Why do you choose caffeinated beverages?

For the energy?

For the taste?

Do you consume energy drinks?

What would your life be like without your daily caffeine breaks?

This week, I invite you to go caffeine free.

This is an opportunity to give your adrenals and your kidneys a break from the yo-yoing effects of caffeine.

If you consume more than 16 ounces of coffee and/or caffeinated soft drinks a day, switch over to tea to help manage your withdrawal symptoms.

Instead of caffeine, try adding more of these foods and supplements to your daily intake:

• Eat! As in, don’t skip meals
• Sunlight
• Water
• Coffee substitutes like Teeccino, Genmaicha, and Cafix.
• Any tea from Yogi Tea’s “Energizing” line
• Fresh Air
• Green Smoothies
• Bananas
• Get enough sleep
• Almonds
• Sesame seeds
• Chia seeds
• Hugs

Yes, there are some things on this list that don’t count as food, because nourishment isn’t always just about what we eat.

Also, physical activity, like a brisk walk, running up a few flights of stairs, jumping jacks, and sex (but not at work or school, please and thank you!) all help to increase blood flow, which in turn increases oxygen and energy levels.

What do you do to keep yourself naturally energized?

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This exercise has nothing to do with fighting climate change or Big Oil, and everything to do with our relationship with our ecology – body, environment, nature.

Aside from the convenience factor, drivers understand that there’s a certain amount of protection, security, and comfort to having a car. Sure, there are associated costs and occasional aggravations, but nothing fights for personal space more than being in a car.

Driving, however necessary or practical, is isolating.

This week, choose a day or three to manage your commute without your car, or any car.

As you experience your car-free period, consider the following:

Can you get to your destination by walking, riding a bicycle, or taking public transportation?

How much earlier would you have to leave out to make it to work, school, and your appointments on time?

How much more (or less) would it cost you to not use a vehicle for transportation?

How would you manage errands or kids without a car?

What effect is going car-free having on your body and your psycho-emotional well-being? Notice your physical stamina, the quality of your breathing, your mood. What’s happening?

What do you notice about your neighborhood or the scene of your commute – limited/no sidewalks, the number of houses for sale, people walking their dogs, jogging, pushing strollers, trees, flowers, litter, architecture, etc?

If it’s impossible for you to go car free, take a moment to reflect on the ramifications of being completely dependent on one method of transportation.

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I’m not going to go into how much water you need to be drinking for proper hydration, but I will say that most of us are not properly hydrated on a daily basis – we don’t drink enough unadulterated liquid (coffee, soft drinks, etc) and we don’t eat enough raw fruits and vegetables.

Water is a precious, undervalued commodity for those who have access to fresh, clean, water, so I’m inviting you first-world readers to spend some time getting to know your water.

Water can help you alleviate brain fatigue, decrease acne, help relieve sinus pressure, increase oxygen flow through your bloodstream, and help you have better poops, among other things.

Filtered tap water is ideal, but do what makes the most sense for you ecologically and economically.

For the next week, what would drinking water, and only water mean for you?

You can get a pass for unsweetened herbal tea, carbonated water, and fresh-fruit infused water (like citrus slices), but coffee, tea (tea leaves), soft drinks, and other beverages are out.

Try drinking plain water at different temperatures and notice how your body responds.

I find that room temperature water works best for me most of the time, and plain hot water has been great for clearing up brain fog and headaches.

Try it for a day or seven, and let me know how it goes.

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For some of us, life was expansive and limitless when we were young. As we get older and responsibilities take over, it becomes more difficult to make time for what matters and we forget how to be open, fearless, and free.

This week, I’d like you to record an oral history of someone who’s at least thirty years younger or older than you.

You can film it or audio record it, but make sure to have a photo to go with your story.

What is the story of their lives?

Who has had the most impact?

Who do they think they are?

Where do they think they’re going?

What has been the most important event in their lives?

Is that all there is, or is Life continuously opening up for them?

If you need some help, visit the StoryCorps website for ideas on how to prepare a session and see what kinds of questions you can ask.

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Why are you suffering?

What is it that you need to the world to be for you?

Can you find the courage to be the world for yourself?

Could you choose love and beauty over apathy and pain?

Everything you need is inside of you.

All you have to do is be still and listen.

Can you be still enough to hear the song your heart sings?

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