What I got rid of today.

The RID Project, a small blogging idea I once had – blew up. It changed from an intensively personal, dedicated project to one that was more inspirational for others than I ever forecast. I continue to be amazed by the inspiration you’ve given me.

So, it’s in this spirit that I ask for YOUR help. I need some thought starters from my audience.

I’m preparing a new blogging project, something along the lines of the this blog you’re now reading.

But here’s where I need your help. I’d like you to send me a sentence. That’s it. Just one sentence.

I’d like you to send me a sentence of how the tough economy has impacted your BEHAVIOR, or someone you directly know. It can be yourself, a close friend, or a family member. But I’d like to make sure it’s someone you know well.

What kind of sentence should it be?

It can be very simple, something like… “When my brother lost his job, he stopped taking his yearly vacation.” OR “When my best friend from high school found out his health insurance benefits were being cut, he changed doctors.” OR “Thanks to the increasing cost of cable (and other things) — my college roommate cancelled cable, and started watching all her favorite shows online.”

That’s it. But I NEED your help. Because I need REAL examples.

PLEASE send them to my email address (david@questionthedogma.com) — or, if you’re reading this in social media, feel free to leave your sentence in the comments, or send them via social media service. Whatever’s the easiest, and the most comfortable for you.

These sentences will be for MY EYES ONLY, they won’t be used for anything other than inspiration for me…I promise to keep them close.

Thanks for your attention. I really appreciate it. And…can I PLEASE get a sentence from you?

Thanks in advance.

“Dog owners are a proud bunch, and some love their dogs so much that they wear garments made of dog’s wool- wool spun from their dog’s fur.”

Link here.

_______

By the way, I still need your help. If you haven’t sent me “a sentence,” PLEASE do so…I need all the input I can get from my readers.

Go here for a reminder of what i NEED from you.

The RID Project, a small blogging idea I once had – blew up. It changed from an intensively personal, dedicated project to one that was more inspirational for others than I ever forecast. I continue to be amazed by the inspiration you’ve given me.

So, it’s in this spirit that I ask for YOUR help. I need some thought starters from my audience.

I’m preparing a new blogging project, something along the lines of the this blog you’re now reading.

But here’s where I need your help. I’d like you to send me a sentence. That’s it. Just one sentence.

I’d like you to send me a sentence of how the tough economy has impacted your BEHAVIOR, or someone you directly know. It can be yourself, a close friend, or a family member. But I’d like to make sure it’s someone you know well.

What kind of sentence should it be?

It can be very simple, something like… “When my brother lost his job, he stopped taking his yearly vacation.” OR “When my best friend from high school found out his health insurance benefits were being cut, he changed doctors.” OR “Thanks to the increasing cost of cable (and other things) — my college roommate cancelled cable, and started watching all her favorite shows online.”

That’s it. But I NEED your help. Because I need REAL examples.

PLEASE send them to my email address (david@questionthedogma.com) — or, if you’re reading this in social media, feel free to leave your sentence in the comments, or send them via social media service. Whatever’s the easiest, and the most comfortable for you.

These sentences will be for MY EYES ONLY, they won’t be used for anything other than inspiration for me…I promise to keep them close.

Thanks for your attention. I really appreciate it. And…can I PLEASE get a sentence from you?

Thanks in advance.

One of the things I didn’t expect when I started the RID project was that it would inspire other people to do the same. One of my friends started his own project yesterday, and I continue to be humbled when I see people doing it for themselves.

The truth is…I never started the RID project for any other reason than to minimize my “stuff” footprint, and the only reason I blogged about it was to keep myself honest. It, unexpectedly, turned into more. Something far more inspirational for me…and apparently, for others as well.

So…that leads to…tomorrow’s entry.

Tomorrow…I need your help. I’m going to start a new project along the lines of the RID project…but with a whole new theme…and I’m going to need some inspiration from all of you.

So, tomorrow…I’ll be asking for your input. Expect to see the request from all three blogs…
WhatIGotRidofToday.com, CallMeDavid.wordpress.com, and QuestiontheDogma.wordpress.com.

I need your help…please give me whatever advice you can.

I continue to depend on your inspiration.

So, the other day I had a bit of an epiphany.

I think all the “clearing” the RID project helped me do allowed me to get stuff out of my life that wasn’t worth concentrating on, or spending any more energy with.

What did I do with this newfound energy? I moved to a new city, started two new blogs, and generally…found some things to occupy that time.

And now…I think all this practice may have found a path. I’ll be revealing it soon. (probably around Feb. 1.)

I’m excited, and I hope you, dear reader, will be as well.

Stand by. (please?)

So, what if, in this time of gift giving…we all committed to donating two things we own for each gift we received during the holiday season?

Think about it:

Never having to find more space for gifts received.

Extending the “giving season” into the next month.

Thinking about WHO is right to receive that gift you’re donating…that you’re moving out of your life.

Actually making the holiday season one where we focus on what’s important to us, rather than what new things we got?

A guy can dream…

So, one of the more interesting moral quandaries of the RID project was what to do about things I received as gifts.

You see, I realized when I started the project…that the only way to do it was honestly, and unabashedly, … publicly. So, I thought about what it would mean for people to see gifts they had given me added to the RID pile.

I decided to not worry about it for two reasons:

1) Who can remember what they received as gifts and what they didn’t? A sad commentary on American consumerism to be sure, and

2) Just because I RID something didn’t mean I didn’t get use out of it, or didn’t enjoy it. It simply meant that it was time to let it move on…to release it.

I offer this thought as we all enter the “between Thanksgiving and Xmas” time. A time where all of us are encouraged to buy the ones we love…things.

It’s not exactly a novel thought, but I’d encourage all of us to give more experiences, and fewer things. Not only is it a proven way of getting to more happiness — but it adds to the giver’s enjoyment as well.

So, for those on MY Xmas list, be prepared to have an experience-centered holiday season. With fewer things, but more love.

Happy holidays, one and all.