Goodbye, Things – Fumio Sasaki
“There’s happiness in having less. That’s why it’s time to say goodbye to all our extra things.”
“My definition of a minimalist is a person who knows what is truly essential for him- or herself, who reduces the number of possessions that they have for the sake of things that are really important to them.”
Goodbye, Things – Fumio Sasaki and My Kind of Minimalism
I consider myself a minimalist… or at least I’m trying to be. This line from the book really hit home:
“My definition of a minimalist is a person who knows what is truly essential for him- or herself, who reduces the number of possessions that they have for the sake of things that are really important to them.”
Exactly. That’s me. I’m constantly working on having less—but keeping what truly matters. And for me, that’s books. Some books I loved years ago are now impossible to find. One example? Haruki Murakami’s The Birthday Girl. It’s only available at the Murakami museum in Tokyo. I’ve been trying to get my hands on it for years because I love that story so much.
I also really like Marie Kondo. Since I live in a four-season country, I do what I call “a little Maria” every time the weather changes. Not just to tidy up, but to reset. To make room. To think. And like the author says, having less gives you more clarity—not just in your home, but in your mind. Before, I used to call it “focus,” but maybe this is what minimalism really is: cutting out the noise so you can pay attention to what truly matters.
If you do too many things, nothing gets done properly. Same with people—if you give your energy to everyone, no one gets the best of you.
Reading this made me realize that minimalism isn’t just about stuff—it’s also about relationships. About reconsidering who you spend your time with.
I also want to say this: you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Life can change in a second—for you, or for the people you love. So make sure you’re spending your time with them. Be a minimalist in a way that allows you to be present—no distractions, no background noise—just fully there with the people who matter.
Same goes for attention. I catch myself wasting time on Instagram more than I’d like to admit—watching strangers live their lives instead of living my own. Sasaki’s book reminded me: not everything needs to be followed, saved, or consumed.
“There’s happiness in having less. That’s why it’s time to say goodbye to all our extra things.”
That line really stayed with me. Especially the story about the woman who lost everything in the tsunami. Her most cherished things turned into dangerous debris. That really made me pause.
And this one too:
“No matter how much we wish for something, over time it becomes a normal part of our lives… and we end up being unhappy.”
We get used to things fast. That new bag, that new phone, that new thing we couldn’t wait for? It just becomes “stuff” after a while. We chase, we buy, we hope it’ll make us happy—but it never lasts.
But the line that I keep coming back to?
“Feel free to experiment and find your own minimalism.”
Yes. That’s exactly it. There’s no single way. For me, it’s fewer clothes, less noise, and more time with people I truly care about. Less scrolling, more walking. Fewer ‘used to be’ friendships, more honest connections. And yes—still lots of books.
My minimalism isn’t perfect, but it’s mine. And I’m keeping it.
