Almost a year ago, the minister at the Unitarian Universalist church we attend had a sermon that truly hit home with me. It was about being inconvenienced. We tend to want things now, quicker, faster and with less work on our part. Being inconvenienced is simply not tolerated these days. However, we take much for granted with this attitude. What improvements to my life might a bit of inconvenience do for me? I began to question some of the things I was doing simply to make my life ‘easier’.

One thing was driving the 2.3 miles to the Ventura Harbor to go paddling three days a week. I would do this, then drive home, shower and ride my bike to work like I did the other days of the week. This was simply a matter of convenience on my part. However, it burned more fuel than I needed and seemed wasteful. Why not just ride my bike the added distance and paddle in the morning and then ride to work and shower there? I decided to give it three months and see what I’d learn from the experience.

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