I created this video in January 2018 as part of a workshop on digital storytelling at the StoryCenter. While I had previously journaled about how we decided to sell our only vehicle and adopt a car-free life, the workshop was the first time I shared the story.
I chose the topic of my car-free life for the storytelling workshop to document the ways giving up the car had improved my life. While I intended to explore how a car-free lifestyle had changed my routines, I found myself instead focused on how my emotional reaction to car-free living had shifted.
When we faced the decision to fix, replace, or sell our car, questions raced through my mind about doctor appointments, family visits, and emergencies. Thoughts of no car sparked anxiety, increasing my heart rate — already too high on the best days — and challenging my subpar attempts at stoicism. I struggled with the decision in large part because my vehicle had provided a sense of safety and control.
Fortunately, a sense of freedom eventually replaced a feeling of fear. We originally planned for the car-free experiment to last three months, and eight years later, it is still going strong. I have learned to move through the world without armor, with more confidence and joy.
I have also learned to value experiments. When I created this video, we were six months into our car-free journey, and I had never produced a personal digital story. I signed up for the workshop to learn, grow, and have some fun.
In The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again (2021), Catherine Price argues that “True Fun is the confluence of playfulness, connection, and flow” (32). I will further explore Price’s insights in a future post, but for now, her introduction of True Fun provides an apt description of what I seek from writing and other creative endeavors:
True Fun…is the feeling of being fully present and engaged, free from self-criticism and judgment. It is the thrill of losing ourselves in what we’re doing and not caring about the outcome. It is laughter. It is playful rebellion. It is euphoric connection. It is the bliss that comes from letting go. (13)
As I embark on a new chapter of storytelling in this Car-Free-Full-Life, I want to continue learning, growing, and having True Fun. I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and try new forms of expression. While the written word will remain my primary medium, I am intrigued by how photos, video, sound, and other media can convey powerful stories. From time to time, I plan to explore different storytelling formats, like I did when I created this video.
How are you embracing a spirit of experimentation in your life right now?
Please subscribe, share, or comment, and let me know if you have questions about car-free living. If you are curious to learn how a vacation to Montreal helped me find the courage to say yes to a car-free life, please also check out my first post, The Montreal Vacation When I Began My Car-Free-Full-Life.
I look forward to connecting with you on our virtual sidewalk.
Until next time,
Karyl
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