Hi, thanks for this engaging article! My understanding of minimalism has evolved, I think, over the past few years. It began as a decluttering of material possessions. But the YouTubes I was watching on the topic seemed to take it to unrealistic extremes that you have also mentioned. For me, it was just a not-so-original way of organizing my belongings, and to be fair to M Kondo, she’s just a mom whose system of decluttering came out of necessity for hoarders here in Japan where most residents in middle-class live in tiny rabbit cages. Just Google Japanese apartments. LoL. My flat is just a bachelor’s closet. But I digress.
Now, minimalism to me is not a lifestyle but an attitude or a kind of moral compass. For example, and I promise to keep it short, I’m dealing with a demon of a father and my own inner demons. They look worse than in the photos I posted for my Halloween story. I minimize my time and energy on negativity. Rather, I prefer to maximize my time and energy on things that matter to those I cherish and adore, not just selfishly on myself. I minimize my self-indulgent self-pitying and maximize my indulgence in causes that matter and empathy to even those that have abused me, like a certain parent. Why? Because I’m indulging in self-care that I feel may maximize the well-being of others.

I try not to block a tidal wave and instead ride it out or let it take me gently to shore. That’s my minimalism…for now. Peace! :D