minimalism

i have recently been meditating on actually DOING things and how at some point we have to stop being formally trained and just start learning as we go. i didn't start playing the piano again in theory. i had to actually start playing again to get comfortable with reading the music and getting my hands to move. i had to start playing while people were singing (and hitting a lot of wrong notes) to understand that playing while people are singing is a different animal than practicing or even just playing for others to hear. when i signed up for my first 100-miler, i stopped wanting to do one in theory and started actually preparing for one.

i have been following a number of minimalist and simplicity blogs for the last year and have been reflecting a lot on the choices i make and how my lifestyle does or does not allow me the time and energy to do the things i want. i came across a statement this morning which really seemed to resonate with me. dave bruno of a guy named dave described what he felt the purpose of the 100 Thing Challenge was for him. he wrote:

"The 100 Thing Challenge is about getting out of jail — the prison of American-style consumerism. It’s about breaking free from the shackles of always feeling like we need to get more stuff in order to get to the dream life."

i am not participating in the 100 Thing Challenge, but what struck me about this statement was the second sentence and what happened if you substituted "formal education" for "stuff." don't get me wrong. i like school. i think education is very important. i'm about to finish my phd and i like what i do. however, i have recently been confronted with the search for jobs--faculty positions, postdocs, etc and the fact that while there is a certain type of learning that happens in school, a type of learning of equal value happens outside of academia...or, i suppose, even in academia when you're not a formal student anymore. in other words, only taking classes cannot prepare you for your "dream life."

in academia, faculty are expected to conduct independent research and obtain grant funding. a phd is designed to train you to do this; however you are constantly under the supervision of your advisor(s). the first year or two of a faculty position will probably be accompanied by a very steep learning curve on what it actually means to be a professor, whether or not one starts said position with postdoc experience.

so i suppose the question is, what does "stuff" mean for us individually? is stuff physical stuff that keeps us buying new things and having to have a high-paying job we don't enjoy so we can buy and maintain all that stuff? or is stuff extra degrees we don't really need in order to be able to do what we want and that take our time and money when we could be spending those resources elsewhere?