It seems everywhere I turn I hear conversations about choices people are making that reflect their current reality – often with direct reference to how their choice today differs from what they might have decided if we rolled the clock back 12 months.

My own take on this was a recent decision to give up the gym and try to incorporate exercise of the more low-tech variety into my daily routine.

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I was inspired by my son’s elementary school principal who has been challenging the community to find green ways to get to school and decided to green-up my grocery shopping.

I laced up my running shoes, added a backpack, and grabbed my cell and nano and headed for the grocery store 2 miles away. Along the way I had the chance for quick bites of conversation with neighbors I usually see only through my car window – that was a cool side benefit I had not anticipated.

The 20 minute walk gave me time to think about what I was going to buy – I mentally tailored my list to include only the necessities (necessity now being defined as something my 5 year old would actually eat that did not exceed the weight limit of my backpack or my back).

As I weaved my way up and down the aisles I was feeling pretty good about accumulating some virtual carbon credits, saving money and upping the nutritional value of my total purchase until-cue that screeching record-skipping sound- I realized that I had no way to pay for my adventure.

And that’s where it all unraveled. I used my cell to sheepishly request that my wallet be delivered to me by car –my green aspirations evaporating- and then, after realizing that I would no longer be the sole transport for these purchases, loaded up the cart.

If you are part of the Eliza community you know that we obsess about the strategy and words we use for helping people achieve healthier behaviors (mind, body and financial).

I am reminded every day (and sometimes it is personal) that finding the right balance of motivation, planning and resources means asking the right questions and being acutely aware of the larger circumstances.

On a personal note, I have added wallet to my checklist for my next attempt.