Imagine a world without drive- thrus. What would it be like? Would our lives
change drastically? Would everything be slower and more confusing? Would
more people be frustrated by getting wet when it is raining and they need to
walk to get their coffee? This is surely madness! I can hear you saying but
Ryan, we NEED drive- thrus. After all, they speed up our day. They allow us
to sleep those 3 extra minutes in the morning.They shrink parking lot space
which is obviously more environmentally friendly, right?
Fortunately I am home alone so I can yell at the top of my lungs. Drive-
thrus are superfluous and completely unnecessary. If we are really in that
much of a rush before work we probably have time management issues we need
to sort out. We need to make better use of our mornings with the short time
we often have before work. This is not easy, but idling in your car going
through the driv- thru is not the answer. Now is this environmentally
friendly due to smaller parking lot spaces? NAAAAAAAAAAH!!. While you are
sitting in your car, your diesel half ton or minivan you are still emitting
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I would argue you could easily build
bigger parking lots if it meant cars were burning less gas not idling
waiting to purchase items.
Most of us cannot picture a world without drive-thrus because they are so
convenient for us. Why drag the kids out of the back of the mini van after
that hockey game if you can just drive up and get you order, right? Well if
you have read Scooby's last blog about the obesity pandemic that is
currently undertaking both Canada and its neighbour state side, you will see
other small changes which we as parents, educators, leaders, coaches and
citizens can do to turn the tide on obesity. Think about it. If we are
always going through the drive- thru what are we teaching our kids to do
when they can drive?A new study was out just a few days ago which stated
that in Canada 47% of kids are getting three hours or less of physical
activity per week (including weekends). Why not teach them to at least go
inside to do their banking, pick up medications, etc..
This leads me to my final point. Why are we in the drive- thru to begin
with? Are we ordering fast food? Are we doing our banking? Are we getting
medications? I feel like there is something fundamentally wrong here. When
did we stop moving to get our prescriptions for medications which we
probably would not need if we moved? When did we need money any faster than
those times we would just walk into the bank to get it? When did fast food
become more important than sleep so that we find ourselves sleeping 3 more
minutes so that we can zip through the drive- thru for our high calorie
breakfast?
I think as a nation Canada needs to really consider who or what is in
control of our lives. Are we just on motor function throughout the day while
our inactive actions consume us? Or are we going to stand up against this
pandemic, manage our precious time better so that we can show our children
and youth that walking to grab a coffee is better for us?. Be a role model
and be the change you wish to see in the world. Join the conversation on
twitter @wellnessrf and let me hear your thoughts.
Ryan Fahey
B.A Human Kinetics
CPTN Canadachange drastically? Would everything be slower and more confusing? Would
more people be frustrated by getting wet when it is raining and they need to
walk to get their coffee? This is surely madness! I can hear you saying but
Ryan, we NEED drive- thrus. After all, they speed up our day. They allow us
to sleep those 3 extra minutes in the morning.They shrink parking lot space
which is obviously more environmentally friendly, right?
Fortunately I am home alone so I can yell at the top of my lungs. Drive-
thrus are superfluous and completely unnecessary. If we are really in that
much of a rush before work we probably have time management issues we need
to sort out. We need to make better use of our mornings with the short time
we often have before work. This is not easy, but idling in your car going
through the driv- thru is not the answer. Now is this environmentally
friendly due to smaller parking lot spaces? NAAAAAAAAAAH!!. While you are
sitting in your car, your diesel half ton or minivan you are still emitting
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I would argue you could easily build
bigger parking lots if it meant cars were burning less gas not idling
waiting to purchase items.
Most of us cannot picture a world without drive-thrus because they are so
convenient for us. Why drag the kids out of the back of the mini van after
that hockey game if you can just drive up and get you order, right? Well if
you have read Scooby's last blog about the obesity pandemic that is
currently undertaking both Canada and its neighbour state side, you will see
other small changes which we as parents, educators, leaders, coaches and
citizens can do to turn the tide on obesity. Think about it. If we are
always going through the drive- thru what are we teaching our kids to do
when they can drive?A new study was out just a few days ago which stated
that in Canada 47% of kids are getting three hours or less of physical
activity per week (including weekends). Why not teach them to at least go
inside to do their banking, pick up medications, etc..
This leads me to my final point. Why are we in the drive- thru to begin
with? Are we ordering fast food? Are we doing our banking? Are we getting
medications? I feel like there is something fundamentally wrong here. When
did we stop moving to get our prescriptions for medications which we
probably would not need if we moved? When did we need money any faster than
those times we would just walk into the bank to get it? When did fast food
become more important than sleep so that we find ourselves sleeping 3 more
minutes so that we can zip through the drive- thru for our high calorie
breakfast?
I think as a nation Canada needs to really consider who or what is in
control of our lives. Are we just on motor function throughout the day while
our inactive actions consume us? Or are we going to stand up against this
pandemic, manage our precious time better so that we can show our children
and youth that walking to grab a coffee is better for us?. Be a role model
and be the change you wish to see in the world. Join the conversation on
twitter @wellnessrf and let me hear your thoughts.
Ryan Fahey
B.A Human Kinetics
Canfitpro FIS, PTS
NCCP
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