Dallas Clayton

I’ve never used this site to do an interview with someone, or really for any reason other than just to share ideas with people, but today I wanted to introduce you all to my good friend Neil Pasricha creator of the blog 1000 Awesome Things. I know Neil because our books are so similarly titled that the internet sort of magically forced us together and as such we both explored each others worlds and came out on the other side with a massive mutual respect. (Tight bros!)

To add to our inevitable google-able confusion Neil has just released his latest book “The Book of (even more) Awesome” which, just like his site, is a compilation of magical moments, happenings, objects, and ideas celebrated in the most pure way possible.

1. How do you describe what you do to people who’ve never seen it or heard of it before?

I’m just writing down one awesome thing every single day for a 1000 straight days.

2. Do you think seeking out and showcasing the awesome elements of life on earth has made you more of an optimist?

Yeah, definitely Dallas. I mean I’m still the same guy: I still work my office job in the suburbs, have terrible posture, and keep my sink permanently full of dirty dishes. But after writing every night about awesome things like finally peeing after holding it forever or flipping to the cold side of the pillow , I honestly can’t go an hour without thinking to myself “That’s awesome!” about some tiny little pleasure I happen to see.

We’re surrounded by hundreds of them daily.

Like, when I find a lost sock that matches up with its missing brother or sister … I think awesome! When I drop a glass in my kitchen but manage to kick my foot out at the last second so it doesn’t smash…. I think awesome! When I manage to finger-peel the thickest blanket of gray lint the world has ever seen out of my dryer vent… I think awesome!

3. Are you upset when you see something that could have been awesome but was so poorly executed that it’s just a big mess?

Hmm, well, I’m not sure! I think for me seeing efforts towards awesome things is always endearing, respectable, and pretty smile-worthy. Wobbly lemonade stands, salty date squares, or spray-painted T-shirts are neat little markers of passion towards doing something colorful and creative and uplifting. For me awesome refers to tiny, universal little joys which we forget about but which mean so much to us. For someone else, maybe it’s something different. I think that’s cool.

4. Where do you think the awesomest place on earth is?

For me it’s gotta be up inside our own heads. I read somewhere that our brains are 2% of our body’s weight but use 20% of our body’s energy. Yeah, they’re little balls of fire flick-flashing and smashing electrons all over the place like a million games of pinball playing at the same time. And from inside these hairy noggins we imagine distant galaxies, solve complex puzzles, feel energy of friends and lovers, and dream distant dreams that make us smile and think and hope and pray and live and laugh and love.

Our brains let us appreciate and see all the simple awesome things in life as well. That’s what The Book of (Even More) Awesome is all about really — it’s just a tiny reminder that between the tidal waves and wars there are places to let our brains enjoy the simple pleasures. There are places to enjoy the smell of gasoline, sleeping in new bedsheets, and the day you get your braces off.

5. How do you think 80 year old version of yourself will view what it is you are doing right now?

He’d probably say “Nerrrrrrd! Why’d you spend so much time in front of the computer when you could have been hitting on chicks downtown?”

Nah, just kidding. If I’m lucky enough to live till I’m 80 then I hope that old man will still appreciate all the tiny awesome joys of life. Getting called up to the dinner buffet first at a wedding, the first couple hours of the road trip, and enjoying the smell of Play Doh help make every day worth living. So hopefully he’ll flip through The Book of (Even More) Awesome and we’ll still be living in a world where we can feel and touch and see all of those little things.

Please visit 1000 Awesome Things to learn more about Neil and all the things he finds Awesome.