As a family relatively new to minimalism, we've been at it for about a year so far, my wife and I now value simplicity, sustainability, and intentional living. Yet when it came to our adult daughter’s unconventional lifestyle, we found ourselves quietly concerned. Ok, worried.
Despite her education and musical talent, she’s a trained piano accompanist and instructor, her sporadic work and modest living situation in China left us wondering: Why not pursue a more stable path? Why not strive for a modicum of comfort, ongoing progress and personal growth, and of course, financial security?
Then, she sent us photos from her rented home, a modest courtyard space on the edges of the temperate Chinese city of Dali, with winters reminiscent of Vancouver, Canada. In those images, we saw something unexpected: creativity, resourcefulness, and quiet joy.
She brews her own kombucha in recycled glass bottles, each with its own unusual shape and color, knits coasters and winter hats from materials we never imagined could be repurposed and embraces a lifestyle that is both frugal and deeply intentional.
Suddenly, our perspective shifted.
Her choices echo a broader cultural trend among young adults in China known as “evil cultivation” (邪修), which of course isn't actually evil at all. Originally a term from cultivation novels describing characters who gain power through unorthodox means, it has evolved into modern and typically urban-based internet slang. We gravitated to the topic immediately, since unorthodox is kind of a natural family thing with the three of us.
These days the phrase of, “evil cultivation” refers to solving problems with unconventional, often quirky but eventually highly efficient methods, like cooking gourmet meals with rice cookers or repurposing everyday items in creative ways as our daughter does.
In this light, her lifestyle isn’t reckless at all, it’s adaptive. It’s a form of minimalist resilience, rooted in self-sufficiency and emotional clarity. She’s not chasing status or comfort; she’s cultivating a life that works for her, on her own terms. Practical, creative, and enjoyable, if not outright fun.
And now, we’re no longer worried.
At thirty, she’s living a life that reflects her values, her personal creativity, and her quiet inner strength. Any version of minimalism, after all, isn’t just about having less, it’s about making space for what truly matters, which in the end gives you more.
If our little family story resonated with you, if you’ve ever questioned the value of unconventional living or found beauty in simplicity, you’ll find deeper insights in my eBook on digital minimalism, Digital Liberation for the Intentional Minimalist. It explores how clarity, creativity, and emotional resilience can shape a meaningful life and productive relationship with your electronic devices and more. Discover practical strategies and personal reflections that expand on the themes in this article. Explore the eBook here.
And if you're additionally interested in Chinese culture or Asia travel, or black and white photography in general, check out my recent photographic art book, in paperback or eBook formats: Fabulous Agora: Chinese Moments in Monochrome.
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