Embracing Minimalism: A Journey from Liturgies to Jonkonnu

Marie Kondo is divine. Probably on her way to nirvana or already there. What does that mean for someone like me, an Estonian from the heart of the Baltic region?

A Cultural Contrast

Marie Kondo's philosophy of decluttering and organizing one's home superficially aligns with a modern lifestyle, but it clashes with the deep-rooted cultural values that have shaped my life. In Estonia, particularly during the Soviet occupation, books were almost revered and treated with the utmost reverence.

Epics of Literacy

In the 19th century, our Baltic German landlords made sure that we, the Estonian peasants, gained an education. As a result, our community of peasants became the academics of Europe. By the 19th century, most European peasantry did not read books. However, Estonians did. A typical Estonian home is filled with an abundance of books. In my childhood, washing one's hands before touching a book was a sacred ritual. Writing in a book was considered a sacrilegious act.

Book Worship and Decluttering

During the Soviet occupation, books became scarce. The desire for an encyclopedia was so intense that my father stood in a long queue for the entire night. The next morning, he presented the hard-won encyclopedia to me and returned to work. Now, according to Marie Kondo, we cannot live with items we do not use. I had to confront my reverence for books and the shock of letting go of them.

It was during one of my philosophy classes that an old teacher introduced the idea that a book is only a book if after its destruction, there is nothing left. This philosophical epiphany helped me rationalize why I should stop being a slave to my book collection. Now, I treat them as mere copies and consider the actual text of the "mother book" as paramount.

Slowly but surely, I’ve come to accept the idea of minimalism. While it is an incredibly difficult transition to make, especially given a background of book worship, it has become easier with time. For example, instead of using writing paper, I now write in old paperbacks, a practice that would have seemed impossible in the past.

From Full Closets to Empty Wardrobes

During the Soviet occupation, it was common to buy more than necessary when the opportunity arose. This resulted in wardrobes full of clothes that were rarely worn. Marie Kondo’s guidance regarding decluttering has been a revelation: why own items you do not use? Though it was hard, I’ve grown to find the joy in getting rid of unused clothes. It’s a small victory to say that clothes I haven’t worn in a year can go.

The Legacy of Remorse

My grandmother's story further exemplifies the power of minimalism. During the German occupation, 1941-1944, she worked as a waitress in the Officers' Casino and previously as a maid in Finland. She was driven towards a life of minimalism by a desire to live with dignity. She saw the futility in leaving a legacy of material goods for her loved ones to clean up, a task that can take weeks or even months.

My grandmother's commitment to minimalism was a remarkable achievement. To this day, she reduces the time required for family to clean up after her death to a mere thirty minutes— an impressive legacy for my deeply traditional family.

The Path to Joy

If the ultimate goal is happiness, then moving closer to the worldview of Marie Kondo is necessary. It was a hard lesson learned for me, someone who has lived in 14 different places and has trouble remembering all of them. The choice to live a life less filled with material objects is either to live or not to live at all. At first, it was tough, but with time, it has become easier. The less I have, the happier I feel. It's strange but true: every time I take out the trash, I feel a deep sense of joy.

Conclusion

Embracing minimalism is not just about decluttering one's physical space; it's about transforming one's mindset. If we want to be happy, we need to shift our focus away from material objects and towards what truly matters. It's a journey that might start with books but can extend to every facet of our lives.