In 2016, I’m trying to walk the talk via The Great Money Experiment—a year of avoiding giving my money to Big Business.
The sun is shining. The sky is blue. It’s a perfect summer day in the Midwest. It doesn’t get much better than this, I think, as I bike leisurely along the trail that surrounds our small town. My dog Sophie is in a basket at the front of my bike. The scene puts a big smile on the faces of people we meet on the trail—one little girl calls out, “hello doggy!”
I would’ve never though to get a dog basket for my bike until I decided to embark on this project. In the past, if I wanted to take Sophie for a walk in the woods, I’d just put her in the car and drive the short distance to Palisades Park.
Easy, but also supporting Big Oil.
I’ve tried many times before to pretend that I don’t have a car. It’s hard! When it rains , it’s so tempting to hop in the car and drive to work (like I did yesterday). When it’s hot (like today), that air conditioner is quite enticing (I resisted!).
So it’s been good that this year my daughter and I have shared a car, and I’ve encouraged her to keep it with her at Luther College (where she goes to school and I work).
Then I don’t have a choice. (Except sometimes I take the car home…)
But why would I want to drive when I am so fortunate to live only 1.6 miles from work, in a small, bike-friendly town? I can think of at least four advantages of biking to work (or anywhere, for that matter):
- No pollution
- Good for your body
- Cheap
- Fun!
I have thus convinced myself that I need to recommit to slow transportation for the remainder of the year, with a special focus this month.
This will require some mindfulness when it comes to scheduling. For example, I have to leave time (more than five minutes) between activities to get from point A to point B.
I’ll need a slower, smarter schedule.
In addition to a dog basket, I’ve purchased a rain jacket, rain pants, and rain boots, and a high-quality umbrella. I got two panniers for Mother’s Day several years ago. I have a bike helmet, lights, and a lock for safety.
I’m pretty much set.
And I’ve found a new community service calling: Make people smile one bike ride at a time!
News and Events
- Currently reading: The Spirit Level by Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson (so good!) and The Girl in the Spider’s Web by Swedish author David Lagercrantz.
- Getting back into health coaching! Contact me for a free consultation.
- Attending the Democratic Party State Convention in Des Moines, IA on June 18.
- Speaking at Northeast Iowa UU Fellowship on June 26 @ 10 a.m.
Her Lost Year
We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of the publication of Her Lost Year. Our goal is to reach 1,000 copies in circulation. Help us spread the word!
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