Surprising Ways to Share & How to Start Now
E911: You outline many types of things to share in your book, including vacation stays, transportation, car sharing, ride sharing, bike sharing, yard sharing. Was there any type of sharing that surprised you?
BB: I find the growth of meal sharing really fun and fascinating. Check out MealSharing.com or EatWith.com. These sites help people to rediscover each other through sharing food. It’s a great option for travelers looking for authentic experiences, who want to reduce food waste, or who are just looking for new friends. I also think fashion-sharing platforms like Rent the Runway or 99 Dresses make it easy to update your closet without spending ridiculous amounts on new clothing.
E911: What’s a good item or service or skill to start out with, for the new-to-sharing individual? What if you’re particularly concerned about waste or garbage — is there a top waste category that humans could focus on sharing a little better?
BB: I always tell people to find that thing that you’ve been meaning to drop off at Goodwill, and put it on a sharing or swapping site instead. It’s the same idea, but it’s more purposeful — you create a connection because you know who it’s going to and learn the story of why they want/need it. Most people find that part very addictive. After that, look at the things or spaces that are going unused in your life. Does your car sit idle 23 hours a day? Do you have a spare bedroom that’s barely ever used? Do you plant a garden every year, only to find yourself swimming in zucchini? In all of these situations, sharing is an easy solution.
E911: What if one is an introvert? Showing up at a stranger’s house for dinner makes me a bit nervous.
BB: I hear you. So I like to say that while we can’t all share everything, everyone can share something. It’s about finding the type of sharing that is most convenient, fun and beneficial for you personally. If strangers aren’t your thing, then maybe it’s joining a bike-sharing program or just putting your stuff up for grabs on an online swapping site like Yerdle. That way, risk and discomfort are minimized. I’ll also add that if sharing with “strangers” via a big Internet platform seems daunting, starting a small sharing circle with friends can be a workaround.