A Most Challenging Challenge!
June 29th, 2008 | by Jeniffer |
photo credit: JaeYong, BAE
I do a lot of 30-day challenges on this site.
Currently, I am wrapping up several of them: my Stuff Reduction Program (done), eating a healthy breakfast every day for 30 days (done), not eating anything with sugar listed in the first four ingredients for 30 days (started over), and making one trip to Goodwill per week for 30 days with a minimum of one bag full of good donations (done). Also, I am starting to walk for at least thirty minutes, every day, for 30 days.
Pretty busy stuff.
The Goodwill trip one went nicely with the Stuff Reduction one, and the food-related ones go well with my body tuneUp program,which I have reembarked on after leaving it due to health related issues within my family. My walking for thirty minutes per day is also helpful to that goal.
Ordinarily, I would not at this point take on any more challenges.
However, there is one I am going to begin.
I do not want to drive an automobile at all for 30 days.
With regular gas having shot up to $1.34 per liter where I live, I feel that this is one way that I will be able to quietly protest the rising cost of transportation. I would like it very much if anyone who can do so would join me.
Instead, we can bike ride, skooter, walk–anything and everything other than driving a car filled with gas at that price.
This will save us money, increase the amount of walking we do, ease the load on the environment, and force us to be more creative in acquiring groceries, etc. As a bonus, I believe we will think carefully about wants versus needs, when faced with carting goods home without an automobile (in my case, in the bottom of a stroller.)
The only time I will use my automobile in the next thirty days, is in bringing my kids home from a camping trip next week.
What are you doing, to fight rising gas prices?
Have a related story or idea? Are you doing something truly unique to fight gas usage? Have you abandoned your automobile in favor of gas-free transportation? Why not share? Comments are always most welcome!
7 Responses to “A Most Challenging Challenge!”
By Aaron - Today is that Day on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
Jeniffer - Big props to you for taking on a challenge like this!
I have been saying for awhile now that it is only a matter of time before the price gouging on gas backfires, and people start consuming so much less of it that the demand for it will go down, as will the price.
Personally, I don’t even own a car right now, and don’t have any intentions of getting one anytime soon.
Way to lead by example, Jeniffer!
Aaron - Today is that Days last blog post..Free Inner Peace eBook and update at Personal Development Partners
By Jeniffer on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
Aaron;
If people started using it only when absolutely necessary, such as going to work in another city, and started doing things like car pooling or taking public transportation, it might indeed force the prices down.
I can remember when gas was 70 cents per liter here.
My husband and I refused to fill up both our vehicles, because we just could not believe gas would cost that much.
It’d take a lot of people working together to figure out alternatives and then living out those alternatives, before gas prices would come down.
$1.34 per liter is just ridiculous.
It’s insane to expect people to pay that much, and no one has given a reasonable explanation to justify it.
By Maria - Never the Same River Twice on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
This is a great 30 Day trial, Jeniffer! I recently challenged people to use their creativity to overcome the gas price crunch. I’m sure the month will stretch your creativity greatly, but your body, mind, and bank accounts will be better for it!
Maria - Never the Same River Twices last blog post..Be Proactive to Increase Your Inner Peace
By Jeniffer on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
Maria;
If this trial helps budge some pudge, save some money, and stretch my mind, I will be delighted.
If others join me, and it does force the price of gas down, I will be beyond ecstatic. There is definitely power in numbers, however it is a difficult challenge for many people, due to working far from home and other considerations.
By Steve Mills on Jul 2, 2008 | Reply
Hey love the blog. The not driving a car for thirty days challenge is a great one, and hopefully inspires everyone to think before they get in the car and drive when they could easily walk. Petrol is not going to get any cheaper in the longer term, and not driving as much is a reality that most are going to have to face over the next few years
Steve Millss last blog post..Looking Through the Wrong End of the Telescope
By Karen Lynch-Live the Power on Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
Whew! That is a big challenge. I’m even having a hard time imagining it since it is now 98 degrees (that would be fahrenheit) in the shade in my town!
Good Luck…I’d love to come back and see that you did it!!
Great challenge!
By Mike Hasley on Jul 16, 2008 | Reply
Hi,
Wow, great site. In January, I started doing 30 day challenges also. I was short of ideas, and your site has helped me find more things to do even for 2009. It’s not a 30 day goal, but today, and tomorrow, my friend are carpooling to work.
Thanks for the site.
Mike Hasleys last blog post..China-Tibet History