Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
www.japansociety.org/event/goo...
A growing movement in Japan is choosing to part with their possessions and appreciate the beauty of less. These extreme minimalists may limit their wardrobe to only 20 items of clothing or choose to forgo a bed, paring their home down to the bare essentials. Inspired by the aesthetics and principles of traditional Zen Buddhism, Japan’s new minimalists say their transformation to simple living has freed them to spend time on other pursuits. Fumio Sasaki, minimalist and author of Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism, joins us at Japan Society to discuss how he opted for minimalism over materialism and share his insight on this life-altering philosophy. Moderated by filmmaker Matt D’Avella, whose latest film Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things examines the cultural movement of simple living. Followed by a book signing and reception.
In the 2016-2017 Season, Talks+ Programs at Japan Society were generously sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). Additional support was provided by Chris A. Wachenheim, the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund, and Hiroko Onoyama.
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Fumio Sasaki's book 'Goodbye Things' should be compulsary for every human to read -- it is THAT GOOD.
You are right
we think we buy the things with money but we buy things with the precious time working
that is deep
Money is simply a symbol. We use it to trade our time and effort for something else that has value to us.
This point hit me hard !
Changes everything !
Anybody else surprised when he saw Matt at the beginning?
Yes. Completely. I was doing something else when this video came on and I thought "Hey! I know that voice!" :)
Me
I actually had this video in my playlist and was just about to declutter the list. I started this video to listen to while decluttering the playlist and while hearing the voice I was already thinking "Wait a second?! You know this voice...Is this Matt's Voice?!" When I put the video on big screen I realized it is Matt.😅
The more funny part is that I didn't knew Matt back then when I watch this video the first time, so that back then Matt was just a random host to me.😅
lol! i was like "oh shit hi Matt!!"
Matt who?
I was a flight attendant, i spent lots of money on luxury clothes, shoes, bags and make up, i gave all of them, i gave all the furnitures of my apartment, i now have two chairs, one wooden box, 2 winter dresses and 2 summer dresses, 1 winter scarf, 1 summer scarf, one pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals, one pair of slippers, 2 pairs of socks, 2 panties, i no more wear bras.
I sleep on the floor, on 2 blankets, i have 2 pillows, 4 blankets, 2 sheets, 4 pillow sheets.
Im very happy. Much happier than i was before.
It came through yoga and my conversion to buddhism, and my 6 months stay in Thailand, in a bamboo hut.
I like 'no bra' 😊
I wish i can do that
Myriem Jaziri 🙌 I’m sharing this with all the flight attendants. So inspiring.
I think it’s ok to have more that two underwear though. I don’t even understand do you go on wearing damp underwear during rainy season if stuff doesn’t dry?
@@kristineb.1458 you can do it baby
@@VishalLandge haha
Minimalism = Peace of mind = Healthy environment = Less destruction of nature and its resources = Effective utilization of resources. Minimalism is good.
The book is quite good. It goes into depth about the psychology behind the minimalist movement, as well as the benefits that come from living light. The thing is that it's not an all-or-nothing approach. It depends on the person and what you find important. I like that flexibility and openness to the approach.
Richard Yasushi Ii nice little review, intrigued me to read it. thanks
Richard Yasushi Ii Accurate, through review. Excellent book! I recommend it to anyone interested in how minimalism works and what it entails.
Cool! Thanks for the note. Yes, the book is great. The author's own personal approach is quite ascetic; but as he points out in his book, minimalism is different for everyone. Having personally begun
the process of reducing what I have around me, I can
attest to the benefits myself. I especially appreciated the author's honesty about his own life and how to find real meaning - not through objects - but in your experiences. So much of what we're being told through advertising and culture in general is that our stuff defines us; but we don't have to live that way.
Minimalism reminds me of that old Australian Aboriginal proverb. "The more you know, the less you need."
