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Abstract

oney can buy.Somehow, even though I watched from the comfort of my couch with chip crumbs littered across my shirt, I learned lessons from each season too.That’s why I committed to the show with fervor, despite the obvious shortcoming: it’s mostly white dudes. Few women and only a couple BIPOC have been chosen to participate. Also, there was scarce mention of the indigenous people whose lands the show commonly uses. Suffice to say, there’s room for growth.Despite these glaring oversights, I continued my binge. Season after season. Because — especially at this pivotal and perilous time in human history — I needed to see, hear, feel, and believe that life is so much more than money.<h2 id="fecc">Money Makes No Sense In Nature</h2>What do contestants do once they are dropped off in the middle of nowhere? Well, one thing is clear. They definitely don’t bring their wallets!It’s obvious they cannot pay their way to safety. There are no grocery stores, mini-marts, coffee shops, or hardware stores for miles. And forget working a 9–5 job to pay for a home, car, or food.Heck, there is no home, car, or packaged food!Contestants must rely on their skills, their few permitted tools, their sound critical thinking, and whatever nature is kind enough to provide.And what matters most appears to be: shelter, protection from predators, fire, water, and food.These are luxuries that money usually buys in society.Gone are the days of making a rent or mortgage payment. In the wilderness, they create a shelter with their own hands.The usual electric bill is replaced with an open campfire. Water isn’t provided by a utility company. It must be gathered from a stream and painstakingly boiled for purity each time.And food once easily accessed on grocery store shelves is instead foraged or hunted on land or ocean.I imagine this self-sufficient lifestyle offered a beautiful, yet difficult, experience that cannot be bought in our modern world: the challenges and rewards of living with nature that pre-dates our paper money life.<h2 id="e519">Is It Worth The Money?</h2>Throughout the seasons, there were several reoccurring reasons why contestants stayed in the game or “tapped out” and left. Most were defined by two categories: what can be purchased with half a million bucks and what money will never be able to touch.The things that money can buy were physiological and safety needs that served as primary motivators. Things like:<ul><li>A house or land or the ability to pay off a mortgage</li><li>Education

Options

for children</li><li>Money to retire from an unfulfilling job</li><li>Future financial security for oneself or one’s family</li></ul>Sound familiar? Probably — since so much of our time, energy, and thought process is spent on securing these foundational needs.But then there are things that money cannot buy. We sometimes neglect the importance of these in pursuit of those above. Things like:<ul><li>Hugs and conversations with family and friends</li><li>A sense of community</li><li>Shared experiences with loved ones</li><li>The spiritual connection to nature and one’s self</li></ul>It was fascinating that contestants sometimes shared the same reason for leaving as for staying. For instance, one contestant frequently spoke of his family. He wanted to win the prize money to provide financial security for them. But, he ultimately left. Emotionally, he could not stand to be without his family for another day.Yet, another contestant stayed for that exact same reason: he stayed because of his family. Every time he wanted to “tap out”, he recalled why he was ultimately there in the first place. He persevered so that he could better financially provide for his children.It’s a tough paradoxical situation. To know that humans must balance this edge between the desire for security that money offers, and the reality that money can only buy so much.<h2 id="ab7d">What $500,000 Cannot Buy</h2>Everyone needs money to live in our modern world. Alone reminded me of this as well.But money is a means to an end. We often forget this in our rat race chase of safety and comfort. Money’s primary purpose is securing survival needs. If we get enough of it, we attain all the basics: shelter, food, water, clothing, safety, and good health.However, the deeper message behind this quest for$ 500,000 was a journey through the heart. This pathway uncovered what our human-built society has strayed so far from:Friendship, intimacy, self-esteem, respect, morality, creativity, and problem-solving are just as important as money. Yet they cannot be purchased. $500,000 cannot buy sound moral judgment.$ 500,000 cannot buy the true respect of others. $500,000 cannot buy the ability to think outside the box.Most of all,$ 500,000 cannot buy the love, care, intimacy, and feeling of belonging that we get from family, friends, and community.I would venture to guess that every participant thus far on the show has realized the same simple truth:We need money to live, but we need our loved ones to survive.</article></body>

What a Reality TV Show Taught Me About the Limits of Money

What would you do for $500,000?

How far are you willing to go to earn $500,000?

Would you spend 30+ days alone in the woods — enduring rain, cold, lack of food, and bears — with nothing but the pack on your back?

Well, thanks to the History Channel, you don’t have to leave the warm comfort of your couch to get a taste of what it might be like.

For those not in the loop yet (that was me 2 months ago, beware!), Alone is a reality TV show that drops 10 contestants off in remote wilderness areas to survive as long as possible.

The show’s title suggests one important component — contestants are alone and miles away from each other. The second vital piece? They’re competing to win $500,000.

I’ll admit the grim truth. I binge-watched all six seasons of Alone in under two months.

