I have spent the last 4 to 5 years reading and experimenting with Minimalism in all its forms. It means many things to different people: buy less, have less, use less, say less. Less. Less is more. Less is better. Less is best.
Sometimes I do quite well with it. Sometime I fail in spectacular fashion. One of my favorite routines is “Simplify Sunday.” I try and find one thing to work on for an hour on Sunday morning … the food closet, that pesky junk drawer, that stack of papers that has been sitting there for ever. What do we get rid of, what do we donate, what needs organization. Its a good reminder and a good start to the week upcoming on Monday.
But somedays it seems like its pointless. I turn around and have more accounts, more bills, more chatchskisies [chachkis?] (how do you spell this word anyway), more toys for the kids, more tiny little containers that act like a bug zapper and attract more tiny little things to find refuge in them. I should probably throw that away I think … but what if someday I really need it. What if someday its the missing piece to the project I swear I am going to get to … someday.
But one kickstarter that seems to work with me that is super self satisfying is what I have been calling 2 into 1 – Its pretty straightforward – Do you have 2 of the same or similar things that you can combine into one? Its a fun game my daughter and I play, but it does bring up some moral dilemmas.
For example, combing two different kinds of Chia seeds…. probably ok. I mean what hipster household is not complete without at least 2 containers of Chia seeds:
But then you get into some gray areas … not human cloning grey / gray areas [liek how do you actually spell grey] but it could get dicey. For example if you have accumulated 2 of the same cocktail sauces no problem on the 2 into 1 – But how about two Different brands of cocktail sauce? Or how about 2 different brands of Soy Sauce?
The lines between good and evil begin to blur. Am I helping here, or am I hurting? And what do you say to a 2 into 1 for tortilla chips?
The answer is I combined all of them – And not only did no one notice, but it was a nice 
way to kickstart a minimalist approach to the day and the week. Instead of stressing over possessions or how much stuff we have that we don’t need, I find the 2 into 1 a very nice way to get going when I stray too far off course. And hopefully some of the 2 into 1’s are easier decisions than others.
Now one might ask “what the heck do you need all hat aleve for?” And I would probably respond with, why do you feel the need to ask so many questions. But sometimes even cleaning out the clutter for the small stuff is a good starter for thinking about getting to the big stuff.
So a little minimalist idea from a minimalist wannabe to the rest of humanity. If you have any other amazing 2 into 1 ideas please pass them on.
-SDM
Simpletition - Shawn D. Madden 