I watched out our front window as Sam, our 14-year-old neighbor and avid mountain bike rider, spent over an hour cleaning his prized Fezzari bike. This was no cursory touch-up. Sam scrubbed the tires, frame, pedals, and gears. With a towel, he dried and polished from every angle. Finished, the Fezzari looked like it just came off the showroom floor.
Since Sam seemed so contented with washing, we asked him to wash our car. He wanted no part of that project. Why would a 14-year-old boy be so dedicated to cleaning his bicycle? Would he have the same motivation if his mother asked him to go out and clean his bike?
The answer is "ownership." Not ownership of "stuff" but ownership of the experience.
Sure, Sam wants to take care of his nice bike. He paid for it—in part—with his hard-earned money. But what he loves more than the mountain bike is mountain biking. He loves the experiences that the mountain bike gives him. Owning the bike isn't nearly as fun as riding the bike.
A short time ago, Sam's mother posted this photo of what happens when you go over the handle bars. Even a bad experience like scraping your elbow can be good. One of the great benefits is in reliving the experience and telling others about it.
My brother loves to tell stories—and we love to hear them—of riding mules in the steep mountains with his uncle. The fearless uncle and the sure-footed mules were willing to try nearly any difficult terrain. My brother wasn't as enthusiastic. In fact, he was downright petrified. But after making it home in one piece, they laughed and told exaggerated stories about the experience to any who would listen. Decades later they still tell those stories. And those experiences with his uncle lead to a lifetime of outdoor adventures for my brother.
We won't be riding mules or mountain bikes at Marbles Farm, but we will be having experiences. We will experience chickens and goats, gardens, climbing, playing, digging, singing, and warming our hands over the outdoor fire. Perhaps these experiences will lead to a child growing up wanting to ride their bike in the hills and to come home and spend an hour cleaning off the dirt.
Marty Oakeson, Manager