5. Possessions That Own You
This group of challenges asks you to reflect on things that you own, and how those possessions affect you.
Are you one of the many who have a love-hate relationship with your belongings? While reflecting on these challenges, consider all the things you owned in the past, own now, and plan to own in the future. Do you think less is more, or is more more? Do you dream of owning an expensive sports car, or would you rather take public transit? Has anyone ever given you something that made you feel special?
Now get started writing!
104. Under Lock and Key
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
What do you own that you are so afraid to lose you have to keep it locked up or in a safe-deposit box? Write about this item and your feelings about protecting it, possibly losing it, and whether it is worth the trouble.
Possession isn’t nine-tenths of the law, it’s nine-tenths of the problem. – John Lennon
105. Buyer’s Remorse
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Have you ever bought something that seems, now, like a big mistake? Write about your purchase. What made you buy the item? What were your emotions? How long did it take you to regret your purchase? Do you still own this item, and what are your plans for it?
106. My Shoes
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Think about your favorite shoes or a pair you’d like to own. Write about these shoes and where you’d like them to take you.
107. I Feel Naked Without It
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
What is it that you can’t leave home without? What do you feel lost without? Write about something that you have to have with you at all times or you’re uncomfortable.
Did you know?
Wigs were a fashionable accessory in ancient Egypt. The rich had wigs made from human hair, whereas the poor had wigs made from wool. Men and women shaved their heads to stay cool and avoid lice.
108. My Car
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Write about a favorite car or truck or bike that you’ve owned. Describe what she looked like and how it drove. Did it have a name? How did you find her? Where did she take you?
109. Five Cars
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Do you love cars? If so, pretend you have unlimited funds and a garage that will fit five cars that you would buy with your unlimited funds. List the cars, describe them, and talk about why these are your dream cars.
Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions. – John Locke
110. My Collection
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Are you a collector? Or have you been? Do you collect stamps, books, music, coins, shoes, games, or any other objects? Write about any thing you’ve collected at any time.
Include all the details about when you started your collection, who has influenced you (if anyone), where you typically acquire new items to add to the collection, and how you store them. Is there any formal or informal association that collects what you collect?
On the other hand, if you don’t consider yourself a collector, tell why.
111. Gadgets
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Most people love gadgets or new toys. Do you? Describe a gadget or toy you recently acquired, and explain the benefits of having this object.
Did you know?
To be one of the first writers that we know of, you wouldn’t have needed ink. Circa 3200 BC, Sumerians wrote with pens that they pressed into clay tablets. Ink was invented by both the Chinese and the Egyptians in 2500 BC.
112. Hindrance
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Henry David Thoreau wrote Walden about his experiences living in the woods, a life that stripped away all that was inessential. He says, “Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.”
Think about something that you own that has become problematic. Describe what it is, why you acquired it in the first place, and what occurred to make you no longer enjoy it.
113. Potlatch
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
For many celebrations, guests are expected to bring a gift for the occasion and the person honored. This is true for birthdays, weddings, and retirement parties as well as for showers for those who are about to get married or give birth.
By contrast, the tradition of the Kwakiutl (Native Americans in British Columbia) is that the host of the celebration gives generous gifts to the guests.
Have you ever had a similar celebration, or would you have one? Maybe you’re moving, and instead of a housewarming you’ll have a house-cooling?
Describe a planned gift-giving celebration, providing all the details. Who will be invited? What will you give away? What will be your motivation?
What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on? – Henry David Thoreau
114. Good Will
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Have you ever given something away and then regretted it? Maybe it was a collection you thought you’d outgrown, but you missed it once it was gone. Did you hand down an item of clothing to someone in your family and then wish you hadn’t?
Describe this experience.
Did you know?
In his last will and testament, Shakespeare left his second-best bed to his wife, with all its furniture. (Here, furniture means bedclothes.)
115. Most Valuable
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
What’s the most valuable item you own? Tell how this object came into your life and how you appreciate it.
116. Most Expensive
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Describe the most expensive item you own. Are you ever tempted to sell it, or is it something you also cherish?
117. Most Cherished
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Describe the most cherished item you own as if you just received it and have been dreaming of owning it for decades. Go all out, exaggerating the many splendid moments you will have with this item. Your description should make the reader feel that this cherished item is magnifique; it should make the reader want to go out and get this item immediately.
118. Broken
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
While there’s no sense crying over spilled milk, when something you like gets broken you can’t help but feel bad. Write about something that broke and can’t be repaired, or that has been mended but will never be the same.
119. Paper Dresses
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
In the late 1960s, paper clothing was touted as not only fashionable, but also convenient and cheap. In 1966, Scott Paper Company invented the paper dress, which sold for $1.25 and came with coupons for toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins. In those days, Americans believed they would soon be traveling through space like George Jetson, and ready-to-tear clothing—wear it and toss it—seemed perfect. You can read more about paper dresses in “The Paper Dress—History of a Ready to Tear Invention” and in “1960s Paper Dress”.
Have you ever worn a trendy item of clothing that you thought was totally cool but in hindsight now seems ridiculous? Describe what you wore in elaborate detail. Be sure to include the time period, how long the trend lasted, and who else might have followed suit.
120. Ode on a Grecian Urn
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
In 1819, John Keats wrote his famous poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn.” Keats depicted two scenes engraved on a Grecian urn, with the themes unrequited love and sacrifice. The poem ends with what are often considered the two most discussed lines in all of poetry:
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty,” — that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
Choose an object in your possession and write an ode about it. Keep in mind that odes often use lyrical language and a more formal style. Merriam-Webster defines an ode as “a lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms.”
121. Regifting
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Do you think regifting is OK? Do you regularly give gifts that had been given to you? Describe a circumstance when you regifted or when you suspected that you were the recipient of a regift. Make your feelings clear about whether or not you approve of this practice.
We are told that we cannot lose external goods because we never really had them. The beauty of fields or gems is a real good, but it is theirs, not ours.” – C. S. Lewis
122. Frustrating
Suggested time: 20–30 minutes
Describe in hyperbole the most frustrating thing that you own. Make the reader frustrated too by reporting too much information and minutiae about this item.
123. Want it!
Suggested time: 10–15 minutes
Is there something that you want really badly right now? What is it, and what joy will you have in owning it? What’s keeping you from getting it?
124. Write an Ad
Suggested time: 45–90 minutes
Write an ad for any possession you currently own or a product you want to own. Before you begin, look online for examples of advertisements that you like or hate. Note what you like and don’t like. Either sketch an image of your product or take a photo of it.
A good ad should do the following:
1. Get attention
2. Arouse interest
3. Create a desire
4. Demand action (Buy now before the limited supply sells out!)
A few more points to consider:
• Who is the intended audience?
• Have you grabbed their attention?
• Have you clearly described the product?
• Does your image complement your text, and vice versa?
• Have you recommended a clear course of action?
• Is the content clear?