Minimalism vs intentionalism

Does minimalism mean you live in an empty room, only living with the bare minimum like this Japanese dude.  His book, Goodbye Things was a great read but yeah, his approach isn’t for the faint of heart. 

For example, he advocates only having one towel.  Uh, yeah. Wouldn’t work for me.  (Though I do advocate two towels per person.)  And he’s a single guy too. 

Minimalism means different things to different people. (I’m talking to you, crafters.)

I like to think of living as an intentionalist. And yeah, the spellcheck tells me that’s not a word.   

What do I mean by that?  Simple.  Everything you own is owned with intention.  It is used or appreciated with intention.  You own the stuff – not the stuff owns you. 

I realize this can be a nebulous idea. And I also realize that someone who is addicted to acquisition, this could be a slippery slope. 

Like any addiction or self-defeating behaviors, becoming aware of any issue is the first step to healing. (And this is why I will not do any organizing work for a person unless they themselves make the appointment.)
The next step is setting intention. This may or may not involve emptying out the linen closet.   

PS That book is a fun read!