Monday, September 5, 2011

One Change Affects Everything

Maybe I've said it before: "Change one thing you do every day and you change your life."

We'll see. So far, I think it may be valid.

A week ago I basically parked my car to see how attached I really am to all those monthly operating expenses for the sake of convenience. I bought a bike (soon to arrive!) and started riding the bus ~ Grand Valley Transit in this community. When the bike arrives, I'll ride it between stops, rather than walk.

So what's this got to do with eating. A lot!

Despite all we may understand and know about healthy eating, when the boredom factor kicks in, it's hard to resist culinary indulgences. (Even if it gets reduced to Cheetos!)

Emotionally, it would have probably been easier to board a flight for Africa than to give up my car. It gets me where I want to go quickly, and makes it possible to tick down a list of errands on a lunch hour. Without my car, I've had to time appointments with the bus schedule connections, and allow lots of time.

So when I leave in the morning, I have to think ahead because there's no running back to the house if I forgot something. Interestingly, the challenge has been stimulating. And if this makes any sense, it's easier to eat healthier.

Maybe it's the liberating feeling of getting out of the driver's seat, and letting go of expenses ~ like gasoline ~ and maybe car insurance!

I don't find slices of apple pie so hard to resist ~ now I resonate more with eating apple slices.  I carry my lunch ~ a half sandwich of fresh veggies, and an apple. I also carry my water bottle. It all fits efficiently into a fanny pack ~ convenient for the bike ride.

The other thing that occurs to me is how much gasoline I wasted just making unnecessary trips ~ to the mall, to the grocery store, or downtown ~ often because I didn't plan ahead.

Time is money ~ and it's energy ~ and I feel that now I'm conserving both.

Maybe that's what I've been craving!