I can't even begin to count the amount of New Years resolutions I have made in the 22 years of my time on this earth. I can't recall a single one that I have been able to actually keep. Heck, this past couple of years I haven't even bothered. As the days have been counting down to the passing of 2010, I have had a strong urge to make some changes in my life for this coming year. A New Years resolution possibly? Maybe so.
In the past couple of months, I've really been pushing myself too hard. Work, work, work, eat, sleep, work. When being caught up in the rat race of American life is something that I have so despised, here I was running on that very wheel. Pushing myself to the verge of a mental breakdown, I realized, "Hey! Slow down for a second! Where is the happiness in all of this madness that you are putting yourself through?" And with that thought, the natural follower was, "What can be done to change this pace?"
Looking back on all of the failed resolutions that I have made, there is a common thread that runs between them all: adding/doing/being something more. I've always thought that maybe my life could be improved if I am more studious, more successful, had more money, did more activites, etc. Having seen all of those ambitions fall by the wayside, maybe a different approach should be taken in order to make my own life a little more joyful and pleasant. How about instead of adding/doing/being more, I instead try to take away/simplify/minimalize my life?
Having just moved to Louisville, KY I have gone through an ungodly amount of boxes and clutter that I have been carrying around with me for years; old pictures of bygone lovers, movie stubs, clothes that I would never even consider wearing anymore, and just flat out random junk. I reached a point in which I decided to just get rid of all of it. The pile of things to be recycled/given away was like a small mountain sitting in my apartment! Why have I been holding on to these things for so long?! I can't even begin to explain the simple joy that I felt in getting rid of all of this stuff. What a weight (literally, a LOT of weight) was lifted off of me. I didn't need those silly movie tickets from 5 years ago to stay stored away deep in my closet for those memories to still be there. I didn't need to have pictures of that ex that treated me like dirt; why did I ever allow myself to keep looking at those pictures? Throw it all away! (into the recycling bin of course)
This leads me to wonder, what other areas in my life, inner and outer, could I refine to less. How many times have I heard someone say "less is more". Maybe this old addage really does have some deep truth to it. And so, I am going to dedicate this next year in pursuing a more simple, and minimal life. I know that this can be applied on so many levels of my life, and I seek to apply to as many nooks and crannies of my existence as I can find. If at the end of the year my wardrobe consists of a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, then so be it.
I am starting this blog to really help me delve into and understand the parts of myself and my life that have just been filled with too much clutter. Maybe in writing this, I will find others who are on the same path. Encouragement is the greatest motivation to push forward, or in this case, encouragement is the greatest motivation to just lay back and relax, take a bubble bath, and read a favorite book.
May this new year be filled with wonderful things for all.
a more minimal me,
Jordan.
