Resourcing the Revolution

Writing

Willpower (or: what to do when you don’t wanna)

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willpower_640Last week, I wrote about one tip that I use for keeping on top of procrastination. This week, I’ll admit that I am having a bit of a hard time keeping to my own tactics.

Here’s why. Sometimes, even when you have set a standard for yourself, bypassing the usual workarounds that would allow you to procrastinate your way out of doing what you are supposed to, you just can’t muster the desire to take the first step. Or the middle ones. Or even do anything remotely related to the task at hand.

You can hear your inner self in the background… “but I don’t WANNA!”

Sometimes all the tricks in the world won’t help you avoid the procrastination trap, and you end up facing down your impending deadline with the feeling that you just don’t care. No one else is paying attention, so why should you give a crap? It would be much easier to just give up and move on.

(Side note: if you feel like this most of the time, it’s probably a sign that you should probably re-evaluate what you’re doing – find your “hell yes” and be passionate about what you’re doing.)

That note aside, sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do it anyway. Push through, power on despite the perceived agony. (Second side note: it’s usually never as bad as it seems at the time.)

It’s like when your mom used to force you to eat your broccoli at the dinner table, because it was good for you. Or when Calvin’s dad (of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes) used to tell Calvin that the things he hated doing built character. It’s kinda like that, only now it’s just you – no parental type telling you what to do “for your own good”. Now it’s just you, your amazing procrastination abilities, and your willpower.

Nike says: Just do it.

Once you manage to swear, complain and whinge your way through the task at hand, it will all be over and you can move on. Heck, maybe it will even help you get some momentum back.

Recap?

Quit whining and just do it.

The Power of Procrastination (or: schedule it!)

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procrastination_640One of the things that I learned from Chris Guillebeau a long time ago was the power of deciding on and sticking to a schedule. For someone who is a skilled procrastinator like myself, this has proven to be invaluable. One of the keys to success is consistency – for example, picking Tuesday evening as your scheduled time to put up a blog post (oh hi there!) – and sticking with it, no matter what.

If you fail to stick to your schedule, you then have to publicly admit defeat. For example, if you miss writing a blog post, you are then required to post something – even if it’s as simple as a note that says “this week I failed.” (Ouch.)

The reasoning for giving yourself this level of consistency is that you create a standard to which you hold yourself (even if no one else is reading this, I know that if I miss a scheduled post, I have failed); if you allow yourself to slip, it then becomes easier and easier the next time, on and on in a downward spiral. “Oh, I had a lot going on today, I’ll just write tomorrow… oh, this week was just no good, I’ll write next week…” All of a sudden, it’s next month, and your blog is lying awake at night, lonely and abandoned… you get the picture!

I hold myself to this standard, knowing that my personality type is such that I could earn a gold medal at the Procrastination Olympics – next year. By creating consistency for myself, I hold myself accountable. I allow myself to sidestep the messy procrastination track, and I keep myself on task.

I know that this system doesn’t work for everyone, but if you’re anything like me, give it a shot. Be your own accountability partner and schedule yourself for success. And, let me know how it goes (or if you have tips and tricks for your specific personality- or work-type)!

Connect the Dots (or: a climate realization)

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connect-dots_640This past Saturday marked the second big environmental event in as many weeks for me. I have been a volunteer community organizer for 350.org since 2009, and when they announced plans for a day of “connecting the dots on climate change” I was immediately in, despite the quick turnaround between events.

At that point, I was still heavily involved with planning for the Eco Fair, and knew that most of my Dots planning would fall into the last two weeks prior to May 5. Little did I know that I would attend an event during Earth Week that would challenge my thinking on climate change and an entire segment of the environmental movement.

It started out simply – an invitation to attend a flash seminar given by Howard Epstein, a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia. It was rather informal, a group of students and other UVA faculty who gathered at the newly opened OpenGrounds facility on the UVA campus. (OpenGrounds is a coworking facility, similar in style to downtown’s own OpenSpace – a place where its users can connect, collaborate and create – very cool.)

During those two hours, my understanding of climate science was turned on its head. Where I had trusted the biggest names in the environmental movement were doing their due diligence and giving it to me straight, I came to the rather uncomfortable realization that everyone puts their own spin on the issues they work. I personally am not a climate scientist. I don’t have enough time in the day to research every finding, investigate every nuance, chase every trail – I try to do my best to choose my sources of information carefully, and trust that they do take the time to do so.

Before I go any further, this is not meant to be a finger-pointing post, or to be taken as anything other than a gentle reminder to look at the big picture and get my information from multiple sources before making any decisions!

What I learned during that flash seminar was this: even climate scientists don’t know for sure what’s going to happen. While the scientific community is doing their best to model what is ahead, there is simply not enough data to make any certain conclusions. And, when a Q&A session came around, I had the opportunity to ask about the connection between extreme weather and climate change.

