New Year’s Resolution #2 – Minimize My Material Possession

During the last few years, minimalism has gained a lot of popularity. I’ve been on my journey towards living minimally for about three years, first selling most of the 350 DVDs I’d collected over the years. Today I’m shuffling through the last piles of Stuff scattered around the apartment. What I’m left with are the things that only a few months ago, I thought I’d never be able to get rid of. My statue collection, travel guides, musical equipment…the things I love the most.

The problem? They just sit there wasting space, and collecting dust.

Minimalism isn’t about going without. It’s about having exactly everything you need. No more, no less. And while most of my personal belongings could fit into the trunk of my car, I still have far more than I need. Over the next year, I intend to further pare down the things I own to the point where I have only what I need.

And by “need” I don’t mean “need to survive.” I need a snowboard if I want to snowboard, and I need a rope to rock climb. As I eliminate items that no longer give value to my life, I intend to acquire more things that will create value. That is what minimalism means to me. It’s not about owning a certain number of items, or going without something you really want just because you don’t need it.

Over the next year, anything that doesn’t provide real value will be dealt with accordingly. By next January, everything I own will have a purpose.