Richard Yasushi Ii - YES! Awareness of how advertising manipulates the difference between NEED and WANT is critical in this era, when advertisers can target their audience very specifically thru the data mining that has been in the news lately. We have allowed ourselves to become convinced that we need all this stuff. Do we?
I've seen ads showing a vehicle that compels a rabid wolf pack to bow down in subservience as it drives up to a party at a post-modern residence; cars that allow you to cut away from and face off against a herd of cattle as you drive thru your city's streets, even cars showing a crew of O.G. hamsters posturing as they drive thru the 'hood. Unless you regularly encounter rabid wolf packs in your driveway, you're probably not going to need that feature in your next vehicle. So what's going on here? These ads aren't selling you a car. They're selling you a (fictional!) image of yourself as you could be if you bought the car. Once you've identified the manipulation, it becomes easy to ignore it, or at least get a laugh out of it.
It's a modern day life skill to be able to neutralize the advertising that is literally everywhere now. Product placement in movies and TV shows is rampant. Your on-line experience presents you with specific ads that complicated algorithms predict will influence you. If you are in a target demographic, even the people you frequently hang out with or around may in fact be industry 'influencers' - high profile individuals who are provided with free products, or even cash, to be seen using/praising a specific product (The old-school version was to give off-duty models and actors free merchandise to wear for the paparazzi, the current version is to give that stuff to the flashy guy standing next to you at the club, or at the opera, or wherever the target demographic hangs out).
Make yourself aware, stop being a cash cow.
通訳士の方が素敵です！！！すごく尊敬しています！！It's always not easy to deal with Japanese, which is a system filled with euphemism, but man, this interpreter is doing wayyyy too well. My best regards to this interpreter.
Chia-Ning Tu ???? He is just reading... the text was prepared earlier.
"Everyone's very concerned about me." Love him. Dating is not the ultimate. Live your life and values--the rest will follow.
One time, years ago, I got robbed by psycho roommate. He took my laptop, my road bike, my extensive DVD collection, and the cash out of my wallet. But now that I'm a minimalist, I look back and think, "Who really robbed who?"
your comment made my day. thank you.
I'm kind of charmed that he left you the wallet, though.
If that was me, I would have to get the ski mask, strap up and rob him back for the cash. I could care less about the stuff, but I could have sold or donated my stuff myself.😡
Thanks for sharing your story. It's truly inspiring!
Well said
No social media distractions or notifications was a BIG one for me. Less distraction of other people's life's = Less FOMO. The Focus comes back to me.
FOMO... What does it mean ?
@@wouam1475 Fear Of Missing Out.
I'm already a minimalist of sorts and after reading this book I'm further downsizing. You really have all you need.
Same.. his book is really inspiring. Do you have other recommendations? I love reading this stuff.
@@leuuuuuuwkme too
Started this video and I'm like holy cow thats Matt D'avella! he has a great youtube account.
I thought I was looking at Matt D’avella.
Me too
Same!
"Goodbye, Things" is literally the only audio book I always go back and listen to over and over again. (It's available in the 'always available on audio' section in the Libby app for those who live in Toronto and have a library card). I love listening to it as background sound for when i'm cooking or on a commute. It just reaffirms and highlights basic principles of life, especially on how not to get swept up by the constant pressure to "keep up". Thank you, Fumio Sasaki for writing this book and to the team who helped create the English version and accompanying audio book. It always helps me bring my mindset to the right place.
My copy is one I also read over and over. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it.
Amazing 🤩 I listen to it over and over too! tryna get my mindset rebooted 😂
It's been very difficult not to care about other people's values and point of views, and that's the most challenging part of becoming a minimalist to me. It is a great reminder to learn that it's okay to pursue what I believe in. By the way, I like the job of the interpreter though. He interpreted his Japanese to English really well!
N J why do you care about other people’s values and points of view?
If you claim not to, I'm afraid I won't believe you. It's part of who we are - we seek inclusion in a group that is important to us.
