A Life For Sale

"What's a life worth?" 5 years and a painful divorce later, one man has decided to find out. Ian Usher, from Perth, Australia has had enough, so logically he has listed his entire life for sale on ebay. That includes his home and all the contents including a spa, skydiving equipment,
automobiles, personal introductions to his friends, a two week trial at his rug store job... everything that holds a memory of his former life.
Different, yet tastefully executed (except perhaps for the fee-based intimate detail sharing, letter since removed), Usher's sale manages to do an excellent job promoting Western Australia in the process. According to Usher, he wants the auction viewed as a "complete lifestyle package." Opening bids start June 22, 2008. When all the dust clears, Ian Usher wants nothing but the clothes on his back, his wallet and his passport. Where life takes him from the airport will be determined by fate. Interesting.
I tend to mentally put this auction next to the one selling the container for a well known meal of happiness. Surprisingly that throw-a-way child's meal container sold for almost $3,000. Amazing. No one was told the contents of the box because "happiness is defined differently by all of us." There was no solid price that could be attached because you "can't put a price on happiness." You get the general idea.
Usher states in his case, he's not "sure if its inspired madness, foolishness or a mid-life crisis." Most likely a mixture of all of them. And yet his creative way of turning pain into something better has to be commended on some level.
It's a big risk, but what's the worst that can happen? Nothing sells, or he becomes uber famous and writes a book about "How to sell your life on eBay," for others right?
I'm sure we all know people who have been broken by life. Whether the individuals went forward in denial or bitterness, acceptance or despair, all faced the similar need to move on to something better or to give up.
The quote, "When it becomes more difficult to stay where you are than to change, you'll change," comes to mind. Ian phrases it this way, "I believe that life is about experience and adventure. A job is merely a means to provide the money to enjoy the life you want to lead."
Let's hope things work out with the auction for Ian Usher. Meanwhile, I think I'll just embrace the lesson that a life half lived is really no life at all. What do you think?