An enforced minimalism.

• Author: Griffin, Elle

AS A DEVOTED follower of so-called "minimalism," I have to say that this period of life is my most minimal yet.

Not only do I have very few things, I now also have very few social events, travel plans, or obligations. I have no commute and nowhere to commute to. I have nothing to do and nowhere to go.

My life, like many of ours, has been stripped down to it's most fundamental: just a person with nothing but the great expanse of my mind to attend to.

The mind is an interesting thing. In the absence of all the things it's "supposed" to be doing, there are an abundance of things it "could" be doing. And isn't that an altogether enticing opportunity?

The Buddha attained enlightenment in solitude. Les...