What I appreciate about this ideal of simplicity is the lack of pretension and the emphasis on intimacy and warmth. The aesthetics of Minimalism proper often feel cold and alienating to me, and, as I see it, life is about engagement, a rich and satisfying connection first with the life inside us--our heart, our mind, our soul--and by extension with the hearts, minds and souls of others. From my perspective this engagement has the best chance of success when one's values gain definition and clarity, and living a life pared down to essentials is probably the most direct route to achieving this--no distractions.
Living in minimal fashion need not mean saying goodbye to aesthetic warmth, however. Warmth is ultimately the by-product of intimacy, a sincere and heartfelt approach to interacting with the world. Wabi Sabi, from my perspective, is eminently emblematic of this truth. In the words of Leonard Koren, "pare down to the essence, but don't remove the poetry."
The description I have given of Wabi Sabi is, at best, a crude sketch, but if you are interested in learning more Leonard Koren's book Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers is a good place to start. I am endlessly inspired by the elegance of traditional Japanese art and craft, for it encompasses a worldview which encourages one to cultivate an appreciation for subtlety and quiet, unassuming beauty. This is a welcome antidote to the mores of modern existence, which don't always seem to make much room for the poetic.
