DEALING WITH MAXIMALISTS

Minimalism is a lifestyle that I’ve come to appreciate but then, there is still this one particular setback that I’m yet to figure out how I can manage it well and that is, living around or living with people who don’t care or care little about minimalist lifestyle. I just feel embracing minimalist lifestyle would be a lot easier without having others to deal with but then, that is a fantasy because we will always have people around us and with us and that is why my major setback is finding a good ground to help me manage this setback.

I’m very sure there are others here who can relate well with what I’m saying and I’d really appreciate your contributions and suggestions to help me manage this setback and keep getting better at being a minimalist. I’m a student, and due to the high cost of living these days with money coming from just a little corner, I had no choice but to share the rent with someone so the burden will be a bit lighter for me and my family. I’m glad that I could find a place and someone to share with but then, it hasn’t been easy sharing a space with her.

She is a sweet person, very considerate too but then she cares little about her space, she doesn’t mind the clutters and every time I try to get things back to where they should be, I always end up feeling sad because it’s as if I wasted my time on it instead of maybe studying or resting. I have tried to talk to her severally about it but then, at that moment she hears but the moment I go lenient, she goes back to her old ways.

The worst part is that, due to how big our hostel is, we decided to help some friends who were in need. Too bad these friends still had almost similar ways as my roommate. It gets really frustrating for me sometimes that I feel so happy when I have to leave the house for school. They just seem not to care about their space most of the time, what they care about most is getting a filled stomach and do whatever thereafter. I always try to talk to them about it but my words always seems to fall on deaf ears.

The thing is, taking care of my space with them around is not a big deal but then the fact that the moment I step out and get back in everything seems to be back to the way they were, that is the problem. At some point, they make me feel so uncomfortable in my own hostel and this sure has an effect on my overall productivity and I feel a bit sad having them around which I’m also not happy about. I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to listen but that’s just who we are, we most times just want to do only the things that benefits us and care less about the other person.

The truth is, at this point, I can’t wait for the time when I’d be back with just my roommate, at least then it’s just one person I have to deal with maybe it might be a lot easier but trying to deal with three persons is a whole lot harder than I thought. And the other problem is, sometimes I don’t want to speak up because I don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable or make them feel I’m being rude because it’s my apartment. I know some might say I shouldn’t care but then I do believe that it is always best to do to others what you will want others to do to you.

And besides, we are all adults, the least I expect is that we all know what is right and wrong, even if they don’t, I know how many times I have told them to try to do things right by putting things in the places they ought to be and also I also show them how to do so by doing it myself but too bad they only get to listen just that day and the rest days, they do whatever they want. So please, what do you think is the best way I can help myself from this setback that is affecting my life as a minimalist?

Is it right that I just let them be and just keep trying to put things in order or I should just do the calms and wait until they are gone or I should keep letting them know that I don’t appreciate disorganized space? Or better still I should keep looking for a way to leave and stay on my own? That way I can always be in control of my space and I won’t have to deal with trying to control others. Please feel free to make your suggestions and share your experiences and how you managed to get over it if you’ve had this experience before.

This is my #kiss for this week, I’m really so happy writing this because it has been a cause of concern lately. Thank you so much for stopping by ❤️.