Walk, bike, or take public transportation

Basically, avoid using your personal car when possible. I know for many of us in North America, this simply seems completely unfeasible. But consider the benefits:

1) You are cutting down on carbon emissions (did anyone see Al Gore's movie?) and reducing your use of gasoline, therefore preserving the earth's resources and refraining from further damaging its ozone.
2) You are consuming less of the world's resources and therefore leaving more for others.
3) You are saving money and cutting down on demand for a product whose suppliers are keeping the poor poor and using the money to fuel war.
4) You are getting exercise (even if it is just walking to the bus station) and perhaps saving time which would later be spent on a workout. This promotes physical and mental health.
5) You are actually slowing your life down in a positive way. It's harder to lead the every-minute-scheduled lifestyle many of us do when you aren't in complete control of getting from A to B on your own schedule.
6) You are making yourself more vulnerable to depend on other people and more open to encounter others (think taking a walk downtown vs. driving on a highway).
7) You are taking a courageous step toward non-conformity. In North America, our cars are our safety nets, our convenience machines, and our status symbols. By avoiding car-dependency, you are refusing to participate in society's addiction to defining ourselves by our material possessions.

There's a lot more I could say, but I'll stop there. I know this is a difficult one, but just think of the potential impact. It's something you have to plan for. And sometimes one big change can make all those little choices easier. For example, right now my husband and I live too far to walk to anywhere except church. Also, the road we live on is busy and dangerous. However, in choosing a house to buy, we chose one that is within walking distance to both our jobs, a grocery store, our doctor and dentist offices, our dog groomers, the hospital, restaurants, parks, and the market!
Not everyone can purchase a home situated in this way, but you can start small, by carpooling with a neighbor to work or daycare or by planning your week so that your errands can be done in one shot rather than with several small trips. Try identifying at least one destination that is within walking or biking distance and take a day or an afternoon to make an outing of it. It's at least as good for you as it for the environment and others. Have fun!