I want to be clear about something. I like the 100 Thing Challenge. I think it’s a pretty good idea. It certainly has worked some magic in my life. While I am still tempted to over-consume (especially on a boat or camping gear), for the most part I have resisted unnecessary consumption and felt more satisfied since embarking on the 100 Thing Challenge. And also I think that the idea behind the 100 Thing Challenge is a sound premise: We in America need to shock ourselves out of our conditioned behavior of irresponsible consumption. The 100 Thing Challenge (or any other similar challenge) can certainly help folks gain an awareness they can use to begin living a more mature consumer life.
That said, to this day I’m still kind of dumbstruck by the interest in the 100 Thing Challenge. Every now-again I feel compelled to point that out on my blog. This past week the photo of me and some of my stuff on the cover of USA Today has reignited media interest in the 100 Thing Challenge. There’s something brewing at CBS Evening News, an article might run in the Sunday edition of the London Times, there are some radio interviews in the works. A reporter told me, though I have no way to prove it nor am I sure I want to, that Leonardo DiCaprio really likes the 100 Thing Challenge. Huh?
Here’s the thing that strikes me as hard to understand. I’m a pretty average guy. Our house is a pretty average house. We don’t live in a yurt. There are kid toys strewn across the front of our yard most evenings (to the chagrin of some neighbors, I’m sure). The laundry piles up. There are dishes to be done. Our garage is...let’s just call it “messy.” In fact, the cat puked in it last night and we’ve yet to clean it up. We’ve not been the most financial responsible family over the years. And I’ll confess it: even though I still cannot really surf, I’ve spent some time browsing surfboards online, anticipating the day I can upgrade the board I bought used.
So why? Why the interest? I’ve always thought it would be far more interesting for Sir Richard Branson to take the 100 Thing Challenge. Somehow, lots of folks around the world seem to think that its interesting for an average suburban dude in Southern California to do it. I hope this is why.
I hope that the 100 Thing Challenge is interesting because it’s doable. I can do it. You can do it. And we all recognize that by resisting consumerism we’ll be more free, less burdened. More joyful. The exact opposite of what product marketers contend, as they sell us their wares promising that if we buy, we’ll be less restricted, more unencumbered. More happy. The marketers are wrong.
We’ve all either lived through the 60s, 70s, 80s and/or 90s, or else seen our parents live through those self-centered years, when the national goal was for each and every average person in America to live high on the hog. Do you know anyone who’s happy with their consumer behavior? Know anyone who embraced the philosophy of buying their way to happiness, and actually did? I don’t. I mostly know of folks who have thrashed their lives because of it or who are in the process of going down fast. Or, thanks be to God, average people who are rejecting it.
Maybe the 100 Thing Challenge is interesting because it doesn’t take a celebrity or a politician or some famous person to show that the good life can be good without constantly buying our way into it. It’s possible just to live it.
That said, to this day I’m still kind of dumbstruck by the interest in the 100 Thing Challenge. Every now-again I feel compelled to point that out on my blog. This past week the photo of me and some of my stuff on the cover of USA Today has reignited media interest in the 100 Thing Challenge. There’s something brewing at CBS Evening News, an article might run in the Sunday edition of the London Times, there are some radio interviews in the works. A reporter told me, though I have no way to prove it nor am I sure I want to, that Leonardo DiCaprio really likes the 100 Thing Challenge. Huh?
Here’s the thing that strikes me as hard to understand. I’m a pretty average guy. Our house is a pretty average house. We don’t live in a yurt. There are kid toys strewn across the front of our yard most evenings (to the chagrin of some neighbors, I’m sure). The laundry piles up. There are dishes to be done. Our garage is...let’s just call it “messy.” In fact, the cat puked in it last night and we’ve yet to clean it up. We’ve not been the most financial responsible family over the years. And I’ll confess it: even though I still cannot really surf, I’ve spent some time browsing surfboards online, anticipating the day I can upgrade the board I bought used.
So why? Why the interest? I’ve always thought it would be far more interesting for Sir Richard Branson to take the 100 Thing Challenge. Somehow, lots of folks around the world seem to think that its interesting for an average suburban dude in Southern California to do it. I hope this is why.
