car in the suburbs meant that they had arrived and were living the American dream. They passed along to their five children the importance of hard work and academic excellence to maintain this standard of living. Now as a Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained cardiologist, I work 10 to 12+ hours a day. These long hours are in addition to several nights and weekends with emergency call.

My work consumes the majority of my time. I see my parents and siblings only about once a year. My family of mostly medical professionals have come a long way since we left Ghana decades ago; however I often ask myself, “Have we lost something important in the process?”

During a discussion with a friend about parenting, my wife recently stated, “Andrew is not around very much.” The veracity of her words did not remove the sting. It hurt to know that for all my hard work and dedication, my own family viewed me as “the guy that’s not around very much.”

I may never have $10 million, but somehow minimalism seems to be a window into living that life of freedom that many of us aspire to. More time to connect with family and friends, more time to travel, more time to pursue other interests. Maybe even minimalism could translate into less stress and overall greater longevity. I know I’m stretching things a bit here; however it’s fun to imagine the possibilities.

Despite my fascination with minimalism, I have to confess that I haven’t bought in completely. I’m still tied to my cell phone and social media. I haven’t sold my car or transitioned to a tiny house, but we can all start somewhere. This weekend, I’ll organize and de-clutter my closet. Having fewer clothes does count towards minimalism right?