Minimalism

Minimalism is removing ideas that don't work, and improving on those ideas that do.

"I had an idea that I wanted this thing, and I would use this thing, but that idea didn't work out, so I am getting rid of this thing; no harm no foul; just moving on to the next idea"

axionfield

As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said:

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

tlf

This reminds me of Michaelangelo's David. Apparently he either said or believed something similar about that project.

nostrodecus

This treatise on minimalism is excessively non minimalistic.

showen

Ideas don't capture the full spectrum of ways we can live minimally. A few examples I've personally seen used are digital minimalism, materialistic minimalism and minimalism relating to relationships.

Rephrased:

Minimalism is removing things that don't work, and improve on those things that do.

analog

I think for me ideas and things are about the same. But for people where that isn't the case then that is a good rephrasing.

I think it comes down to being able to curate your life to get whatever you feel is the best of the things around you.

whiskeyding

Ideas are relatively 'easy' to dispose of, but physical things are harder. I can't countenance throwing away something of value, so I have to find someone who will make use of the object, and then either give it away or sell it. It's a lot of work to find homes for the unwanted, so nowadays I just stop bringing physical things into my life if it can be avoided.

clinquant

Agreed - when it comes to physical things, part of the whole idea of living a minimalist life is to reduce the intake in the first place. Rampant consumerism and convenience/disposable goods are the opposite to a minimalist ideology.

analog

Putting value on a thing is an idea. If you couldn't dispose of physical things your house, it would be piled high with trash. You get things because you have an idea of how you want to use that thing ( I guess the ego could play into this as well.) Once you realize the idea for getting the thing was flawed, you can either iterate on that idea and try to find a way to continue using that thing, or admit that the idea was flawed and just remove both the idea and the thing.

fish-fingerer

This limerick has far too many syllables,
Its rhyme and its metre remind me of dribbles,
But to make it more minimal,
Would really be criminal,
‘nd r’m’v’ng th’ v’w’ls j’st l’ks t’rr’bl’!

rosie88

HAHAHAHA why do I picture a bathroom wall when ever I read one of your "poems"? :P

fish-fingerer

‘cos there’s no paper to write ‘em on!

rosie88

hahaha well, on paper it can get lost and oh well there goes your prose but on here it's safe for all posterity. :P

analog

+1 :)