I absolutely LOVE that the translator has a guide to translate from, other than translating from what he hears.
I hate it when things get lost in translation because of lack of memory or of understanding from the translators side. Being bilingual and witnessing cringeworthy translations all the time, translators really put me off, but this preparedness.. Thank you!!
Good job!!
since im a lazy person and i dont like to manage things, cleaning, etc. Im looking forward for this minimalism things. Have less stuff really make my life so much better. Have less stuff doesnt mean you poor it's a choice.
Many times poor people have MORE stuff because they hang on to what they do acquire - might be harder to get later on.
Not wanting to manage /clean things doesn't necessarily mean that you are lazy. You're probably just overwhelmed by the many things you have and don't want to deal with it. Once you clear most of your possessions, you might find yourself to be a much more motivated person including cleaning. The book addresses the author's "laziness".
Having less things often means you have MORE money.. because you did not spend it on things.
Oh wow, this is the first time I've seen someone acknowledge that there can be arrogance in getting rid of things! It can be a very puritanical thing. The thing is to find the right amount for you!
I think that whether you are focusing on having MORE things or having LESS things, you are still focusing on the things, so the two polar opposites are actually very close together. The point of minimalism is not about things at all. It is about changing your focus from things to relationships and experiences.
Goodbye Things is INCREDIBLE! I listen to it while I throw things out
same :)
More stuff = more problems
Things need to be taken care of. More things, more chores
More people=More problem
totally agree!
For me, the basic-take away here is that in our current society, we wall ourselves in with our things, and this isolates us from the very things that our experience of happiness is based upon - relationships and experiences.
I wish find this twenty years ago, I love this movement.
this talk inspired me to read the book. I realized that saying goodbye to my old self is still the hardest part: I used to be in the goth scene and letting these items go is quite difficult, although I'm not really interested in the scene anymore. Also, these items were very costly for me as a student, which makes discarding them even harder.
Don't discard them - SELL or trade them.
Fuck it be the first minimalist scene adult!
I just learned about "fantasy self", it's really helping me let go. Its difficult to admit that some ideas I had failed though
@@mamaloz6200 please tell us more
@@arnvonsalzburg5033 The messy minimalist has a great video about the fantasy self, right here on CZcams.
I've done KonMari on my house, and I love it. However, I probably have 300 things in this room, much less my whole house. I love things of beauty: a beautiful vase, a lovely cup of tea, a perfectly cooked egg. I don't think that the absence of everything that is necessary, but the absence of things that don't bring joy. Peel those things away, and you have a home of joy and peace.
Way to completely miss the point. Now you're a slave to the things in your home. That vase couldn't care less about you yet it demands your care.
The egg industry is viciously cruel...look it up on CZcams
@@huitrecouture If it brings them more joy than the cost of caring for it, what's the problem? If it is a family heirloom, if it came from a second hand store, what's the problem? You can still own things without the things owning you. Minimalism can make you see what you care about most, even your possessions. Maybe the laptop itself is replaceable, not all that important. But owning one can connect you with people from all over the world. It doesn't matter what type you own, but that you own one, what is represents can bring great joy.
Yes, Mari reminds in her book that it has to be a balance of the two, conserving possession for the joy it brings to you for its beauty and utility. I think the reason people resist minimalism is because of the misconception that it's a lifestyle that endorses denial of pleasure and beauty, which is far from the truth.
Agreed.
From what I remember Steve Jobs was also a minimalist.
He was
I finished the book a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it! so inspiring! I am just a couple minutes into the talk and adore it already ❤ The book was definitely the best one I read on the subject and has given me lots of valuable insights ✨
can i have the book?
you can listen to it on youtube
Don’t forget that the minimalism is different for every person, don’t take his particular example (or another) as a law :)
Declutter is good
Amen. I wish I found this 20 years ago
1Fom - I think Jaytee1o4's point is that it would have made his life better earlier to have had less 'stuff' cluttering up his life earlier.
