Indulgence has always been my forte. So for seven days, I will be starving, walking everywhere, and suffering; all in my quest to come to some sort of astronomical self-realization. I do this not solely because its a requirement of our class (even though I probably wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't required) but also because I have noticed that I have become a drastically different person. Since coming to the continental United States, I have picked up some "American" ( I use this term liberally and can defend this comment) habits. I shop constantly, swiping my card without thinking, have become extremely attached to my electronic devices, and am growing increasingly apathetic to social plights. Despite these changes, which I perceive to be negative, I was not going to do anything to change them; however, this experiment has given me the chance to see if I can go back to being my old self and cast away my new-found consumerist tendencies. For my experiment, I will be implementing the following changes:
Transportation: As a college freshman with no car, I mostly utilize the public transportation system. While I know my current transportation method already benefits the environment, I also wanted to challenge myself to go further; therefore, I will attempt to walk to my all my destinations. However, because of previous engagements, I will give myself one handicap, which is that the destinations have to be within three metro stops of the Teneleytown metro station. By setting this goal, I hope to lessen my impact on the environmental while also discovering if I can meet all my needs within the immediate area.
Food: In my family, there has always been one food staple, meat. It was present in every meal, three times a day, and in great abundance. However, recent discoveries have me questioning whether the consumption of my favorite food, outweighs the long-term environmental cost and whether I should give up meat and its byproducts forever. Unfortunately, due to the rather capricious nature of TDR, the food choices I would like to make are severely limited; therefore, rather than becoming a vegan for the week, I will instead give up meet for the entire week of the experiment. In doing so, I hope to test whether this option is feasible for myself in the long run by testing my willpower, against my instinctive nature for self-gratification.
Consumerism: Coming from a place severely lacking in brand names and superstores, I am used to purchasing what I need rather than what I want simply due to lack of options. However, since moving to the states, I will admit that I have become accustomed to shopping rather frequently, mostly for frivolous and unnecessary items. Therefore, for the entirely of the week, I will endeavor to not shop at all. While this decision might seem drastic, I find it to be, like many of the other changes I will make, a test of will power and a reminder that indulgence is not the key to happiness.
Technology: For the past two weeks, both my phone and computer have been broken
This “problem” while maybe not the end of the world, was a huge inconvenience and a major eye-opener, revealing how dependent I had become on technology. Since both of these personal items are still not repaired, I will continue to go without these two aspects of technology and their benefits for example Facebook and twitter, to further discover the impact their loss will have on my lifestyle.
Positive Impact/Political Action: While in high school, I was active in numerous clubs and community service organization; however, since coming to college, I have not done a single act of service. This unfortunate reality is the direct result of a growing sense of apathy and laziness on my part and has been something I have been attempting to rectify this semester. Therefore, to further encourage myself to give back to the community, for the week, I will participate in 2-3 hours of community service and attend a club meeting to begin getting involved on campus. Hopefully, these actions will encourage my continued activity both on campus and in the community and remind me of the joys of service.
Health & Happiness: I have always enjoyed doing three things: sleeping, reading, and walking; however, college has stopped my participation in all three of these activities. Whether do to my course load or procrastination, I never seem to have time to do anything for myself, and this change has not made me a very happy camper. Therefore, for the next week, regardless of time constraints; I will read for 15 minutes, sleep at least six hours a day, and walk for 30 minutes. By doing these activities, I hope to de-stress from the day’s activities and hopefully make my mind and body healthier.
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