Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
This was another great year for the event - it is a welcome refresher to kickstart new goals and learn more of what we can do in our communities and as individuals to impact our world positively!
Why is it important to honor native and indigenous peoples and cultures? What have you learned that is important to you? If you identify with or are a member of an indigenous group, how does your community practice sustainability?
I grew up in a community that included a significant number of native people. Today I learned about hour native chefs are keeping traditional food culture alive and educating others on the cuisine which is often more gentle on the environment.
What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentaries you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?
several documentaries on climate change, food deserts and the importance of balance. I learned a lot about micro stressors and how important it is to "schedule" time for releasing the pressure, staying in touch with our environment and supporting communities that still experience hunger or malnutrition
Sonnet for the Earth - End of Earth Month The Earth, a wonderland of life and light, Where nature's beauty knows no bounds or end, From oceans deep to mountains soaring bright, A priceless gift that we must all defend.
Her forests, home to creatures great and small, Her skies, a canvas painted blue and gold, Her streams, a melody that soothes us all, Her deserts, stories of the ages told.
We stand in awe of her majestic grace, Her rhythms, seasons, patterns, all so true, And yet, we fail to see her precious face, As we pollute and waste, and all undo.
Let's honor Earth this month and every day, And strive to treat her with the utmost care and sway.
How About Those Apples? I am not sure I completed this exercise correctly. I am more of a hands on person so to compare more and understand the differences I actually purchased one organic apple and one apple that was not labeled as organic. The organic didn't look as visually appealing but the favor profile was intense. The apple that was not labeled organic was larger but I can only describe the flavor as watered down. Also when washing both fruits I felt like there was definitely more of a "sheen" on the non-organic one that took more effort to wash. The organic apple was also actually cheaper but it was on sale so it was a WIN-WIN-WIN for me.
I just realized we can do our check-ins posthumously! I took some time off around a trip where I was traveling for work and wasn't in a good place to do my check ins. My travel was productive but I found a greater impact to the fresh eyes when I returned my home office after being on the road for a week. Don't save all your time worrying that you need it later. Sometimes one day off can feed your work-life balance improving self and saving sanity!
Its easy to let the stress build up over a day or week and not realize the impact it has on your decisions - about meal choices and shortcuts with household work. I think incorporating more balance - small moments of reflection or short walks outside alleviate that build up of stress and give you more ability to make smart choices that align with who you want to be and how you want to live.
