Owning 111 Items in life as a hoarder and an artist.
During my traditional Holy Week trip to Bantayan Island, Cebu Philippines, I came across Robin Greenfield’s website while reflecting on life, simplicity, and the crossroads of self-discovery. I was with my cousin Paolo, staying on the rooftop of a friend’s storm-damaged restaurant, living in a tent powered only by solar panels. The atmosphere felt raw and honest — surrounded by sea breeze, quiet nights, and conversations with people about purpose, freedom, and what truly matters in life.
Discovering Robin Greenfield during that time felt strangely aligned with the mindset I was in. His philosophy of minimalism, intentional living, sustainability, and reducing possessions connected deeply with the environment and emotions of that trip. The website explores his journey of simplifying his life down to only a small number of possessions and living in a way that challenges modern consumer culture. (Robin Greenfield)
What stood out to me most was how the website is more than just about owning fewer things — it is about freedom, awareness, connection to nature, and redefining success and happiness outside materialism. Reading through the pages while living simply myself, even temporarily on that rooftop in Bantayan, made the experience feel personal and reflective in a way I still remember strongly today. (Robin Greenfield)
Here is the link to the site about his 111 Possessions, read through and be amazed on how he is doing this:
All My 111 Possessions - Robin Greenfield
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The Site and its Impact
This site struck me deeply and has stayed with me ever since, inspiring me to question the way I live and the things I choose to hold onto. Discovering Robin Greenfield’s philosophy during that time in Bantayan Island felt almost symbolic — I was already living in a stripped-back environment, sleeping in a tent on a rooftop powered by solar panels, away from comfort and routine, while reflecting on life and identity with my cousin Paolo. In that atmosphere, the ideas on the website did not just feel like information; they felt like a challenge directed at my own way of living.
What made it especially confronting was that I am naturally the opposite of minimalism in many ways. I am a toy collector, a clay artist, a sculptor, and someone who becomes emotionally attached to objects because I see stories, memories, and meaning in them. I keep materials, broken pieces, unfinished ideas, strange little objects, and collections because, to me, they all carry creative potential or sentimental value. My art itself often comes from gathering and transforming things others might throw away. In many ways, I am a sentimental hoarder and a creator who builds worlds out of fragments.
Because of this, Robin Greenfield’s message challenged me internally. It forced me to think about the line between meaningful attachment and unnecessary attachment. I began questioning whether possessions were helping me grow creatively and spiritually or quietly weighing me down. At first, the idea of extreme simplicity almost felt impossible to me because so much of my identity and comfort had been tied to objects, collections, and artistic materials. Letting go felt like letting go of memories, inspiration, and even parts of myself.
But over time, the message evolved in my mind. I realised that minimalism does not necessarily mean abandoning creativity or sentimentality — it can also mean becoming more intentional about what deserves space in your life. The website inspired me to think about freedom differently: freedom from clutter, from overconsumption, from constantly chasing more, and from defining myself purely through possessions. As someone pursuing art, self-transformation, and a deeper sense of purpose, that philosophy became both inspiring and uncomfortable in the best possible way.
Even now, I still feel caught between two worlds — the artist who loves collecting textures, toys, memories, and strange treasures, and the part of me that longs for simplicity, movement, and a lighter way of living. That tension itself has become part of my personal journey of self-discovery.
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The sectors of the site that impacts me:
I'm going to have some Screenshots of the site that captured me the most but please go into the Site as well as He explains it more better and explore his lifestyle and projects.
All My 111 Possessions - Robin Greenfield
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We start off with His List, and the corresponding images with it:
Backpacks
Robin Greenfield’s backpacks represented mobility, freedom, and the idea that a person can carry their life with them instead of being tied down by excessive possessions. This impacted me deeply because I have always imagined a life connected to travel, adventure, surfing, art, and living freely. Seeing someone reduce their life into only what could fit into backpacks challenged my understanding of security and comfort. It made me question how much I truly need versus how much I keep out of habit or emotional attachment.
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| This shows all the possessions he owns, and lays it out, bird's eye view |
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Clothing
His limited clothing symbolised simplicity and practicality rather than identity through fashion or ownership. For me, this was interesting because as an artist and creative person, I often connect personality and self-expression to aesthetics, textures, and style. Seeing someone intentionally reduce clothing down to essentials made me reflect on how modern life encourages constant accumulation, while simplicity can create mental clarity and reduce distraction.
Food / Cooking / Zero Waste
This section inspired me because it reflected mindfulness and responsibility toward the environment. The reusable containers, jars, and simple cooking tools represented intentional living and reducing waste. As someone who is interested in self-transformation and conscious living, it made me think about how everyday habits — even eating and cooking — can become part of a larger philosophy about respecting the world and living with purpose instead of convenience alone.
Water
The water section stood out because it showed self-reliance and adaptability. Carrying filters and reusable water systems represented survival, preparedness, and independence from modern excess. During my stay in Bantayan Island, living simply on a rooftop with solar panels and limited comforts, these ideas felt very real rather than theoretical. It connected to the feeling that human beings can survive with far less than society conditions us to believe.
