We never had so much stuff
to deal with as human. I feel
stuff could be the source of
mental illnesses but some objects
might also calm me down, or
atune me to who I am..
A few years back I started
to minimize my life.
Geting rid of few tons
of old electronics was
the firs step. Which transpired
to other area in my life.
I qickly felt the positive
effect it had on my mind.
As if getting rid of stuff
was freeing some energy from
my head.
I could find the stuff
I needed again. I knew
what I had and where it was.
So I continued minimizing.
In 2022 I didn't buy any
new stuff apart:
A switch for the network
A sound card as my old one died
A mechanical keyboard
A tool for carving linoleum
A book about Shintoism
I read the book, I'm typing
on the mechanical keyboard
I am carving my illustrations
on linoleum, and both
my sound card and switch
are installed for daily use.
So there is no extras 'stuff'
from these purchases. It
doesn't feel heavy, or that
I have to change my way of
being to accomodate these
new tools.
Two days ago, I fixed up my Underwood.
I've written on it a few pages already.
Yesterday, after typing,
I sat in my bean bag and played violin.
Connected to an old tube amp
with the distortion maxed out
tripping away on music.
I realized that playing
with stuff that has been around
with me for a while has a
more calming effect. Like
and old friend visiting..
My typewritter will be 100 years old
and my grand father probably had it
all his life. My violin was found in
the house I moved in when I was 6 years
old, so it's been around me for 38 years.
Although the amp is somewhat new
to me, it was a 'rescue' from a friend
basement. It didn't cost anything, I fixed
it up and is now my only 'amp'.
These artefacts have become
part of who I am, and hanging
out with them bring a feeling
of comfort.
Having less stuff, that have
value to me, create a relaxed
and healthy relation with the
external world...
