One of the most challenging things I believe anyone can face while adopting a minimalist lifestyle is with friendships. It’s hard because on a normal day, you are facing a lot of challenges with friends, relationships and the likes, then you start adopting a minimalist lifestyle and find out that the challenges have taken a whole new form that can completely alter the dynamic of your friendships.
I’ve had several friends, and I’ve faced different challenges when it comes to each of these friends. I remember a friend of mine who actively felt like I was judging her when it came to shopping. At that time, I was consciously trying to stop impulsive buying and was succeeding. My friend liked to splurge a lot. Buying more of everything than was needed. I found it adorable sometimes, and genuinely didn’t judge her in words or even actions for how she was.
But when we’d head over to the counter. She, with her shopping cart overflowing, and me with my little basket of necessities, and I’d feel the stare burning a hole in my back. There would be a few sprinkles of snide comments where she would say that I’m making her feel like she was doing too much. That she didn’t have better things to do with money, and they were really all projections and not what I was thinking.
So yeah, one of the challenges you’d face in your friendships adopting a minimalist lifestyle is the accusation that you seem to be judging them. Just by your actions. Same with activities. I love low-key activities. I would prefer serene walks and quiet, indoor gathering to loud bashes and parties, and my friends may not just understand that. There’s a lot of clash when it comes to your personalities if you’re intent with living as a minimalist, and more often than not, as I’ve come to experience, you may enter an altercation or two.
But one of the beauties of minimalism is how it strengthens friendships even with the challenges. I, for one, have had better and deeper conversations with my friends since. There’s always this liberty to be more open minded about your beliefs, and also about things you care about. About your relationship with that person. About issues you both may have. There’s a lot of liberty because a principle of minimalism is meaningful relationships
You are able to make the most out of your experiences with your friends because you are intent about building impactful, non-toxic relationships. And there’s this thing about memories and experiences as opposed to possessions. Naturally, I’m not big on gifts. I appreciate and love them but quality time and even more quality conversations is a way to solidify my friendship with someone.
And minimalism helps me achieve just that. I understand the need for my friends and I to build a relationship that transcends possessions towards something a lot more meaningful. Something we can cherish and hold onto. It’s truly beautiful just all the things minimalism does even without trying as far it’s something you’re genuinely cultivating.
This week’s #KISS question was on how minimalism may challenge or strengthen a friendship, and I do see the challenges every day as it involves my friends but I also see all the ways we can create magic out of it as well.
Jhymi🖤
Image is mine.
