Can't Buy No Satisfaction

"And so we can say that the industrial economy's most-marketed commodity is satisfaction, and that this commodity, which is repeatedly, promised, bought and paid for, is never delivered. On the other hand, people who have much satisfaction, do not need many commodities."

-- Wendell Berry. "The Whole Horse" in The Art of the Commonplace.

The Beatles told us, "money can't buy me love." And it can't buy us joy, peace of mind, wisdom or satisfaction, either. But that's not what our rampant consumer culture would have us believe. Everyone from Fed Chairman Ben Bernacki to your local loud mouth, do-my-own-commercials, car dealer would have you belief that satisfaction is just one purchase away. It ain't.

One guy who knows that is Dave Bruno. Check out his website www.GuyNamedDave.com. On it you will see his 100 Things Challenge. He has challenged himself to whittle his possessions down to 100 personal things, and to live with those things, without buying more things, for one calendar year. Think about it. You probably have more than 100 personal things in that one junk drawer in your kitchen alone!

I don't think I'm pulling the beard off Santa when I say we've all got way, way too much shit! If you're still under the illusion that buying more stuff is going to make you happy, President Bush wants to give you a Presidential Medal of Honor. I, on the other hand, want to give you a swift kick in the ass. Wake up! More stuff does not equate with more happiness! In fact, more stuff tends to complicate your life, muddle your mind, and distract you from the joy that lies within yourself and between you and others. A joy, by the way, that requires nothing, no-thing, as a prerequisite.

So, here's your challenge: At least think about Dave's 100 Thing Challenge. Go to his website. Read about it and about the "rules" he has created for himself. Then come up with your own version. Try it. Live it.

You know, if we all did this, we could put the economy in the crapper even faster than it's sliding in right now! And contrary to popular opinion and political hype, the economy heading south, may be a very good thing. It will give us all a chance to reevaluate what's really important in life. I trust humanity just enough to believe that most of us will not say that life's most important thing is the newest version of Wii or a $1000 handbag or the biggest, flat screen TV that we can possibly fit in our homes.

Beyond basic survival needs, and small things that make your heart sing, no commodities are necessary for happiness. Satisfaction cannot be bought and sold, at WalMart, at Nordstroms, even on Ebay. Have fun choosing your 100 things!