The Zen of Nothing
Well I’m in an apartment for the first time in 15 years. I’m starting with almost nothing, which is fine by me. It’s an exciting premise. There are a bunch of people who are convinced that this mean going backwards. I disagree. I think it’s an opportunity to prune the things that make everyday life unbearable.
At this moment I have a Zen existence. I have a kitchen table, and a coffee table and a couch and an inflatable mattress. I work from home and I don’t have a lot of spare cash. My budget is tight. But I’m surprised that this fact does not bother me in the least.
It occurred to me that not having any money forces me to be more resourceful than I have ever needed to be in my life. I can’t just go out and buy furniture and accessories and fill the 1100 square feet with items that will eventually take over my life again. I am forced to take my time and pick and choose he things I want. This includes food, furniture, entertainment, and transportation, and even that minimal list can be whittled down.
I’m going to take this opportunity to build and grow, and I plan to document the journey. I guess this is going to be my entertainment outlet as well as my personal therapy. My goal is to get off the consumer wagon and still live a quality existence. It’s not enough to just be alive. I want to enjoy it too.