It’s at this point that I was shaken. What Dr. Epstein said was that the Al Gore’s of the world (to pull one big name out of the hat for the sake of reference) are taking an extreme position on the connection. Basically, correlation does not indicate causation; there is no way to make a solid scientific statement that says “yes, humans are causing climate change, and climate change is making our weather all out of whack.”

When faced with such a realization, I knew I needed to sit on the information and let it process. I do know this – whether or not we can prove a connection between human activity and climate change and whether or not we can definitively say that climate change is making our weather more severe, we’re still destroying our planet.

I continued my planning efforts, and joined together with one of the members of Transition Charlottesville Albemarle to pull off a well attended and well covered event. We focused on Dominion Energy and their so-called renewable energy sources in Virginia; our main talking point for the day was a call for Dominion to invest in actual renewables, to stop greenwashing and show us the green energy. We talked about the connection between climate change and Charlottesville’s lack of a winter, and Professor Andres Clarens (of the UVA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering) spoke about ways that Virginia residents can make a difference on an individual level, contacting their local representatives to make sure that the government initiatives for wind power don’t expire soon.

It all boils down to this for me: it doesn’t matter whether or not science can predict exactly where our planet is heading – I know that we need to be more responsible stewards of her. We need to tread lightly, and be respectful of this small blue marble that gives us life. Whether or not climate change is causing the crazy weather we have been seeing, I will continue to be a part of the fight to save our planet. My hope is that humanity will begin to awaken to this fact, and if it takes a little bit of spin to make people pay attention, then that’s what it takes.

Moving forward, I will be sure to be more balanced in my information intake, but just as committed to the cause and just as willing to take a stand against those who are bent on the destruction of my home. The fossil fuel industry, the Koch brothers of the world, the deep pockets behind the scenes – those are the true villains of our time, and it’s time for a real change.

Astrology (and other asides)

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astrology_640Ever have one of those days where you have a million ideas, but you just can’t get any of them to stick?

Today was one of those days for me. And, it just so happened that a friend picked up a copy of one of the local weekly rags and read my fortune to me. I usually don’t pay attention to astrology, but at this particular juncture in my life, it resonated with me:

A starfish that loses an arm can grow back a new one. It’s an expert regenerator. According to my understanding of the astrological omens, you are entering a starfish-like phase of your cycle. Far more than usual, you’ll be able to recover parts of you that got lost and reanimate parts of you that fell dormant. For the foreseeable future, your words of power are ‘rejuvenate, restore, reawaken and revive.’ If you concentrate really hard and fill yourself with the light of the spiritual sun, you might even be able to perform a kind of resurrection.

I dig it. With everything that has gone on in the past year of my life, it’s a time for restoration. It’s necessary every once in a while to dig deep and take a look at where you are on the path, where you want to be, where your energy is going. Now that I have a few more hours in the day, it’s time for some soul-searching.

Reawakening still in progress…

Local Food (or: how to eat without a car)

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local-food_640But, where do you get your groceries?

It’s been one of the most common questions I’ve heard since I went car free back in January, and along with the awesome folks at Relay Foods, I always mention the farmers markets in and around Charlottesville. Because so many people have the impression that it’s a difficult shift to make, I want to take some of the mystery out of local food – the majority of the food I eat during the growing season comes from one of these markets!

Since I don’t have a car, I have two markets that I depend on, but I wanted to put together a comprehensive list of the markets that go on through the spring, summer and fall here in Central Virginia:

Charlottesville City Market – Saturdays, 7 am until 12 pm
Located between Water and South streets in downtown Charlottesville, the key to the City Market is to get there early! In order to snap up the first of the season asparagus, or raspberries, or any of the limited edition produce, it’s key to get there before 9 am. The crowds start rolling in around 8 am, and by 9 or so, it’s so packed that it’s hard to get around. Even for someone like me who is so incredibly NOT a morning person, it’s worth it to get up at dawn. Open April through December (hours and name change later in the season).
https://www.facebook.com/CharlottesvilleCityMarket

Farmers in the Park – Wednesdays, 3 pm until 7 pm
Started back when Meade Park was still mostly a park, this market is much less crowded than the Saturday market. The current layout runs against two sides of the Onesty Family Aquatic Center pool on Meade Avenue. Again, the key is getting there early – once summer sets in, it’s far nicer to get produce that hasn’t experienced heat shock from being out in 90+ degrees, and if you get there before rush hour, the selection is much better. There are some vendors who overlap both markets, but there are a few who don’t make an appearance on Saturdays. Open May through September
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Farmers-in-the-Park/81048539935

And, the list of the other markets that are out of walking distance, but still worth making the trip if you have a car and/or live close:

Pen Park Market – Tuesdays, 3 pm until 7 pm
This market will be in its 3rd year in 2012 – and has a very similar feel to the old days of Farmers in the Park. The market takes place in Pen Park, and this growing market is much smaller than either of the two listed up above. When I lived close to Pen Park last year, this market was a weekly stop. Open May through September.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Market-at-Pen-Park/379053098080
[Editor’s note: sadly, the Pen Park Market is no more]

Forest Lakes Farmers Market – Tuesdays, 4 pm until 7 pm
Open April – October
https://www.facebook.com/ForestLakesFarmersMarket

Scottsville Farmers Market – Saturdays, 8:30 am until 12:30 pm
Open April – October
http://scottsvillefarmersmarket.com/

Fluvanna Farmers Market at Pleasant Grove – Tuesdays, 2 pm until 6 pm
Open April – October
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fluvanna-Farmers-Market-Pleasant-Grove/368116841344

Earlysville Farmers Market – Thursdays, 4 pm until 7 pm
Open April through October
http://www.localharvest.org/earlysville-farmers-market-M35724

Crozet Farmers Market – Saturdays, 8 am until 12 pm
Open May through October
http://www.localharvest.org/crozet-farmers-market-M17021

Zion Crossroads Farmers Market – Fridays, 4 pm until 8 pm
Open June through October (this information may be out of date… corrections appreciated!)
http://www.localharvest.org/zion-crossroads-farmers-and-flea-market-M30419

Whole Foods Market Farmers Market – every other Tuesday ?
This used to be the case, but I was not able to find any information online about whether the new store will have the same setup as in previous years. If someone knows for sure, let me know and I’ll update this!

And, finally, since putting together a list that extends past Charlottesville, Albemarle, and Fluvanna would make for a very, very long post – a great resource for finding local food wherever you are in the United States: Local Harvest.

Happy (healthy) eating!

Trains, Buses (and automobiles)

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trains-buses_640(Yes, that was a pathetic play on “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”… but air travel doesn’t really fit with today’s topic!)

At the end of last year, I finally sold my car, after months of attempting to do so.

While I was initially unsure of how my first foray into the car-free lifestyle would work out, I was hopeful. The choice was a conscious one, from both an environmental and financial standpoint.

So, now that I have spent the past three months sans vehicle, I wanted to give an update on where I stand with my decision.

While it has made certain aspects of my life more difficult, my hands-down response to the car-free life: I LOVE IT!

Yes, I have to think ahead when I’m going somewhere, to make sure that I leave enough time to walk. Or, I have to check the transit schedule, to see what buses are running when.

But, overall, the choice has absolutely set me free.

Now that I work completely for myself, I don’t have to commute to an office. I get my groceries from the farmer’s market, grocery stores close to downtown, or from the awesome folks at Relay Foods. I have everything that I need within walking distance, and I couldn’t be happier.

I occasionally borrow a car from a friend, if I have to make trips out somewhere that transit doesn’t reach (like my accountant’s office), or for a last minute trip to Washington, DC when Amtrak was sold out.

Now, any time I sit in traffic, I realize how much I dislike driving. Sitting on Interstate 66 on the way into DC several weeks ago, I ended up suppressing a ridiculous amount of rage as traffic crawled, stopped, and lurched. It was such a relief to finally park at the Vienna Metro and sit down on the train.

What used to be an uncomfortable proposition has now become my preferred mode of transportation.

Yes, you heard that right. I used to be scared to take the bus.

Let that sink in a moment. I grew up in a small rural area, where the only way to get anywhere was by car. I spent most of my life relying on a car to get where I needed to go. Even when I was in college, I still had a car. I (gasp!) used to be a member of a motorsports club, and a grid worker for the National Auto Sport Association. I never rode the bus, and had no idea how the system worked – I was scared because it was an uncertain.

Now, I dread getting behind the wheel. Traffic, gas prices, the whole process that lies behind the scenes of vehicle ownership – it just doesn’t appeal to me any more.

And, let’s not forget the environmental impacts of our dependence on individual automobiles. I was struck by this piece, by the Center for Investigative Reporting, titled “The Price of Gas” – though it was written almost a year ago, it was making the rounds again recently.

With gas prices rising at the pump, and with the knowledge of what our dependence on fossil fuels is doing to our planet, I can’t help but think that my decision was the best one – both for me, and for the planet. I know that buses and trains also use petroleum based products, but it’s at least a step in the right direction. Mass transit, done correctly, can have a huge impact on the health of our planet. (Look at Europe.)

So. For the foreseeable future, I’ll be that girl walking around Charlottesville. I need to get my bike out from under its cover and pump up the tires now that the weather has warmed up. And maybe I’ll see you on the bus!