I hope that the 100 Thing Challenge is interesting because it’s doable. I can do it. You can do it. And we all recognize that by resisting consumerism we’ll be more free, less burdened. More joyful. The exact opposite of what product marketers contend, as they sell us their wares promising that if we buy, we’ll be less restricted, more unencumbered. More happy. The marketers are wrong.
We’ve all either lived through the 60s, 70s, 80s and/or 90s, or else seen our parents live through those self-centered years, when the national goal was for each and every average person in America to live high on the hog. Do you know anyone who’s happy with their consumer behavior? Know anyone who embraced the philosophy of buying their way to happiness, and actually did? I don’t. I mostly know of folks who have thrashed their lives because of it or who are in the process of going down fast. Or, thanks be to God, average people who are rejecting it.
Maybe the 100 Thing Challenge is interesting because it doesn’t take a celebrity or a politician or some famous person to show that the good life can be good without constantly buying our way into it. It’s possible just to live it.
This is my 1st comment on your blog - which I love. Another blogger pointed it out to me after hearing about my own 'Buy Nothing July' challenge.
I just wanted to say how much I echo the sentiments in this post. I think the ridiculously minimal impact on happiness of consumerism is especially obvious to me at times like Christmas, which I get so excited and have such a wonderful day with my wonderful family and friends, and the least fun part of the day is being given a whole pile of well-intended, but often unwanted and unneeded things.
And you're right, your challenge seems totally doable and I am thinking about taking an inventory of my possessions to see where U stand against 100 things!
Posted by: Eco-Chic-Mummy | July 18, 2009 at 04:28 PM
I meant where I stand against 100 things! Oops typo sorry.
Posted by: Eco-Chic-Mummy | July 18, 2009 at 04:29 PM
I think that all of the media interest proves how far our culture is from moderation. It's news worthy that someone would actually be intentional about how much they consume. Wow. Think about that. It is sooo exceptional that a person would consider a life of moderate consumerism that it's worthy of national news. Fascinating.
I love your blog and tweets, btw. They are little reminders for me to be intentional. I'm not doing a 100 thing challenge, but when I see a new post, I'm reminded that I can very easily go on auto-pilot and buy a bunch of crap I don't need for no reasons. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Jason | July 18, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Thanks a ton Eco-Chic-Mummy (totally cool name, BTW). Do the inventory, and don't worry about exactly 100 things. Make sure the number fits your life.
Jason, I think that you might have a good point. Maybe the interest does stem from the fact that it's so unusual for us average folks to live in moderation.
Posted by: Dave Bruno | July 20, 2009 at 07:35 AM
You go Dave!
Posted by: Laura Lee | July 20, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I like the 100 Thing Challenge because it's specific (concrete). Concepts like 'living simply' and 'loving the Earth' and 'being frugal' are positive but imprecise.
I also love that it's made me notice how things are often like those nesting Russian dolls - you get things within things: 1 library containing many books; 1 tea-set, 5 pieces of crockery; 1 camera - but with leads, charger, carry bag, instruction leaflet etc.
So I never know how many things I have - but I like thinking about it, and working towards 'as few and as small as possible'
Thank you for your inspiration. :0)
Posted by: Ember | July 24, 2009 at 03:58 PM
The 100 TC is interesting not just because it's doable, but because you're actually doing it. (IOW, it's not just an idea, but reality.)
It's so easy to go "yeah, I could do that" (at any achievement / idea, be it artistic or otherwise), yet *never* actually do it.
You may be an "average guy" in any number of ways, but you're actually living the 100 TC, not just thinking of what you maybe could do, and that's why you get our respect. And *that's* the real inspiration.
Posted by: Somebody | July 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Hi, this is Carlos, from Brazil.
I read about your blog in a Brazilian Magazine, where the title was "living well with less". I feel like things I could buy some years ago, I can't know, and that's because either I'm earning less or things are getting more expensive.
To keep buying I need more money, that means working more hours a day, and less time with family and friends. I just don't want it.
The way I found to deal with this situation is to buy less, to adapt my way of living to simple things, and even though enjoy life. That's why I'm interest in your blog.
I started my own blog selling things I don't use anymore, but perhaps be handy for someone. Let's see if I can do it.
Regards!
Posted by: Carlos | July 30, 2009 at 01:04 PM