First talk I've heard in a second language in which I wasn't impatiently waiting for the translation-- it was in a language I don't understand but it was mesmerizing. Very Zen. Thank you!
It's almost like it was planned to give listeners in both English and Japanese time to absorb and think about each nugget of thought, lol.
Lesser stuffs, lesser attachments. You've inspired me a lot! Thank you!
Fantastic translator and Fumio Susaki is an incredible philosopher.
That`s a brilliant observation!. That is that he is a philosopher.
I am a woman on her personal path to minimalism, loving a man who can't even throw away an empty jar of honey, because we bought it together and it is linked to some memories. I'm going to say goodbye to my part of belongings and see what happens. I am reading the book and I like the down to earth and sympathetic approach of the author, even if I am throwing away some things that I have in multiples just to swap them with a single item of better quality. Anyone else doing the same? Going from lots of cheap things to a lot less and more valuable fewer items more durable and of better quality?
Annarosa Girardini i think being a minimalist also change d personality of d person right.like d author he looks very clean n polite.haha.
Lead by example, I'm sure he will follow when he sees the peace that minimalism brings you :)
If you ever stop loving honey jar, hit Fumio up, I think he's single
:D (poor my hubby)
Lil G Funk lol 😂
cant wait to purchase this book. Thank you. Been having trouble sleeping. And I have already began decluttering even before I found this ted talk. I realized too many things in my room. Making it tough or stressful to go to sleep.
Informative talk. Well worth watching it for an hour and I feel that I gained some new insights
Even his voice is calming ❤ reccomand a book too^^ u can even find audio version of it here.. i listen to it every 2_3 days and it really calms me down ❤
I began my minimalist journey with Sasaki's "Goodbye Things" during my time in London. It was a special, magical time that I shall never forget!
Beautiful. I love what he says about thinking about the money we spend in terms of hours/days worked. That helps me. Thank you.
There is another reason why people pick the $50,000 over the $75,000. The relative cost of living will be much higher for the $100,000 average group than the $25,000 average group. If he would of told the participants that the cost of living is the same for both group, I'm sure the results would of been different. Can someone conduct research to see if this is correct?
Yep, basically all expenses are four times higher in a world $100 000 avg. income compared to a world with avg. of $25 000. But his point still hold some validity.
I make a bit less than 30k, 3 kids 6,3,1. We eat whole foods, have cats, no car, no fast food. No cable TV. Minimalism is easier for lower income families but to get there is longer. We are also going zero waste at the same time. I can't afford to throw clutter away, so I sell things and use that money to get one high quality item that does many jobs. I'm selling junk to get a blender right now, and a pressure canner. I also donate money each month to services helping other single moms now that my expenses are not as high. People with higher incomes are used to easy luxury (I grew up middle class, 2 parents, family business, summer home, vacations). I would prefer the lower option because I just need bills paid and money to help others. I don't want to be rich, only to have basic needs met. Share the wealth.
Megan Middleton where do you sell?
@@CatMom5050 rent? health insurance? food?
Fascinating. Learned a lot! I've been a fan of Fukio Sasaki-san's style of minimalism since I first saw a video of him a year ago.
I discovered minimalism when I moved from a large house to a 2-bedroom condo. I remember being overwhelmed by all the clothes, shoes, kitchen gadgets, and stuff I used to own at my house. Since then I have downsized my belongings by 60% and felt a big relief doing so.
His goal of the future for the eco houses to be able to pull up to the beach and we all can hang out and chat sounds beautiful
Yeah, it does, until you think it through...if we ALL pull up to the beach, well, there's only so much beach to go around, and then beachfront access becomes just another 'thing' that translates to status.
This is such helpful listening practice! Thanks for uploading all the interesting content. I hope someday I can come to NYC and visit Japan Society!
Minimalism is a powerful movement. Its changed my life.
