Recently, I’ve been really watching the YT videos of a certain Rajiv Surendra and feeling somewhat conflicted. (Love the videos by the way, recommend)

I’m a minimalist, by all accounts; I don’t buy things I don’t need and I only buy what I need and when I need it. I do have a hard time throwing things away (I’m working on it) but, generally speaking, I live a very minimal, intentional life of few but meaningful possessions.

Rajiv, though, isn’t like that. He does so many things: candlemaking, soapmaking, he plays music, he’s a caligrapher, videographer, writer, public speaker… He’s amazing, he’s incredible, really. His apartment is relatively small, but it’s so full of things. Yet, I can’t help but feel he follows a philosophy very similar to my own. He mentions stuff like “only add it if it serves a function” when talking about gift-wrapping and I’m just taken aback by the dichotomy of owning a bunch of gift-wrapping stuff—a thousand rolls of yarn and string—but following a minimalist wrapping philosophy.

I guess the point of this post is to ask a bit of an open-ended question.

Why are you a minimalist and what could make you change?

I’m a minimalist because I hate waste and clutter. I don’t like having a bunch of stuff I don’t need and I don’t like buying disposable things, it bothers me. Thing is, when I see Rajiv write beautiful letters I can’t help but wish I had someone to write letters to. I wish my room was filled with paper and bottled ink. I just feel that, despite going against what’s really at the core of how I live my life, I could accept it regardless.

Sorry if I’m not making any sense, but I’m curious what you guys think.

xoxo