Ah, young love. One of the most beautiful things to exist on our dear planet Earth. I love seeing two people in love as much as the next guy, and Valentine’s Day happens to be my favorite holiday but the thought of being tied down and completely committed to another human being at the mere age of 21, gives me the heebie jeebies. Literally. Sometimes thinking about it sends me into a panic: shortness of breath, chest tightening, overwhelming feeling of needing to lie down, etc.

Maybe it is due to the recent summer love/summer weddings/summer fling season or maybe I am just becoming more aware. Recently, I have been noticing the plethora of women my age receiving promise rings from their significant others. I guess I am just old-fashioned or ignorant or just incredibly dense, but I don’t understand the purpose of a promise ring in the first place?! Isn’t it the same thing as an engagement ring, without as many strings and commitments attached? Someone please tell me I’m wrong.

In addition to seriously not getting the point of them, the idea of what a promise ring represents just freaks me out. I have always been incredibly independent and loved being on my own. I am good at it. I excel when I am traveling through life alone. It’s incredibly difficult—if not impossible— for me to remember the things I want and need when I depend on someone else for anything: happiness, love, contentment, joy, etc.

I realize it is possible for some to hold on for dear life to themselves while letting someone else enhance their happiness, love, contentment, joy, etc. I truly envy those who have learned to lean on others while being able to remember their true selves.

Regardless of what promise rings signify or how you feel about them, I will always be an advocate for independence and personal growth. Somehow, I truly believe promise rings and all the baggage they bring with them will only get in my way. So, here are my 57 things I would honestly rather do over receiving a promise ring any day of the week:

1. Write a “Stater” article while listening to Hilary Duff’s “Metamorphosis” album.

2. Learn a ballroom dance.

3. Re-organize my closet.

4. Buy a pair of designer shoes.

5. Re-watch season 3 of “Sex and the City”.

6. Finish a fitness challenge.

7. Sew a pillowcase.

8. Study abroad.

9. Binge watch “Scandal” with my roomie.

10. Take multiple naps.

11. Bake banana cookies with my apple green Kitchenaid mixer.

12. Wash the dishes (which I really, really despise.)

13. Go online shoe shopping.

14. Read the entire Harry Potter series.

15. Go on a picnic.

16. Take a train ride across the country.

17. Create DIY projects to adorn my home.

18. Shave my legs.

19. Visit some pals in the nursing home.

20. Learn to play pitch or poker or whatever the cool kids are playing these days.

21. Actually attend class semi-prepared.

22. Have my wisdom teeth removed (and this isn’t even a pleasant activity).

23. Thrift shop like nobody’s business.

24. Rearrange my apartment.

25. Buy a new hat.

26. And while I’m talking about accessories, buy more shoes.

27. Write a letter to my grandparents.

28. Sign up for a quilting class.

29. Call my parents and talk to them for an obnoxious amount of time.

30. Eat popcorn with peanut butter M & M’s while watching “Eat, Pray, Love.”

31. Live in Manhattan (All hail Carrie Bradshaw).

32. Take a trip to Bali.

33. Visit all 50 states.

34. Go grocery shopping (Shoutout to Pac n Save).

35. Consume ungodly amounts of ice cream.

36. Try to balance out the ice cream with leafy greens…

37. Take a candlelit bath twice a day.

38. Jam to The Lumineers while driving nowhere.

39. Design my own Halloween costume.

40. Arrive late everywhere.

41. Go to grad school.

42. Yikes, maybe I need to finish undergrad first…

43. Sift through thrift store bins until I find the perfect vintage dress.

45. Actually buy decent Christmas gifts for everyone I love.

46. Forget about high school boyfriends.

47. Do absolutely nothing for an entire day.

48. Hibernate with a wonderful book during a snowstorm.

49. Take inventory of my shoes.

50. Take inventory of my entire closet.

51. Search for the perfect cup of coffee.

52. Share the perfect cup of coffee with the world.

53. Take a complete break from technology.

54. Learn how to actually come to a complete stop at stop signs.

55. Learn to recognize a toxic situation before it is too late.

56. Fill my soul with things like beauty, joy, wonder, and love.

57. Learn to share things like beauty, joy, wonder, and love.