I love this book. I think it’s the best minimalism book I’ve read and I started minimising right after finish reading this book
I love love love this book!! I thought, after a few years of obsessing with minimalism, I could not get any more new ideas. Wrong! This book inspired me so much! I feel like I am taking it to the next level. And it made me want to visit Japan to learn more about this lovely culture. Thank you for this wonderful book! 🆓👌🏻👍🏻😍
Don't think all of Japan is minimalist. You have only to look at Tokyo streets and the Harajuku sub-culture to see that, lol.
Space is premium in Tokyo. I was there twice in the last few years. It makes sense to own just a few things that are precious to you to avoid cluttering your space.
Love, love love this video and had never heard of this author till now. Want to get the book now and watch more of his videos. Quality time spent viewing this :)
Dream you own everything! Take your time, have fun dreaming. Every treasure is yours. It doesn't take long for you to realize all the stuff in the world now has no meaning! Spend your time and money on experiences and your passions.
The speaker is very wise. I wonder if he is looking foe a wife ☺️
Deborah Pappas *for
Wife? He is so intelligent and creative that he must be gay 😂
Deborah Pappas he is mine!!!! LOL jk in know im like in love with him!
Treat the retail world like a museum...lovely to wander thru and admire the stuff, and when you want to see it, you can always go back. No need to take it home.
most experiences are free. exercise, talking, any religion, etc. very few activities require money.
One of the reasons I became a minimalist is because I hate cleaning. I'm still progressing but as I go lighter, everything gets smoother & easier. Also, happy to see Matt D'avella here.
This is a great video! I am so inspired and so excited to start a minimalist lifestyle. Thank you for posting.
Epicurus espoused this concept 1500 years ago.He said all we actually "need" to live is food, water and shelter. This is easily attained by most people. The rest is extra and limitless. It leads to unhappiness.
Well, except that in order to acquire the food, water and shelter, some 'things' are necessary. Food, water and shelter don't just magically appear, you have to go out and get/earn them. To do that, you need at least a minimum amount of tools.
@@AbsentWithoutLeaving no, you can live in a cave with skanky water dripping, and slowly gnaw at your toenails.
thanks so much for the upload
I listened to this Audio book a couple of weeks ago, I think I'm gonna listen again. It's that good.
i listened too, just last week but can't seem to find in my history as i wanted to listen again. i googled but to no avail. do u have the URL, please? thanks!
Came for Fumio Sasaki (reading his book right now), was pleasantly surprised by Matt!
Also read(listened) to the book. Highly recommended.
This inspired me to get the book. Thank you.
"inspired" you!? Just like the MC Donalds Ad "inspired" me to get a Big Mac
Very inspiring, looking forward to find your book at the local library!
Fumio, you bro are my hero !
super awesome, thank you for upload!!
Hey Matt, happy to see you here ! :)
those days of my parent minimalist is alien for them. They no need to know what is minimalist and no need to keep throwing stuff away as they just rarely bring in any stuff home. Only buy the needed amount of food and household items. This minimalist started when there are "maximalist" and suddenly they aware that the stuff they own overflowing.
A great talk and fantastic translation. いつか僕がそんなに上手になったら...
Great talk...really got me to take action...I hoard things...and it's really a toxic way of life. .so Iam getting rid of things ..I don't use it..it's gone..
Enjoyed the video. Thanks.
This was wonderful, thank you for sharing!
I wonder if Minimalism could also apply to the amount of medicines we make available to people as well as the amount of food people eat just because they are bored. Does he approach the subject in his book?
Piche Traful minimalism is about having only what you need. So yes it would apply. No meds unless you need it, rely on whole foods to keep you healthy instead of eating junk and relying on oils and pills which will never be as good as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Interesting thought.
It's been a little while since I read the book but I believe he said he lost something like 20-25 pounds even though he wasn't even trying to.
I think once you internalize the ideas, you will find yourself applying them to everything. Every THING.
u can't minimize medicine because each disease needs its own vaccine. there are thousands of diseases. it's not that simple.
