I was like an unfocused college student. I would read and watch all sorts of things, as long as they had already received high acclaim. I was studying great people and great works, but I wasn’t really making my own choices; I was just consuming information haphazardly. All that, I think, has started to change. Having minimized my material possessions, I’ve also started to minimize the information I take in. I no longer follow useless news, gossip, or random stand-up comedy. I don’t try to fill my conversations with things that other people have made or done. Instead of focusing on the voices of others, I focus on and believe in the voice that’s coming from me. What I often feel now is that I’m “returning” to myself. I used to feel that so many great things had already been produced in the world that there was nothing I could add. I was so worried about what other people would think that I developed an oversized fear of making mistakes. If I came up with a great idea, I’d reject it because it came from me. This is what I imagine. There used to be another “me” who lived inside me. He had the same size, shape, and form as my usual “self.” But the more concerned I became about the outside world, the smaller the inside me got. He was so battered that he could barely get back on his feet. But I now feel as though that little old me has finally gotten up. Minimalism has given me the focus to revive my inner me.
— Fumio Sasaki, Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
Portrait of Fumio Sasaki by Irwin Wong for The Sunday Times. “If you like it, chuck it: secrets of Japan’s most radical minimalist.”
What a wonderful return to acceptance of self
Sure is.
Intriguing. Certainly something to be said for simplifying life. I have found that I am more focused (and satisfied) with simple activities in these mompnths of severely curtailed external activity.
Yep, me too Lori. Me too.
How clearly he is able to articulate his own re-discovery. In these days when I can barely figure out what the hell is happening around me, such ‘aha’ moments strike me as even more remarkable.
Yes, and so young. HIs book is one that I won’t be able to shake from my consciousness.
That is exactly how I’ve been feeling.
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
I really need to this this!! Can I afford to on this ‘current American reality’, though? … “the more concerned I became about the outside world, the smaller the inside me got. He was so battered that he could barely get back on his feet. But I now feel as though that little old me has finally gotten up. Minimalism has given me the focus to revive my inner me.” … Fumio Sasaki, Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism.
Sounds like he grew up never being told that he matters. Pretty screwed up! Well, I’m glad he figured it out and is coming out of that shell.
Laughing….love that.
Is Fumio related to Marie Kondo? 😉
I honestly can’t handle minimalism right now – we already had to give away stuff for thousands of CHF after our removal and of course we still have more than enough – but it’s a mind-thing, and I haven’t the mind for it!
Unrelated. Get your Mind to it!
it was supposed to be a weak joke….
Mission accomplished!
There is a me and an I. The me exhibits the stains of worldly influence through passing time. The I is unique and unchanged since birth. When the stains of the world are allowed to be cast aside, what is left then is the I and me as one.
-Ala
And I and me are still working this Alan. 🙂 Thank you.
I could certainly use this advice…
Me too!