I've always been a very strong and competitive girl. From a young age, I was always confident and ready for whatever came my way. I've never been one to step down from any challenge; no matter what. All that changed the day I decided to challenge plastics.
I decided to start the challenge while I was on vacation as I wouldn't have access to my everyday items that I use. I woke up early excited about the competition.
Morning
I woke up around 10 EST. The first thing I did was look at my phone to read the emails and texts from the previous night. Already, I lost the challenge. Not only was my phone made of plastics, so was my phone case, the coating on the electrical wires on my charger as well as the plastic cover on the electrical outlet on the wall.
So, I started over.
I didn't turn on the TV or the computer today because both of those things were made of plastics. After all, my plastic phone can do all the same functions as the TV and computer.
Next, I was preparing for a shower. I opened my suitcase using the plastic zipper. Shaking my head, I pulled out the outfit for the day only to find that the elastic in my sweat pants was also plastic.
Ah well, time for that shower. I opened my plastic cosmetic bag to take out my (all plastic) floss, threader, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. I pulled back the plastic liner and let the water run.
I really started to get a little agitated with all the plastic usage. It really is something that I never thought about.
Afternoon
All clean and ready to hit the town. I decided to get a bite to eat first. I walked to the refrigerator and realized the handle was plastic. I decided that I was thirsty first, so I grabbed my favorite Minute Maid Tropical Juice. The whole bottle was plastic. I pulled out the Tupperware containing the lasagna I made. Plastic, plastic and more plastic.
I got a little stressed out and decided to take a nap. Maybe I could dream up some ideas to avoid using plastics.
I didn't really sleep on the beach. It was 22 degrees in Georgia this weekend. This is me wishing that my nap was on the beach.
Late Afternoon
I woke up to my plastic phone. Went through my tooth brushing ritual with all my plastic utensils, again.
This time, I decided to go out. I got in the car thinking that I may be home-free from plastics. NOT. I turned the heat on--a plastic nob. I turned the radio on--a plastic faceplate. Then I thought about all the plastics under the hood and on the tires.
DEFEAT, DEFEAT, DEFEAT!
I decided to drive around little bit. At least that way, I wouldn't utilize anymore plastic. Yea, that was my initial thought. I arrived at a stop light and what do you know? It was a plastic mold on the lights held in the air by plastic wiring.
I was awfully close to giving up.
Evening
Since I was so stressed about all this plastic use, I did what any normal college student would do. I found the local tavern.
On the up side, I didn't encounter my opponent, Mr. Plastic, in the bar right away. I'm pretty sure that's a lie, but it sounded good to me.
My drink came in a glass with a plastic straw. I grabbed napkins out of a plastic container. My wings came in a plastic basket.
It was at that very moment that I decided to have a good time and stop thinking about all the plastics. I danced a bit. I ate a lot; probably too much.
Conclusion
On my way home, I really reflected on the day I had. I thought long and hard about the environment and how much we, as humans, take things for granted.
I didn't come up with a conclusion, but I definitely thought critically about all of this. I realized the 'real' challenge comes in trying to diminish plastic use altogether.
In this way, I took the TKO that the plastic challenge gave me. Back to the training room.
Someone wipe my face, please.
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