Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
Today we meet Robert Hickman, who’s found a wonderful way to reconcile his creative pursuits with his minimalist journey.
Robert writes:
Robert
Being mildly autistic, my interests and life choices could never be considered normal in any regard. Nor have I ever aspired to follow that path. The whole concept of buying large houses, mountains of clothes and overly expensive cars always seemed mad to me. Yet still I found myself weighed down by a disproportionately large amount of stuff.
Rather than acquiring the made, or engaging with passive entertainment, my interests lie in creative pursuits. I’m never happier than when I have something to fix, something to learn, or a problem to solve.
But as my abilities evolved I still held on to all my old creations. Things from years earlier that no longer reflected my capability or interests. Without realising it, all this stuff was weighing on my creative ability. It kept me locked to passed interests and made me lazy; why create anything new when I have all this stuff to fall back on?
Around two years ago, I had to redecorate and replace the floor in my bedroom. Meaning that everything had to be moved out, by me. Coming face to face with my creations allowed me to see how they were weighing me down.
Coincidentally, I also ran into the lifestyle minimalism movement on line. I started reading Becoming Minimalist, The Simpler Life and Far Beyond The Stars regularly. The thing which struck me were the stories, people who were living with less, and were happy doing so.
I came to realise that I didn’t need everything I had ever created. My ability is in me, constantly improving. But my creations are static, quickly losing their relevance.
Now, if you think purging excess clothing is difficult, try separating from the truly irreplaceable. Things which reflect hundreds of hours of your life and represent many happy memories. It’s orders of magnitude harder.
Slowly I learned to disassociate myself from my creations and began eliminating things. Tools related to passed interests: sold. My better creations: sold. The rest, the detritus of my learning process was junked.
It wasn’t always easy at the time, but now I feel free and able to take on new challenges.
3 months ago, I moved out of my parents house and have been living, perfectly happily I may add, with very few physical possessions, in a tiny room in a shared house. I cook simple food from local ingredients, write and go out hiking in the local countryside.
Minimalism may appear plain and boring to begin with, but that is only true when your view of life is limited to physical possessions. Once you see beyond this and find other interests, minimalism looks far less bleak. It’s a great way to focus on the work which matters to you.
Lastly and somewhat divergently, I do not consider my autism to be a disability or a disorder, just a different and equally valid way of living. In fact, many of my most valued attributes, an obsessive personality and good memory are often cited as symptoms of this ‘disorder’, how point of view can change everything.
Ultimately it is what you do, not what you are that matters.
Robert's minimalist wardrobe
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
What an inspiring story/journey! Thank you for sharing it with us, Robert. I think everyone is good at some things/bad at others and we all have different personality types, and likes and dislikes. Finding your true niche in life is the difficult part!
I second Julias comment.
Thankyou for sharing your story Robert.
This is definitely one of my favorite Real Life Minimalists. “Minimalism may appear plain and boring to begin with, but that is only true when your view of life is limited to physical possessions” totally hit the nail on the head. I think you have a great story to tell and wish you all the best on your blog:)
Awesme. Thanks.
Another wonderfully inspiring minimalist. Good luck with you walk. I look foward to reading about it and reading your blog.
“…my creations are static, quickly losing their relevance.” Great line.
Thank you Robert for sharing your story! I can see how parting with your creations could be difficult! Awesome that you were able to come to terms with it. Love this ~ My ability is in me, constantly improving.
I love your thoughts on your autism as well!
Your new space sounds lovely, such an unencumbered life!
Congrats on your journey to minimalism!
Bernice
As go your days, so goes your life
One of the best Real Life Minimalist stories, Robert! I love it when you say, “Things from years earlier that no longer reflected my capability or interests. Without realising it, all this stuff was weighing on my creative ability. It kept me locked to passed interests and made me lazy; why create anything new when I have all this stuff to fall back on?”
You put it so eloquently when you say this; when we hang on to stuff that has “meaning” – and “meaning” only (i.e. not functional, useful, etc.) we’re really hanging on to a person we once were, and are no longer.
Good luck on your journey and I’m heading over to your blog now! :)
Truly awesome and inspiring post.
“Lastly and somewhat divergently, I do not consider my autism to be a disability or a disorder, just a different and equally valid way of living.”
Bravo, Robert, bravo. I always enjoy the real life minimalists segment but yours truly stands out for me.
I have a child with very mild autism (Aspergers) and a husband with suspected Aspergers and believe me, they are my favorite ‘type’ of people in this world! They taught me that conforming purely for acceptance is giving yourself up. They also taught me the beauty of logic in almost everything. I am so very thankful that not everyone in this world is ‘typical’ (NT) – It would be an extremely boring world. A world filled with clones that’s for sure.
Best of luck on your journey my friend, I will be checking out your website and supporting your cause.
Thank you for sharing this, Robert! As a fellow Real Life Minimalist, I too have found that an uncluttered environment helps foster creativity, and letting go of past projects helps to make room, literally and figuratively, for new ones.
