No Pants in Toronto

THE RESOLUTION: Challenges by YOU!

CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 1

Impossible to ignore Joe and April taking
pictures of me!

I'm not sure what I expected (or what I was thinking!) when I created the final ThirteenSquared resolution. Apart from finding an exciting way of including you, whomever you may be, I opened myself up for more creative suggestions than I ever stopped to consider. In fact, the first two submission have already proven the versatile nature of the possible challenges.  They both push me outside the boundaries of my 'normality' in very different ways and in my world this can only mean one thing: adventures in self-discovery.

My evil genius little sister Maite has proposed that I go one week, a whole, entire, WEEK without internet. I have accepted this challenge and so I will full fill it... at some point, before the year is up. This is truly a challenge in the sense of the word. Surely I will get to write quite the story on this one with all those hours of my life that will suddenly free up. But this story, is about that other challenge, the one that proposed that I casually take off my pants in a very, very (context inappropriate) public place in the huge metropolis of Toronto Canada.



Perhaps I should set the stage for this one a bit more. I received the challenge as a simple link sent to me by my mom, yes, my mom!
http://improveverywhere.com/2013/01/07/no-pants-subway-ride-2013-details-for-new-york/ 

The history and details of the No Pants Subway Ride are all there, including all the cities around the world that now participate. In short, anyone can take part as long as you follow the 2 rules: No pants and keep a straight face about it. I don't know about you, but imagining myself in this position inspired girlish nervous laughter and a tomato-red glow to my face. This is simply not something I would be comfortable with, so to overcome it this new fear, I decided to do it. January 13th started off part 'silly excitement' and big part 'attempted self-sabotage'. It almost worked. By the time I figured out how to get to the downtown Toronto subway station of Yonge & Dundas to meet with other No Pants participants, they were already gone. I had built up my few slivers of courage to do this from the comfort of knowing that other complete strangers in Pantless get-ups would get it and the general public would be less condemning from the more obvious explanation that group dynamics show planning, not mental illness. Point is, I seemed to be overly concerned with what other people will think about me. See how self-discovery plays into this seemingly harmless prank. Every self doubt and negative thought about myself impeded my ability to just have fun with this.

Stress eating through my nerves at the Yonge & Dundas station. 

I had the forethought to invite a few friends along to this excursion... they did not have the forethought to reject me with the possibility of getting sucked into my scheme. After too much delay from my part, I agreed to commence operation No Pants... if they joined me!

There was a shockingly minimalist reaction before all three of our pants were off and we boarded the first train. The most surprising aspect of the whole adventure seems to be how little anyone aboard cared about our little stunt, even with my flashy green socks! Is Toronto really that used to people riding the subway without pants in the middle of winter?

Attempting to look as comfortable and nonchalant
 as possible!

For nearly an hour we rode back forth through Toronto's downtown system getting a few smiles and of course, I endured dozens of pictures courtesy of April and Joe (and hopefully ONLY them!) as I knew I had to provide evidence to you all. I can honestly say I did not read one word of that (very interesting) book I'm holding. But as the time passed, I became more comfortable.

 Walking up and down the ramps at station changes was probably when I felt the most on display. I swear I could feel every eye on the slow moving train watching my little pink Victoria's Secret bouncing as I went.

So thank you to my Mom for this challenge/adventure/growth opportunity. And to my sister, I have yet to find out what kind of good can come out of this nightmarish scenario you've proposed, but I'm sure I'll still love you at the end of it :)

And of course, THANK YOU to my biggest supporters! I love you guys!

April and Jose

One more....

One woman. One year. 14 down. 155 to go.