Living through the cycle of the things you own is the most raw form of minimalism.

This was a new idea to me, but has changed my approach to owning. My view now is that the best part of owning something is not the purchasing, the excitement of bringing it home and the fleeting joy of using it for the first time. It's the act of getting rid of it that really allows you to appreciate the life span of the possession. It's seeing something go from necessity, to vanity, to useless, to garbage. <br>It's not in the jealousy that someone else has something that you don't, or the excitement of finally getting that something. It's consuming, using, growing tired of, and then letting go. <br>The things I own good and bad have played a part in moulding me into what I am today. I appreciate the growth from that, and I know the things I get rid of will move on to other lives and do the same. <br><br>I've found this view has encouraged me to buy closer to need and to enjoy things until they're gone.