By: John Webster, Partner at Gowling WLG
Thanks Sustainable Waterloo Region. I’m healthier, more productive and I’m helping the environment. It started because Gowling WLG joined SWR’s network. I joined our firm’s Green Committee. Separately, I became more interested in the importance of protecting our environment for its own sake, and for its critical connection to wellness. In about 2016, I went through a physical transformation, getting a handle on my weight and fitness. I had an epiphany about how to achieve wellness and balance, taking into consideration eight areas of wellness. Environmental is one of them. I wrote my book, Accidentally Well, then in 2022 started the Let’s Be Well Together podcast to explore wellness topics and to remind people to think about wellness and make it a priority in their live. I’ve had interesting chats with Tova Davidson of SWR (Episodes 11 and 18). To say Tova’s information was an eye-opener is an understatement! I’m much more focused on protecting our planet since speaking with her. In May 2023, Gowling WLG ran a Sustainable Commuting Challenge, inspired by SWR. I was happy to participate. We used alternative ways to get to work, other than driving individually in our cars. I biked regularly. I bought a city bus pass and tried it out. I enjoyed the experience. Particularly when I biked, I arrived at work feeling refreshed and healthy. As a group, we commuted almost 1,500 kilometres (about the distance from our office to Nipigon in Northern Ontario) and diverted about 215 kg of C02 from our environment. It was rewarding to be part of this endeavor. I interviewed a Chair of our Green Committee (Liz Bellingham) about the commuting challenge on Episode 78 of Let’s Be Well Together podcast. Later that summer I was training for a half-marathon and injured my hip. It hurt when I ran, but not when I walked. In order to get kilometres on my legs when I couldn’t run, I started walking 5 km before work. I did a circle arriving back at my house, showered and went to work, which was just under 5 km from my house. It dawned on me that I could simply walk to work to get the mileage in. I started doing that – walking to work and taking a city bus home. It takes me about 50 minutes to walk to work. My injury healed after a few weeks. I didn’t stop walking to work and taking the bus home. Why? Because I enjoyed it so much. It’s a wonderful way to start my day. I moved my body. I arrived at work feeling invigorated. I listened to an audiobook (for free using the library’s Libby app). I arrived at work with a clear mind. I’m refreshed physically and mentally, which makes me more productive. On the way home, I like the fact that I need to walk a bit to get to the bus stop. It feels social to be on the bus with other people and I don’t get annoyed from dealing with bad drivers, etc. I relax or listen to my audiobook. It’s been over a year since I started walking to work regularly. I still love it. It’s changed my life for the better. I’m getting the physical and mental health benefits, and as an added bonus I feel good about containing my carbon footprint. So back to my first thought – Thanks SWR!