minimalism is a privilege

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welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, and always up to something in social good x tech.

this publication is a place for me to reflect on productivity, health and tech, and drop unique opportunities in the space right to your inbox daily. if you’re new here, sign up to tune in!💌

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onto today’s topic: minimalism is a privilege 📦️ 

that probably sounds like a weird take at first, but this is a reflection—and observation—of a very specific group of people: children of immigrant parents.

many of our parents immigrated to the west in hopes of better opportunities for employment, education, or for their kids. they came with very little, and naturally, that sowed the seeds for a scarcity mindset that may have manifested its way in households through taking extra sauce packets from restaurants to store in an untouched cabinet, countless kitchen gadgets or toys that haven’t been used in years still stored away in the basement, and scraps of random stuff piled up “just in case.” 🤷‍♀️ 

to build something from nothing is an overwhelming feat, and the fear of starting again from the bottom is very real. what i’ve noticed is that many children of immigrants swing to the side of minimalism, and that’s a privilege.

i speak for myself when i say that my intentional minimalist lifestyle comes from a place of privilege, because i am fortunate to feel secure in the fact that i can always get more if i need it. i didn’t have to climb the hurdles my parents did in battling from nothing to creating a full home. 🏠️ 

there’s a difference between intentionally choosing minimalism, and it being forced on you due to circumstance. the former is a privilege derived from my parents’ hard work and success. (:

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