I just made dinner after returning from volunteering at an event with collegues and friends. And tonight I felt like I somewhat redeemed myself from the Taco Bell lapse, like I successfully strengthened my will. As the event came to a close and people were filing out, free drinks were offered to the volunteers. A nice gesture. Linda, a dear, witty friend sipped a glass of red wine. Another friend, Kyle, offered to bring me back a glass but catching himself, presented water instead. Linda saw the longing written all over my face. Like any good friend would do, she expressed empathy and clever rationalizations should I choose to enjoy a glass myself. She explained that I wasn't buying the wine so technically it didn't violate my rules. True. But it wasn't convincing enough. Accepting the provisions of others would breach the spirit of my project. Seeing that I wasn't budging, but clearly craving a glass of the luscious liquid, she went on to say that wine was a different kind of alcohol, it's really water, it's just that Jesus converted it. I laughed until tears came to my eyes.
Full and liquor-less, I'm now about to have playtime with my dogs. Poor pooches have not been on a walk in days because of the bitter cold. This weekend it's predicted to warm, and I predict that not giving in to tonight's temptation will help to carry me through the next 14 days.
28 Days | $700 | 3 Non-profits
For the next 28 days, from November 27 through December 24, I'll significantly reduce my food choices: I'll eat only 7 foods, 5 condiments, and drink only 1 beverage (what are they? You'll have to read my blog to find out!). Lattes, fish and chips, veggie pad thai, and vino be gone--Yaaouch! By doing this, I will save approximately $700 that I will then donate to three extraordinary, greater-Denver non-profit organizations.
We've all felt the pinch of these tough economic times. Hit especially hard are organizations that function solely to help the most vulnerable among us. Click the links on the right to learn more about the great work of three such organizations, and then cast your vote. Your vote will determine the percentage of the $700 that each organization will receive. I encourage you to influence the votes of others–but please only vote once. I'll blog about my G.U.L.P. journey and update my progress daily. If you scroll down, you'll find my daily blog postings. Your comments are encouraged!
WHY FOOD, WHY NOW? I wanted my G.U.L.P. choice to be a significant but realistic sacrifice. Food seemed an obvious choice for several reasons: First, I spend a lot of money on food. Not just basic sustenance, but on brunches, dinners out, pricey markets, happy hours, and expensive take-out. When I reviewed my budget and found that I spend roughly $700 each month on eating and drinking, I realized I needed to check this luxury. Second, I think the act of eating is relatively thoughtless for many of us--it has been for me. The question isn't what will I eat, but rather, what do I want to eat. Finally, I chose this time of year for my G.U.L.P. project because the holidays tend to intensify our emotions. For those who have plenty, it’s often a time of celebration and feelings of joy can be readily identified. For those who are barely getting by, the holidays can be agonizing.
JOIN ME: What would you give up for 28 days? I have chosen to limit food choices, but that's just one idea. If each one of us gave up a non-essential item, service, or even a certain food for a manageable period of time--something that we've been conditioned to believe is a need rather than a want, and commit the money saved to an effective community organization, imagine the impact! If you decide to give something up--and I hope you do!--I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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