My younger brother, Willie, has autism, and I often feel compelled to write about the perspective he’s given me. Yes, there are many challenges that come with being ‘different’, but there are unheralded joys as well.
Congratulations on your move, and I look forward to reading more on your website!
Thanks Caroline, the struggles which come with being diffeent are well worth the different perspectives you get on life.
Robert,
I really enjoyed your story. What a wonderful outlook you have about life:) The comment that especially resonated with me was:
“Things from years earlier that no longer reflected my capability or interests. Without realizing it, all this stuff was weighing on my creative ability. It kept me locked to passed interests and made me lazy; why create anything new when I have all this stuff to fall back on?”
Wow—that is so poignant and so true. As a psychologist and sometimes-artist, I must say that this has been the Achilles heel for me, parting with valued aspects of past interests and “creations.” I am currently doing a big summer clear-out of my books, both professional and personal, and other than my art supplies, this is the last big mountain to tackle. The rest of my environment is pretty minimalist by most standards. I even donated all my furniture this summer, except one chair, a coffee table, and bedroom furniture. I feel freer with each box and bag leaving my home. Its so refreshing, the opposite of shopping:) I think, “Who could really use this item?” and then I pass it along.
Cool. moving on from our old intreasts and unteathering from those happy memories can be dfficult, but definatly worth it.
Goo lick with your minimalist journey but dont push yourself too far, its a way to find focus, not a race to the bttom :)
I am just trying to find the space between “stuff” and once I see/have that space, the stuff seems unnecessary. I have a lot of books & art supplies that I will be keeping, but for me, the furniture, too many clothes, decor, & random kitchen accessories seem like things that I can live without. I would also like to move from my 1400 sqf house to one about half that size, just to make life simpler. I am looking forward to this move and I see it as a race to the top, with simplicity being the pinnacle:) Thanks for your inspiring and interesting post:)
Good on yer mate to stand up for autism. I have Aspergers and I see life in an oblique and simplistic way.
“People laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at them because there all the same.”
Good on you too Simple Zen, many people try to hide there autism, good job for accepting it and being open. Too true, if everything were all the same, this world would be a very boring place.
I’ve just checked out your blog. What a brilliant guy!
Thanks for the complement Simple Zen.
I loved this expression! “Minimalism may appear plain and boring to begin with, but that is only true when your view of life is limited to physical possessions.”
To see the big picture is an amazing ability. To be able to look beyond the obvious and see what is truly important is where to find real happiness in life.
Good for you!
Exactly Nan, difference is where the interest in this world lies.
Loved this article.
Thank you Pamela.
I am just beginning my journey into minimalism, and your story is so inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
Like many previous commenters, I can really relate to what you said here:
“Minimalism may appear plain and boring to begin with, but that is only true when your view of life is limited to physical possessions. Once you see beyond this and find other interests, minimalism looks far less bleak. It’s a great way to focus on the work which matters to you.”
Awesome Henny, best wishes for your journey.
This is my favorite “Real Life Minimalist” post by far. Robert, I am so inspired by your thoughts on minimalist, and as a mother of an autistic 20yos. I will definitely pop over and follow your blog.
“Minimalism may appear plain and boring to begin with, but that is only true when your view of life is limited to physical possessions.”
I think others pointed out this quote, but I would like to say that really liked it, too.
Love that minimalist wardrobe! Thanks for sharing your story, Robert.
Robert you’re my all-time favorite of all the Real Life Minimalists posts. Wow. What an inspiration! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. You have a true way with words, I won’t requote the same lines the other commenters did, but there is some amazing depth there.
That is indeed the ultimate minimalist wardrobe. Love it!
That was an absolutely beautiful posting. I think I’ve reread it five times. You are rich in intelligence, insight, and wisdom. Thank you for your honesty. I agree with others, the paragraph about autism being a different, but valid way of living blew me over.
Wonderful post! I very much relate and have never been able to understand why people are so materialistic and obsessed with having to own big houses etc. I also am autistic, as is my husband and child. I’ve noticed that autistic people tend to be one extreme or another in almost everything, and many are either minimalists or hoarders. Great blog!
Love your minimalist wardrobe. I seek to get rid of more things. One comes in and two go out.
But art supplies and not clothes have been the issue for me.
More art supplies gone. Today I will look for another bag of art supplies to pass on. I haven’t painted in a very long time and I have canvases I can give away. I didn’t buy something the other day because I knew I had the same thing at home.
More art supplies to give away. I have given away boxes of paper crafting materials because I have enough to last the rest of my life. I do a lot of adult coloring and Zen doodling now. I never stock up because my interests change.
I was watching a craft show on tv. The lady used all sorts of junk–a broken picture frame, a piece of an old T shirt, etc– to make holiday decor. I see whole villages and giant blow up creatures all over. I am fascinated by creativity.
I do a lot of art with kids and I enjoy making things out of materials from the recycling box. A few years ago we made giant insects with wire, beads, tissue paper, and Popsicle sticks. Then there was the jewelry from magazine pages. I like your picture covered in what looks like leaves.