I recently had a set of major life changes—at 21 my six month long engagement was ended, I quit a job I had had for two and a half years working in the dorms as a resident assistant (causing me to have to find an apartment and move immediately), and I am about to graduate from college. What I have learned is that I need to do and have less to have and do more. Physically lifting everything I own by myself to move it reminded me how much I have. Loosing my relationship told me how much it taxed me emotionally and prevented me from growing as a healthy person. Quitting my job reminded me that I can change and move, even if it is uncomfortable in the short term. So I have consciously decided to be a minimalist in all aspects of my life.

I have always appreciated minimal interior design (one of my prevailing interests is modern design) and been a bit of an organizational freak, but while my interest and pleasure in minimalism is primarily tied to aesthetics I hope to extend this into my emotional “actual” life. Of course, I want to buy less, favor quality over quantity, and only have what is useful AND beautiful but I need to learn to do the same with the people in my life. Only the positive, truly wonderful people - not the ones I feel obligations to, don’t truly enjoy, or those who I feel judged by - should be in my life. And also, only the important activities too—do I really like my job, my commitments? I need to make money but I can do it by doing what I love or can at least learn to appreciate.

This is probably my most complex pledge.