August 12, 2010 – Socks. Seriously…socks.
All hole-free. All headed to Goodwill.
The RID Project is making me examine my “keeping” habits – both big and small. There are a couple of major furniture items that I’m starting to think are targeted to RID – but the motivations of keeping them over the years are habits and attitudes I seem to apply to everything.
Take socks, for example. The values I was raised with, being from a blue-collar, Iowan farm town background, were to hold on to things as long as they still had use. If a sock didn’t have a hole in the toe, it was still worth keeping.
But – above are socks I haven’t worn in a long time. And today, I rid myself of them.
A small gesture…to be sure. But one that prepares me for the real pain of applying this same logic to a more emotional clothing item…
T-shirt RID coming soon…check this space.
August 11, 2010 – CDs/the “A’s”
Even though I've got 'em backed up digitally, it's hard to let 'em go.
So…the real CD pain begins today.
After some thinking, I’ve decided to give up my CDs – alphabetically, a couple o’ letters per month.
The A’s seem easy. There aren’t too many of them – but believe me, I’ve already sorted out the B’s and C’s – much, much more dramatic.
Looking at these makes me think about the “collection” mentality I have with music – once I own one CD from a band, I tend to want to collect all their work if I like it.
Years ago, when mp3’s came on the scene, I made a bold prediction that this would bring the music labels back to the good old days where they’d have more one hit wonders – that, without the need to check out the rest of the album/cd, music fans would only purchase that one song they’d heard…that they already loved. Even though, at that time, I never could’ve predicted what iTunes would bring to the party, turns out I was kind of right.
For every Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber (ugh!) – there’s a TON of artists who show up on iTunes top tunes, only to fall a week later…and never be heard from again.
It’s a shame in some ways, I think this (at times) makes it harder to appreciate the full range of an artist…but, in the interest of not sounding like the cranky old man telling the kids to get off my lawn…I’ll let it pass.
Goodbye CDs that are from artists that start with “A.” I’m glad I listened to ALL of you.
I should note…
since I’ve gotten many questions about this…
NOTHING in the RID project is “thrown away.” Everything will be given away to friends, charitable organizations, and the like.
One of the key rules to the RID project is that the things I’m giving away are still valuable, and useful…just not to me anymore. Someone should appreciate them, and that’s why I’m moving them along.
Just thought you’d like to know…
Some good resources for you to know, if you’re inspired.
August 10, 2010 – Listen Up.
3 Audiobooks, OH SO MANY CDs...
Suffice it to say, these three audiobooks show a diversity in anything BUT my political leanings.
Two of them I’ve listened to, and loved. The Howard Zinn one I’m still working on – albeit with digital copies.
I bought the Robert Evans one based on my favorite comedian’s (Patton Oswalt) bit about how great it was to listen to the Robert Evans story dictated by the man (legend) himself. It was everything Patton promised. Which was “like Lucifer dictating his memoirs.” Fan-friggin-tastic.
The Dalai Lama one was purchased after I did a meditation with one of his advisors at the TED conference. It was such a great hour of my life I wanted to learn more. I think the Lama would smile upon the RID project. (So I’ve got that goin’ for me.)
I have an incredibly short commute (especially for a market like Dallas) — so audiobooks really aren’t as useful as they were when I was hopping a plane and commuting between Seattle and Dallas.
Truth is, this was an easy RID.
PERSONAL ANECDOTE: I went to the Red Bull “Art of Can” exhibit yesterday. There were a couple of exhibits which listed the exhibit, which was art made out of empty Red Bull cans, as “green.” Uh huh. Sure. More blogging on this later.
Looks like I’m not alone.
Christopher Kelaart has his own RID project.
“
I’ve developed a disdain for unnecessary ownership of things I’ve accumulated over the years, and the purpose of this blog is to give these things away – pass them on – as opposed to selling them off. Books, clothing, furniture, whatever. I aim to post new (old) items weekly. All you have to do is answer a question in response to whatever I’ve posted, and my favourite answer wins the prize.”
Credit where it’s due: I discovered this project at PSFK – one of my favorite trendspotting blogs.
August 9, 2010 – Attention, Attention – Ridding things in the compound…
Seriously - when WOULDN'T you be able to just TIVO the reruns?
Today, I’m getting rid of the first three seasons of MASH DVDs.
Yeah – great show. But WHEN EXACTLY was I gonna watch these again?
This might be the easiest of several DVD purges I’ll have – considering I haven’t watched these (or this show, frankly) in years.
In fact, I’ve been thinking lately about why I own ANY DVDs. With Netflix, OnDemand, iTunes, and the rest…is there ANY point of owning physical copies of films you loved?
Sure, I enjoy sharing them with friends, etc. – but again…couldn’t I just call it up when I need it?
Again, there’s something about me…and us, I suspect – that makes OWNING things a source of comfort. Like they’re a part of us. Or we’re a part of them.
The thought makes me want to give away more DVDs.
More later.
August 8, 2010 – giving up the printer in the blogging economy.
Dragged cross country. Not only never used in Dallas - never even hooked up.
Time to give up a printer.
Here’s a great example of why the RID project was started. I got a new printer awhile ago.
In the past, I would’ve hung on to the printer you see above for quite some time. I’d tell myself, “It still works…I’ll find someone to give it to…If for some reason the new printer goes bad, I’ll have a backup.” Basically, any reason not to move it along.
Jeezus, I’m like the prologue for a season of “Hoarders.”
It’s interesting how easy the RID project seems right now. I’m actually looking FORWARD to giving stuff away…the exact opposite of what it felt like a mere 9 days ago.
Me likey.
August 7, 2010 – I used to be a bigger man.
Thank the good Lord I never wore all of these to the same event.
Those of you know me well know that I’ve lost around 70 lbs. over the last few years.
Whilst I’m proud of that, truth be told…it represents about 80 percent of the weight I’d gained over time since my college days.
20-25 lbs. yet to go. But I’ll make it. Hopefully by the end of the year.
When your weight has shifted around that much over a 7-10 year period, you end up with some confusing closets. Some clothes too big, some too small. The ones above are from my “big” days.
If feels good to get rid of these – like making a committment that I’ll never be that man again. That I’m ready for a change. And more importantly, I’m committing to the one I’ve already made.
RID of things. In TWO ways.
PERSONAL ANECDOTE: The RID project is making me think differently about the MATERIALS things are made of – I was at an event last night that made me think about the amount of plastic we use…THOUGHTLESSLY. Here’s to making conscious choices about when we HAVE to produce things in PLASTIC.
What I got rid of today. 