I'm not a minimalist, but minimalism is very alluring to me, though not at all for the reasons the author writes about. He feels anxiety over having so many options that he's worried he won't choose the best one? What an absurd sentiment. How does choosing to limit yourself to one option fix that? If anything it makes it worse. The source of his anxiety lies in misplaced values. His version of minimalism is basically putting those misplaced values on a pedestal. For me, the appeal of minimalism is in less clutter. The feeling really sunk in the first time I moved out of my apartment on my own and realized I had a metric fuckton of shit to move. I'd like to know that, if I wanted to, I could pack up and move all my things in a single car off to wherever. Not to mention having all that stuff cramps my living space. Things become disorganized easily, space gets absorbed, my house gets ugly, etc. etc.. I fret about tossing things, but most things I could toss and never miss them. There's definite zen in not having material things to worry about.
though i've never considered myself a "minimalist" I definitely try to create/consume/use as little material things as possible. Various reasons apply: 1) less clutter 2) less stress 3) save resources (money, food, environment) 4) "environment" is a big one. it becomes kind of moral for me. To me, it seems industrial-capitalist-consumer based society eats the earth but does not return the favor. It is not sustainable on a very real, like "how are we going to survive in the long term" sort of way. 4a) Also the ethics of production. There's a lot of exploitation, suffering, and destruction of human happiness that comes from what we are sold (not to mention destruction/disruption of other life as well). I'd like to reduce my part in that system as much as possible. 5) So to me, being "minimal" is actually a form of being "responsible". 6) But I also try not to stress TOO much. Sometimes, I want that fancily over packaged, expensive seaweed snack produced in Japan and boated over here then driven to the market. And sometimes, I answer that "want" with a purchase. So be it! 7) There's a lot more to say here I'm sure, but i'm just going to be minimal about it and leave it at this : )