"Good Bye, Things : The New Japanese Minimalism" - A beautiful book with few powerful lessons from Fumio Sasaki, with which I undoubtedly couldn't agree more 😊
Came across this book while surfing for some good books for myself along with the link to order. Thought to myself there cant be a bigger hint from the universe that I should buy the book. Even interesting was knowing about the author. Got to know him as just a regular guy who was stressed out and constantly comparing himself to others, until one day he decided to change his life by saying goodbye to everything he didn’t absolutely need. In Goodbye, Things Sasaki modestly shares his personal minimalist experience, offering specific tips on the minimizing process and revealing how the new minimalist movement can not only transform your space but truly enrich your life.
So, logged on and clicked for the order. A happy confession that it was absolutely worth it.
Few learnings that the book brought for me :
Haha - who has not come across this, but how many ties do we really bring this to practice in our daily living. Sasaki says, the pursuit of material possessions often leads to stress, anxiety and eventually a sense of emptiness. He is so right when he says true happiness comes from cultivating meaningful relationships, pursuing passions and living in alignment with one's values. I am sure this comes as a natural understanding with life to most of us.
It is not about living a stripped-down existence but about intentionality, meaning, taking a conscious choice of what you bring into your life and what you keep aside. Its about curating a space that reflects your own values and priorities, helping you to live your own life on your own terms and not a borrowed or influenced life.
One day I was desperately looking for a white T-shirt from a huge bunch of clothes in my cupboard. I was throwing my stuff out from my cupboard in a desperate hunt for it but I could not find it. My father was watching me. After sometime, very softly he makes a remark "When you have too much clutter, you don't find the things when needed." I realized how true was his remark. Sasaki puts the same saying letting go out of excess belongings can be a deeply liberating experience. It can actually free up your physical, mental and emotional space, enabling you to get what you want.
This is undoubtedly such a powerful reminder. Actually having less paradoxically leads to more. With fewer possessions you save so much of time and energy left for better things to live and enjoy life to the fullest. In addition, it helps you create more space for beautiful things in your life that would truly matter to you and your happiness.
Sasaki so beautifully explains this simple open secret to good and happy living. By being grateful on what you appreciate, makes you more focused on it, as a result your craving for other things reduce and you find enjoyment and contentment in the present moment.
Here Sasaki emphasizes that minimalism is about continuous refinement and simplification. Its an ongoing process of evaluating our relationship with our possessions and making conscious choices that align with our values. While I was reading it, I heard a scream from my mother to put my scattered shoes back in the shelf organized. I laughed to myself, thinking the three extra pair of my jogging shoes were the cause of this messed up shoe rack. Do I really need the 3 extra pair when I need only one pair to be honest.
With this Sasaki explains the fact so well that minimalism always helps you get clarity on your values, preferences and choices. It can never be a one-size-fit all approach because the thing that matters at the end is your intention behind your choices that would make your life an authentic and fulfilling one.
