More 100 Thing Challenge Soon - this time join me!

As you probably know, the 100 Thing Challenge started as a personal project of mine to resist American-style consumerism. To avoid the endlessness of buying and buying and buying, only to be discontent and shop some more.

One thing that the 100 Thing Challenge has confirmed is that our participation in American-style consumerism is as much a habit as a necessity. As I suspected, once I removed myself from day-to-day consumption, my habits changed. My lifestyle began to match my convictions. I no longer acted like a slave to consumerism, and I was able to enjoy life more and to shop more responsibly.

Likely you also know that I really have not been one to call everyone else to take the 100 Thing Challenge. As I've said many times, I'm privileged to be able to live for a year with only 100 personal possessions. Some people don't have even that many. Others, like lawyers or rock stars, would require more than 100 things to get through their year. 100 is not a magical number.

Yet there is something about it. 100. It's a good number for many reasons. It's bigger than 1. I have found over the years that it is easy for me to sign my name on a petition, once. It is easy to exercise, once. It is easy to say I'm sorry, once. But once a habit does not create.

Also I have observed over the years that the big problems in the world are really big. Like 2 billion people living in abject poverty. Like 12 trillion dollars of U.S. government debt. Like 143 million orphans around the world. Those numbers are too big for me to handle. But 100 is obtainable.

Every single person I know can find $100 a year that he or she could donate to a charity. Most of us are more than capable of reaching out to 100 people in our lifetime. All of us could, if we really made it a priority,  find 100 hours (about 2 hours a week or 1 four-day weekend) in our year to serve.

100 isn't a get-off-easy number. Yet 100 is within our reach. That's why I'm sticking with it, and working up a modified 100 Thing Challenge that is more accessible to, well, everyone.

More soon...

Comments

[Jamie Cain]

Really good, Dave. Thanks for the kick in the pants.

[Nina Ruth]

yes! like working out or sticking to anything, I need reminders & I need to repeat good habits...I felt myself sliding potentially back into some old consumerism/excessive mentality recently (the holidays do NOT help!) & your reminder was timely! Thanks, Dave!!!