my cuddly toy
Jasmin, Activist and Artist – Earth | Universe
I ask people all around the world a simple question:
What is the one thing you don’t want to live without?
my yoga mat
Denise, Actress – Hanover | Germany
a bible in a pocket-book edition
Jürgen, Professor – Hanover | Germany
my passport
Koji, Company employee – Hiroshima | Japan
my saxophone
Ola, User Experience Designer – Poznan | Poland
my fortune card
Borys, Student – Poznan | Poland
Partners
Features
The Mission of the one thing project
In a world driven by excess and overconsumption, the one thing aims to shift the focus back to what truly matters. This project encourages people to reflect on the possessions they hold dear and challenge their relationship with consumerism.
The one thing isn’t just about the object itself—it’s about the story behind it. The vision of project is to inspire people worldwide to reflect on the true value of their possessions. By inviting individuals to share their most cherished objects, the project encourages them to rethink the significance of mindful consumption and responsible ownership. Through the stories behind these objects, I aim to foster a culture of mindfulness and sustainable resource management. This global initiative seeks to raise environmental awareness and empower people to reduce their ecological footprint by making conscious choices and focusing on essentials.
As an advocate for minimalism, sustainability, and conscious consumption, I created the one thing to highlight how mindfulness and thoughtful actions can have a profound impact on our lives and the planet. Every submission and shared story reinforces the importance of responsible living and resource conservation.
Submit your one thing and join the project!
With Earth Day 2025, on April 22, as our occasion, I’m striving to collect 1,000 cherished objects from 100 countries by January 1, 2026. Through this global initiative, I hope to inspire people everywhere to reflect on the value of what they own, reduce their environmental footprint, and shift toward a more sustainable and meaningful lifestyle.
By submitting your own “one thing”—an object that holds deep personal meaning—you become part of this movement. Share your story, inspire others, and together, we can make a difference.
How to get involved:
- Snap a photo – Capture your “one thing” in all its glory.
- Tell us your story – Share why it’s so meaningful to you. What memories or values does it hold for you? Include your country, your city and age so we can weave your story into a bigger picture.
- Submit it – Use the form on this website, or email your submission to submission@theonething-project.com
- Spread the word – Invite friends and family to share their stories too! Your submission will be featured in my wandering exhibition and showcased on Instagram @theonething_project.
Book a talk, workshop, or rent the exhibition
Are you looking to inspire your community, organization, or company? I’d love to bring the one thing project to your event. As the creator of this project, I offer talks, workshops, and the opportunity to rent the one thing photo exhibition.
The exhibition sparks deep reflection on important questions like: What do I truly need? What matters most in my life? It invites visitors to explore conscious consumption, minimalism, and sustainability in a new light. The exhibition showcases a rich variety of objects — each one carrying a unique, personal story from the people who submitted them.
Let’s connect, spark conversations, and explore the beauty of simplicity together. Book a session today and bring the one thing project to life in your space!
About me and the project
My name is Jasmin Mittag and I’m an activist and artist. Since 2015, I’ve been living as a minimalist. While organizing a minimalism roundtable in my hometown, we often discussed letting go of things. But one day, the question hit me: What do I want to keep? With that question in mind, I began asking people what really matters to them — What’s your most precious item? And that’s how the one thing project was born.
Since then, I’ve traveled to various countries, asking people to share the story behind their most precious item. From diverse backgrounds and professions, the answers have been unique, personal, and often deeply moving.
In 2020, I had the honor of presenting the first exhibition of the project in the New Town Hall in Hanover, Germany. Now, the exhibition continues to travel and is available for rent, bringing these meaningful stories to new audiences and sparking conversations about what really matters in our lives.
Photo series, interviews and collaborations with Press & Media
My goal with the one thing project is to spark meaningful conversations about conscious consumption, sustainability, and minimalism. I believe these topics are crucial for creating a more intentional and thoughtful world, and I’m excited to share the project in any way that helps amplify that message.
I’m open to having photo series from the one thing project featured in magazines, and I’m happy to provide photo licenses for your publication. I also enjoy giving interviews, where I share my experiences — from meeting the incredible people featured in the project to my own journey as a minimalist and my perspective on consumer society.
If you’re a journalist, podcaster, or content creator interested in covering the one thing project, I’d love to collaborate. Just reach out via the contact form or via email: press@theonething-project.com
Follow the one thing project on Instagram