Read this book today. Excellent.
Hero to the world, although extreme... a minimalist of 38 yrs since I was 20... only now considering a real extreme like Fumio
Love the book and a great talk.
Interesting that I after seeing this video, I '"decluttered." I haven't gone minimalist...yet. But I have discovered that having less is MORE. Now I don't buy anything that isn't useful (I actually don't buy anything except food it seems) and I feel happier for it, so I'll continue on this path of **not** being a consumer :) I've coupled this with interval fasting and I feel healthier and happier than ever in the past 5 years
great analogy with using a mirage to describe happiness from material wealth. My husband would be going crazy without a Televsion
I'm gonna start a series on how to apply minimalism to simplify our day to day life on my brand new CZcams channel..
Thanks for your inspiring video..!
I've listened to this so many times already. The full book. The narration was awesome. The content was very relatable and useful.
I love his book!
minimalism reminds me of a story. the story of the person who wore a shoe thats way to tight, just for the feeling of releave when takin it off. :)
ha ha ha, love it
that story reminds me of people who works (and hate their works) 11 and a half months to have two weeks of happy holidays. and to have a lot of pics to upload in instagram.
Somehow, people are often proud of it telling me everyday that I should take more vacations. I don't want to go for expensive vacations because I'd rather use the money to invest and get out corporate life quick. That, to me would be the real freedom as I can choose to pursue whatever hobbies I like instead of slogging 11 months a year like you said.
Para mí la medida del minimalismo es que tu casa sea como en un hotel es lindo cómodo y con lo justo, y tú posesiones son las mismas que llevarías en un viaje + unas herramientas porque la vida es un proceso y vas a necesitar que sea más facil
I saw Matt and instantly liked the video
😅
I'm in the process of paring down what I own. I live in a very cold place and recently got rid of some heavy, arm-length mittens because I figured out that I'd only worm them 2x in two years. I sold them to a woman who is learning how to be a dog musher (e.g. like the Iditarod race). Initially I felt reticent to sell them, but when she said how she'd use them, I felt good about the exchange. This got me thinking about what else I can give up.
Thank you, Mr. Sasaki! Wonderful talk. Goodbye Things completely woke me up from typical American materialism and gave me a new vision and plan for my life.
Oh, hello Matt! An unexpected pleasure.
Good insights!
The pictures themselves are very story telling!
What an inspiration!
The book is amazing. Freedom of having saving, not having to buy useless things, and not feeling a need to spend is very relaxing. I focused on good nutritional health, and experiences. Why people are so consumed with things is crazy now to me.
We use buy because we needed it now we buy it because we want it.
I was very shocked to see Matt it's like seeing someone you know on tv. Atm all my clothes fit in a medium size backpack. I'm not sure if I'm a minimalist or just poor😂
Thank you!
I love Goodbye things and read it over and over. I will never get rid of it.
:0)
got to hear the presentation twice.
I think that the idea of "money is not important" only applies when your financials are in good health. If you have very little money and is living a constrained lifestyle because of it, you need to make more money before coming to this conclusion.
In my opinion, there's an optimal amount of money for everyone. Once you reaches it, making more wont make you happier. Balance is the key here.
Omg wasn't expecting to see Matt D'Avella here haha
Very helpful mindset 🌞
Im totally surprised Matt D Alwa in starting waow..❤️
Every now and then I get anxious with my stuff and think that I should cut it to the minimum but then a couple of days later I buy new books or new clothes online. And it's true that usually the best part about getting new stuff is clicking 'buy' and waiting for those few days. I've also thought about getting some kind of a movable and small place to live in but I don't know if I'll be brave enough. I'll graduate in three years so after that maybe. But yeah it doesn't have to be and all or nothing approach, one could start with only buying electric books (even though I love that smell and feel of a real book) and only wearing classic black, white, blue or grey clothing that don't go out of style, which he seems to be doing, or getting rid of the kitchenware that just sits in the cabinet 'just in case'.
