Early New Year’s Resolution – Fix it
I’m not a big fixer or repairer of things, so this “Fixer’s Manifesto” is very aspirational for me. I have some jeans that I was getting ready to toss out, so maybe I’ll start with those.
1. IF IT’S BROKEN, FIX IT! BECAUSE EVERYDAY PRACTICAL PROBLEM SOLVING IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FORM OF CREATIVITY THERE IS.
2. IF IT’S NOT BROKEN, IMPROVE IT. A SMALL, CLEVER TWEAK CAN IMPROVE HOW SOMETHING WORKS FOR YEARS TO COME.
3. GIVE YOUR PRODUCTS A LONGER LIFE. IF WE DOUBLE THE LIFE OF OUR STUFF, WE HALVE WHAT GOES TO LANDFILL.
4. FIXING MEANS FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE. AS A FIXER, YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WEAR AND TEAR. NOTHING STAYS NEW, SO FORGET PERFECTION.
5. RESIST TRENDS AND NEEDLESS UPGRADES. THEY FUEL OUR THROWAWAY CULTURE.
6. DON’T LET COMPANIES TREAT YOU AS A PASSIVE CONSUMER. EVERY TIME WE SPEND MONEY, WE VOTE FOR THE KINDS OF PRODUCTS WE WANT TO SEE SUCCEED. BUY PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE REPAIRED.
7. A FIXED THING IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. EVERY FIX, WHETHER SKILLFUL OR IMPROVISED, HOLDS A STORY.
8. IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, START SMALL AND MAKE IT GOOD. IF IT’S RIGHT, IT’LL GROW FROM THERE. 9. NURTURE YOUR CURIOSITY. KEEP TRYING THINGS YOU’VE NEVER TRIED BEFORE. IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR SOUL. DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL — IT MAKES SUCCESS ALL THE SWEETER.
10. PEOPLE ARE INFINITELY DIVERSE. PRODUCTS SHOULD BE TOO. EVERYTHING CAN BE IMPROVED OR CUSTOMIZED.
11. DISPOSABILITY IS A CHOICE, NOT A PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC. PLASTICS AREN’T EVIL, BUT WE’RE USING THEM WRONG. TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.
12. SHARE YOUR IDEAS, YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND YOUR SKILLS. IF YOU’VE FOUND THE JOY OF FIXING, PASS IT ON. IT’S A GIFT FOR LIFE.
One of the worst offenders, I think, are cell phone companies with their upgrade phones. Often people throw away a perfectly good phone just because they are eligible for a new one.
I can’t wait to see Jason’s steampunk phone the next time I see him.
The TSA took it when I was coming back to Delaware. I still say that those two flairs looked nothing like dynamite.
To which I would add: buy used, reconditioned, or recycled whenever possible. I try to buy all my books now at Amazon or Abebooks (used), and have been picking up most of our camping equipment for next summer used and/or recycled at either Ebay or the Army/Navy Store in Dover. Huge savings in both areas.
To which I’d also add: sell your own old, non-used stuff for decent price to somebody else (or give it away).