What are you if you aren't a Minimalist or a Maximalist?
Scene:
Lost somewhere in the depths of grief, the recently widowed Mama Gilmore is bustling about her large mansion. She is supervising the minions who somehow have moved into her house in droves, who are helping her 'Konmari' in life. That's the first time I ever heard of Mary Kondo and her idea of tidying up. Mrs. Gilmore, who always had razor sharp attention to bestow on just about anything under her nose, seems like she couldn't care less about what is happening. She rather disinterestedly picks up an expensive looking but ugly gown from another era and asks herself if it sparks joy in her. In less than a second, she decides that it does not and moves onto other things in a pile. Like Lorelai, who stares at her mother in unmasked disbelief, I too wondered what would, if anything, spark joy in her at such a phase in life. But crossing her is not something anyone who knew her would ever dare to, even if she's only fictional.
However, I found the idea of something sparking joy in you intriguing. We do live in a consumer-centric world that promotes instant gratification. There would hardly be anyone who isn't stuck with excess stuff, having been prey to impulse buying or the allure of retail therapy. If neither of these, then things tend to just outgrow their charm and utility could also leave us with stuff that we do not need or have the space for in our present lives. Lastly, there's always that age-worn excuse of saving something for a fictitious day in the future when we would absolutely need it. That was at least my father's excuse for hoarding. He once collected tall stacks of newspapers for years until there was no space in that room to walk about. He had multiple other 'hoarding corners' around the house which was invariably always messy. I don't know if my love of being organized or the faint hints of OCD that shows up stemmed from these messes in my childhood. But do I love things being neat and beautiful around me.
That could be what drew me onto the 'Minimalism' trend for a while. I read up about it, watched the Netflix documentary on the 'Minimalists' and the Mary Kondo series - also on Netflix; and read a few blogs as well as articles about it too. It was quite the trend. And there was enough material to go around. But whenever I came across a beautiful paperweight or a vintage typewriter - things I could totally survive without - my heart would skip a beat and do a little hankering jig. I knew I wanted things. I would always want more. Maybe what I loved to pieces now, might fade away from the spotlight eventually. Maybe it will become all the more dearer. But there will always be more of what I want. We are wired that way, I suppose. So I know now that I have to hop off the Minimalism train or rather I was never meant to be on it. It was a mere passing fad, if I am to be honest with myself.
So what now is the question? I don't find that Minimalism appeals to me any more. I still believe in being more qualitative than quantitative about what I surround myself with. That does not mean I am a maximalist either. I am not a big fan of bold as an aesthetic. But surely, owning only stuff enough to fit in a suitcase is no way to live for a lot of us. In that case, what am I or people like me who are neither minimalists or maximalists? Is there a label for the likes of us? Does anybody know?