Minimalist Lifestyle - Viable?

     1) The minimalist lifestyle is an interesting one, ingrained in our history and society since the dawn of time from the Ancient Greeks through the Christian peoples following the literal translation of their holy book, encompassing the lives of the Eastern Asian people who had followed Buddha, Confucius or even Zoroaster. Yet even though so many people praise this lifestyle, it is rarely seen today. I can commend it on certain tenants it represents. I can see the action of living simply, especially for the betterment of others (i.e. donating money to charity, objects to the needy, etc), is one that I could follow. On the other hand, I also feel that the lifestyle that has been shown and developed in my mind, could never let me live with such simple things. I've grown up in a society - a generation even - that waits week-by-week for the newest iPhone, even though they have the previous version. We crave and yearn for such things. We need entertainment, but not entertainment that's engaging. We rely on things such as T.V. shows, Movies and Video Games for such engagement. Yes, we could learn stuff and take out certain principles or ideals from those forms of entertainment, but it is truly necessary for the cost? The minimalist lifestyle isn't all about just "things." Sure, things have a huge part of it, but it is also about yourself. "Time is money" comes into a huge play here, we spend our time doing these things which require little to no effort, is it truly worth it in the long run? Yes, we get an emotional connection with some of these things and yes, sometimes it is best just to let yourself go. But doing it on the scale of which today's people are doing is, frankly, appalling. I am not innocent of these actions either. I enjoy the occasional Luther or Sherlock episode, even delve into the quirkiness of Doctor Who. I spend time playing video games for pure enjoyment, in a social setting. So I could see the argument for video games as well, seeing as though people (usually) playing them are in a social setting in which human interaction or cooperation is a necessity. But still, I'm torn between whether the lifestyle is viable or not.

    Friedrich Nietzsche was a brilliant mind in a time too archaic for him. He secluded himself to the mountains, as Thoreau had with Walden Pond. He discovered the beauty of nature, the beauty of individualism. He had his strains with the Emersonian Philosophy, but the major aspects were kept in tact. He once said "We often refuse to accept an idea merely because the way in which it has been expressed is unsympathetic to us." This is where I can see the other part of the minimalist lifestyle. Our generation is entranced by social media, the slightest gossip and frivolous new stories. We have not had a truly minimalist suggestion based on our society as it is today. Even the last 20 years from when Chris was living is massively different - the internet has grown exponentially, communication is easier than ever and T.V. has literally thousands of channels to get lost in. The seclusion in which minimalists sometimes experience can be breathtakingly extraordinary, or downright depressive. The choice is not clear as most choices sometimes are. I see the advantages and disadvantages of both, but the point still stands that I've experienced one and not the other. Perhaps, one cannot really judge whether it is viable or not until one tries it for himself. Maybe that's what I gain from this question. Nietzsche also stated elegantly "We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced once." Perhaps the dance of over-saturation is becoming tiring and it's time to learn a new, more simple yet beautiful dance?

Autumn's Grace

     Her grace gives us leave in between the hostiles. The breaths of calm overtake the earth and the foundation upon which you stand on. As the cold-hearted hostility approaches, the trees bare their teeth and shake them in the wind. I see how she moves through the wind, the dancing leaves that crack and flow in the breaths of peace. The sun begins to take its annual break, resting its beating eyes for one moment, yet he still squints, looking upon you with favor. I can see the ground, littered with the wooden tombs' leaves, colored by the radiant that inflict favor and contentedness upon you. The winds become less dangerous to I, for they calm and breath softer, and cooler. Nature has sent its followers away, to prepare for such impending doom. The insects and birds flock to other places, yet I stay in such a place to experience and learn to favor the grace that is given to me. Though not a single thing by itself gains my favor, the grace all together makes me plead for more such elegant nature.

    When I sat upon the cold rock which overlooked the shallow grass, obscured by the leaves, and it's accompanying ancestors you can feel time becoming a standstill, slowing as you watch the winds move and shift the ground and earth before you. It is truly a magnificent sight. Then I noticed the clouds above, taking the squinting sun's last glare, before he must rest. The serenity that places its hand onto this place is well-deserving. But as I stayed, the ambitiousness of nature grew ever more apparent. Her grace would only last for a short time and I knew that the grace must be passed on. For the short time though, it's truly the beauty of nature that embodies such serenity that lays down for the short while. But as I look now, her grace is past, the grace called Autumn has passed over us, giving us just a short time to relish in the true beauty of nature, knowing that we must endure both the hot and cold before we can be awarded with such. It is because of that, that we get the opportunity to experience such an event. Even though it may happen every year, it's only because we deserve to see the true colors of nature.