Sometimes I consider taking a train, but it takes so long and costs so much more. I wish train travel were more of a real option for us here in the US.
Nicholina O'Donnell
"Striving for improvement."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,014 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO668pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO18whole food mealsconsumed
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UP TO38minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO120minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO420gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO180minutesspent learning
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
Nicholina's actions
Health
Happiness
I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.
Food
Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.
Food
Whole Foods Diet
I will enjoy 1 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.
Health
Avoid refined sugar
I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.
Water
5-Minute Showers
I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
Simplicity
Meditate
I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 2 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.
Health
Support Pollution Reduction
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.
Nature
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
Health
Learn More about Food Deserts
I will spend 30 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.
Waste
Go Paperless
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.
Transportation
Choose a Carbon Offset
If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.
Health
Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.
Participant Feed
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?
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Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 5:52 PMI found a few one time action items to do just this afternoon for a final push. Our team is really kicking it into gear here at the end! Good work, everyone. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportation Choose a Carbon OffsetA round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 5:50 PMSeeing as how my family is pretty spread out, it would be hard to reduce the number of flights I take in a year. However, using the carbon offset option at least feels like I'm making some effort to make up for it.
Sometimes I consider taking a train, but it takes so long and costs so much more. I wish train travel were more of a real option for us here in the US. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Learn About Local Environmental Justice ConcernsWho is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 3:30 PMPoor people in general, but people of color specifically, are most affected by environmental concerns both nation-wide and locally. I found it quite shocking how much racism factored in. In areas where there are people of color, organizations are simply more likely to pollute.
To tie this issue back to the lead in the water issue I learned about earlier in the challenge, one of our local issues that impacts the poor unfairly is, indeed, lead. Different neighborhoods have different mixes of water and houses built in certain times have more, as well, due to building with lead pipes. Poorer neighborhoods are more likely to have high lead levels. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Go PaperlessReducing your paper mail can be such a freeing action to take -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 2:55 PMI decided to see if there were any one time actions I could take that I could do this afternoon with a little free time. When I first looked at reducing paper mail, I thought, "Oh, I should say I already do that," because I do. However, then I r realized there is one catalog I do get. So, I went to cancel it directly at the company. Feeling lighter already.-
Meghan Jones 10/24/2018 3:37 PMNice work!
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Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 10:13 AMLast day! Finish strong! -
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/23/2018 9:27 AMTomorrow is the last day. Let's finish strong! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Learn More about Food DesertsWhat are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/23/2018 8:58 AMThere is an serious increase in food-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Options are unhealthy food or spending exorbitant amounts of time traveling to and from grocery stores. What was surprising to me is that the solution isn't necessarily easy. Apparently, several grocery store chains have opened in food deserts and have had to close due to not meeting costs. We watched one short piece about a store chain in Philadelphia and what they're doing to make it work.
I guess it sort of makes sense that just putting in a grocery store and expecting customers doesn't just work because people are creatures of habit. If you're used to grocery shopping, you do. If you're used to fast food, that's what you go for when hungry. Making changes goes beyond availability. -
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/22/2018 2:55 PMI'm doing my happiness challenge here today. Three things I'm grateful for are: the awesome October weather we've had so far, general support from friends and family and that my mom is vising my daughter right now. -
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/20/2018 9:39 PMWe tend to slide a bit on whole foods on the weekends. We'd still have managed sugar free, but it turned out our whole wheat buns had a little sugar. I knew to watch for that - most bread does - but I totally spaced it when I bought them. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Support Pollution ReductionWhat environmental factors affect human health in your region, and how do they affect it?
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/20/2018 7:59 AMOne of the main problems with water here in Portland is lead. The issue is mostly a last mile issue. The water is fine during processing, but the run through old lead pipes makes for dangerous lead levels in much of the water that is actually consumed. Lead is partially dangerous for babies and children. If you live in Portland, you can get a free lead test kit from the city to check your tap water.