It's important to remember that true minimalism, (smart minimalism) isn't about the number of things you have... The true meaning of minimalism is understanding the number that is right for you. Everyone shouldn't try to fit into a cookie cutter of 50 things or 100 things, etc. The challenge is to realize/understand what your perfect combination of comfort/minimalism is, and just the right mix to live happily, and meaningful. The true lesson of minimalism is understanding the fine line between owning your stuff, and increasing clutter. For when we cross that line, we have lost control.
Don't change who you are for a movement. If you love books, instead of buying e-books, borrow from the library! And you don't need to change your wardrobe to look a certain way, change it to fit exactly who you are and donate things you don't wear. The stuff you do keep, should all fit together.
Mustamaggara i
Mustamaggara “you don’t know if you will Be brave enough”??? BE BRAVE ENOUGH!!!!!
This is very relatable!
In 1980, I finally had a satisfying job as a full-time commercial illustrator, had my two cats, my modest, tiny 1976 Honda CVCC and new drafting table.I had just moved back to NC from 6 months of winter in Chicago, and moved into my first apartment, with only an old bed/mattress, an old dining table, and 4 old ladder-back, rush-seat chairs, oh - and an ancient pine slope-top desk.
I needed a sofa. I was trepidatious about buying it, because I knew I would not be so nimble to travel to new places in order to move house, as I had been. I cried for a while.
I took a loan out on my Honda, bought a beautiful slub-silk Henredon sofa. I would be starting my new job in a week.
On my way to lunch with a friend that day, an 18-wheel truck drove into my tiny car, pushed me sideways down the highway, my elbow in my open window, at the radiator grill of the truck. I did not brake, I kept my steering straight, and because the fool driver was braking, I wasn’t crushed, or dragged under the wheels. I was dragged to the other side of the truck, then spun into the narrow median, heading for oncoming traffic. While it was happening, I felt gratitude. After an unhappy, thwarted time as a teenager with parents at war with each other, I was finally out of that house, happy and looking forward to my life. I thought: I am going to die now, but at least I am going to die at a good moment in my life! Then sorrow: Who will take care of my Mom, my disabled brother, my two cats? Sorrow for my life that would not be lived. All very fast.
My car dragged to a stop in the grassy median. I did not die. Later the same day, I arranged for my Mom to take me to the bank, so I could get the loan, (even though my car was now at the body shop!), and then paid for my sofa, and went home. I am a willful person. But I let go of my life so easily, in my mind! I swung between deep insights and foolish choices ever since.
Anxiety led me to work 70 hour weeks for 35 years, to accumulate thousands of books, many gadgets, saving many cats, a modest house (still live here), a penchant for unusual plants in my acre of garden, which I developed with my own labor...a temporary credit card addiction for 5 years, which I cured, but I was always dissatisfied with what I had, always designing new ideas and tasks. All the while, I knew I was bargaining away my best years so I could rest in a paid off home by the time I was 55, cut back on work, and pursue my fine art practice. Lost my business in 2008. Lost my things. Still in my house, but I have no money now to keep it nice. But, I have time, to be with my 4 cats, read, clean house, and read my books, then give them away. I still garden, but less ambitiously. Now I am old, but have learned how to be happy with less, with fewer things, and I appreciate more what I have. I knew I was buying these things with my time all along. It was fear that drove me, not of death, but of insecurity. All I really wanted was to travel, save cats, do art.
Oh, well. Doing what I can now, with ailing health at 65 years old. I am happy enough!
MATT D'AVELLA!!!!!!!
Excellent
This is only the second time I saw Matt with a collar. The first was in a b-roll in his vlog.
and there's Matt
interesting and enjoyable. will look into the book!
he said something about a girl who also makes speaches like this...did anyone catch what he said?? was he talking about Marie Kondo?