Let’s get real — in under 45 days.

My excuse for this ridiculous binge?

A killer pandemic is out there, I take social distancing very seriously, and — I am addicted.

Mostly because the show is comprised of real people (read: non-actors) living in the wilderness. And, they have dirt under their nails. No, for real. Actual dirt.

There are no make-up artists, no hairstylists, and virtually no camera crews. The contestants’ bodies, hair, and clothes are filthy from fish guts, blood, and dirt.

I believe a dose of real dirt is good for the soul.

After watching hours of these courageous men & women live alone in the wild risking starvation and injury for the chance to win a mini fortune, I made a startling realization.

It’s not about the money.

Sure all contestants would love to have half a million bucks in their pockets — who wouldn’t? But there can be only one winner. That leaves nine others who walk away empty-handed and yet, somehow, always full.

What fills them?

Lessons about the priceless parts of life: things beyond what money can buy.

Somehow, even though I watched from the comfort of my couch with chip crumbs littered across my shirt, I learned lessons from each season too.

That’s why I committed to the show with fervor, despite the obvious shortcoming: it’s mostly white dudes. Few women and only a couple BIPOC have been chosen to participate. Also, there was scarce mention of the indigenous people whose lands the show commonly uses. Suffice to say, there’s room for growth.

Despite these glaring oversights, I continued my binge. Season after season. Because — especially at this pivotal and perilous time in human history — I needed to see, hear, feel, and believe that life is so much more than money.

Money Makes No Sense In Nature

What do contestants do once they are dropped off in the middle of nowhere? Well, one thing is clear. They definitely don’t bring their wallets!

It’s obvious they cannot pay their way to safety. There are no grocery stores, mini-marts, coffee shops, or hardware stores for miles. And forget working a 9–5 job to pay for a home, car, or food.

Heck, there is no home, car, or packaged food!

Contestants must rely on their skills, their few permitted tools, their sound critical thinking, and whatever nature is kind enough to provide.

And what matters most appears to be: shelter, protection from predators, fire, water, and food.

These are luxuries that money usually buys in society.

Gone are the days of making a rent or mortgage payment. In the wilderness, they create a shelter with their own hands.

The usual electric bill is replaced with an open campfire. Water isn’t provided by a utility company. It must be gathered from a stream and painstakingly boiled for purity each time.

And food once easily accessed on grocery store shelves is instead foraged or hunted on land or ocean.

I imagine this self-sufficient lifestyle offered a beautiful, yet difficult, experience that cannot be bought in our modern world: the challenges and rewards of living with nature that pre-dates our paper money life.

Is It Worth The Money?

Throughout the seasons, there were several reoccurring reasons why contestants stayed in the game or “tapped out” and left. Most were defined by two categories: what can be purchased with half a million bucks and what money will never be able to touch.

The things that money can buy were physiological and safety needs that served as primary motivators. Things like:

A house or land or the ability to pay off a mortgage
Education for children
Money to retire from an unfulfilling job
Future financial security for oneself or one’s family

Sound familiar? Probably — since so much of our time, energy, and thought process is spent on securing these foundational needs.

But then there are things that money cannot buy. We sometimes neglect the importance of these in pursuit of those above. Things like:

Hugs and conversations with family and friends
A sense of community
Shared experiences with loved ones
The spiritual connection to nature and one’s self

It was fascinating that contestants sometimes shared the same reason for leaving as for staying. For instance, one contestant frequently spoke of his family. He wanted to win the prize money to provide financial security for them. But, he ultimately left. Emotionally, he could not stand to be without his family for another day.

Yet, another contestant stayed for that exact same reason: he stayed because of his family. Every time he wanted to “tap out”, he recalled why he was ultimately there in the first place. He persevered so that he could better financially provide for his children.

It’s a tough paradoxical situation. To know that humans must balance this edge between the desire for security that money offers, and the reality that money can only buy so much.

What $500,000 Cannot Buy

Everyone needs money to live in our modern world. Alone reminded me of this as well.

But money is a means to an end. We often forget this in our rat race chase of safety and comfort. Money’s primary purpose is securing survival needs. If we get enough of it, we attain all the basics: shelter, food, water, clothing, safety, and good health.

However, the deeper message behind this quest for $500,000 was a journey through the heart. This pathway uncovered what our human-built society has strayed so far from:

Friendship, intimacy, self-esteem, respect, morality, creativity, and problem-solving are just as important as money. Yet they cannot be purchased.

$500,000 cannot buy sound moral judgment.

$500,000 cannot buy the true respect of others.

$500,000 cannot buy the ability to think outside the box.

Most of all, $500,000 cannot buy the love, care, intimacy, and feeling of belonging that we get from family, friends, and community.

I would venture to guess that every participant thus far on the show has realized the same simple truth:

We need money to live, but we need our loved ones to survive.