Hygiene
Even his hygiene items reflected minimalism and intentionality. Instead of dozens of products, he carried only essentials that served multiple purposes. This impacted me because it challenged consumer culture and the idea that happiness comes from constantly buying more products. It made me realise how deeply marketing shapes modern habits and how simplicity can actually feel cleaner mentally and emotionally.
Sleeping Gear
This section affected me strongly because it connected with my own experiences of temporary minimalist living. Seeing a tent, sleeping bag, and simple shelter setup reminded me of staying on the rooftop in Bantayan Island. There was something powerful about realising that meaningful experiences, reflection, and peace can happen without luxury. It reinforced the idea that comfort is not always material — sometimes freedom and atmosphere create a stronger sense of fulfilment than possessions do.
Electronics / Off-grid Living
This category fascinated me because it blended minimalism with modern practicality. Solar panels, lights, and basic electronics showed that living simply does not necessarily mean rejecting technology completely. As someone interested in creativity, storytelling, and possibly one day living more freely or even in a mobile-home lifestyle, this section inspired me by showing a balance between modern tools and intentional living. It felt realistic rather than extreme.
Documents / Miscellaneous
The final section revealed that even in extreme simplicity, certain items still hold practical, emotional, or symbolic importance. This impacted me because I realised minimalism does not mean becoming emotionless or detached from identity. As a sentimental artist and collector, this was important for me to understand. It showed me that the goal is not to erase meaning from objects, but to become more conscious about which objects truly deserve space in your life.
Backpacks
* Osprey Kestrel 38 backpack
* REI Flash 18 day backpack
Clothing
* Shorts
* Pants
* Running shorts
* T-shirts
* Long sleeve shirts
* Button-down shirt
* Long underwear
* Underwear
* Vest
* Hats
* Merrell barefoot shoes
* Xero shoes
* Socks
* Jackets
* Necklace
* Bracelet
Food / Cooking / Zero Waste
* Travel pot
* Plate, bowl, bamboo utensils
* Stainless steel food canisters
* Reusable grocery bags
* Nut milk bag
* Ball jars with sprouting lids
* Reusable storage bags
* Hempy Scrubby
* Leatherman multi-tool
* Flint and steel
* Quick-dry towel
Water
* Sawyer MINI water filter
* Grayl purifier bottle + spare filters
* MSR Dromedary water bag
* Glass water bottle
Hygiene
* Toothbrush
* Toothpaste
* Tea tree oil
* Lavender oil
* Dr. Bronner’s soap bottle
* Soap nuts + canvas bag
* Nail clipper
* Manual hair trimmer
* Massage oil bottle
* Large towel
Sleeping Gear
* Tent
* Sleeping bag
* Sleeping bag liner
* Sleeping mat
* Pillow
Electronics / Off-grid Living
* Goal Zero solar panel
* iPod touch + case
* Microphone
* Tripod
* Wireless remote
* Luminoodle string light + battery
* Black Diamond headlamp
Documents / Miscellaneous
* Passport
* Vaccination card
* Notebook and pen
* Daily goals sheet
* Checks
* Debit card
* Car2Go card
* Driver’s license
* Social security card
* Birth certificate
* Political stamp
* Surgical sutures
* Sewing kit
* Scissors
* Palo Santo stick
* Sage bundle
* Earplugs
* Paracord
* Swimming goggles
* Sarong
* Compression dry bags
* Patch kit
He explained that the purpose wasn’t strictly the number “111,” but living with only what genuinely served his life, values, and sustainability goals. (Robin Greenfield)
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Fitting it all in a Knapsack
What amazed me most was the realisation that his entire life — the tools he needed to survive, travel, create, document experiences, and live meaningfully — could fit inside a single backpack. In a world where people constantly chase bigger homes, more storage, and endless possessions, there was something deeply powerful about seeing someone reduce life to only what truly mattered.
For me, that backpack became more than just a bag; it symbolised freedom, mobility, self-awareness, and intentional living. It represented the possibility that a person does not have to be trapped by material things in order to feel complete. As someone who has always been sentimental, creative, and attached to collections and objects, this idea challenged me profoundly. It made me reflect on how much of life is spent carrying emotional and physical weight that may no longer serve us.
Even though I still love collecting art materials, toys, sculptures, and meaningful objects, Robin Greenfield’s journey planted a permanent thought in my mind: what if life could feel lighter? What if freedom was not about owning more, but needing less? The image of everything fitting into one backpack continues to stay with me as both an inspiration and a personal challenge in my own path of self-discovery.
All you have and value, along with your partner, is all you truly need.
The photograph of Robin Greenfield and his partner sitting beside all of their possessions laid out in front of them left a strong impression on me. Seeing everything they owned displayed so openly and honestly made the idea of minimalism feel real rather than abstract. It was surprising to realise that an entire lifestyle, identity, and daily existence could be represented by such a small collection of items. The image felt peaceful yet confronting at the same time, because it challenged the modern idea that happiness and success are measured by accumulation. To me, the photo symbolised clarity, freedom, and the courage to live differently.
Here is my List written in my notebook, which i call;
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