Jolt Country

How many things do you own? Do they make you happy? How happy do they make you? How many things could you part with? Would that make you happier?

Dan and Ryan are two guys who, like many Americans, spent the majority of their 20s and 30s climbing the corporate ladder. The two friends earned promotions and salary raises, but never quite found happiness. Eventually the two decided that the source of their unhappiness came from stuff -- working to pay for it, spending time buying it, and simply owning it. The two men decided to part with the majority of their belongings and travel the country, spreading their message and starting a minimalism movement.

In between Dan and Ryan's story, Minimalism features interviews with multiple representing specific segments of minimalism. A couple of people who live in tiny houses are included. One man explains how getting rid of all of his possessions enabled him to travel the world. He proudly explains he owns a total of 51 things, all of which fit in a carry on bag. Although the people interviewed look different, they all share variations of the same message. Money can't buy happiness, owning things can't make you happy, and purchasing things is a never-ending cycle.

It's natural to fantasize what our lives would be like with less stuff. Steve Jobs famously wore the same outfit every day (black turtleneck, blue jeans, white tennis shoes), giving him one less decision to make each day. A friend of mine got rid of 99% of his worldly possessions, keeping the bare minimum of kitchenware, clothing, a laptop and a phone. He's happy as a clam.

As for Dan and Ryan, they no longer buy mindless stuff, but they're still selling things. They have a website (TheMinimalists.com), a podcast, five books, perform speaking engagements, and tons of documentaries and videos. The two still have all their corporate lingo, with catch phrases like "Love people and use things, because the opposite never works" intended to make you want to... well, spend money.

No doubt, all of us could part with a thing or two. I own multiple pairs of shoes, stacks of records, shelves of books, and hundreds and hundreds of toys, gadgets, cables, and random bits. Every person in the documentary offers valid advice. And to all of them I say... fuck you.