Paola Villegas

Port of Portland

"Making a difference, one small change at a time."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
715 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

132

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

44

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

30

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

60

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

660

minutes

spent exercising

Paola's actions

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 6 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Visit a Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 30 minutes visiting a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Forage for My Food

I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

Paola Villegas 10/24/2018 4:00 PM

I love seeing my results at the end of the challenge. It's awesome to see how my choices do make an impact.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Go Paperless

Reducing 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?

Paola Villegas 10/24/2018 8:53 AM

I love opening my mail box and finding it empty! I no longer have to spend my time sorting through my mail. Cancelling subscriptions and going paperless on all my bills has really made a big difference.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Paola Villegas 10/24/2018 8:39 AM

My daily 30 minute walks has really helped me explore my neighborhood. I've also gotten to know my neighbors and the local shops I didn't know existed. I'm really enjoying my daily walks.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Forage for My Food

Amongst the motivations for foraging are: a source of food; means of income; connecting with nature; cultural tradition; or transmitting "local ecological knowledge, and a means for stewarding local and native plant populations" (McLain et al. 2012, 13). Which of these would be your chief motivation and why?

Paola Villegas 10/09/2018 7:46 AM

Connecting with nature is definitely my main motivation. Foraging is a good reason to make me get out there with nature. I've enjoyed my time outside learning about the process.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Visit a Waste Management Facility

Field trip! What a fun way to learn about our impact and consumption! What facility did you visit? What did you learn? Did you take anyone with you?

Paola Villegas 10/05/2018 7:54 AM

My husband and I visited the Environmentally Conscious Recycling center. I learned about the different things items that can be recycled. The facility recycles almost everything, house hold items, yard debris, construction materials, concrete, furniture, tires, metal and many other things.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health More Fruits and Veggies

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How can we start shifting from a meat-focused food culture to a more plant-based one?

Paola Villegas 10/05/2018 7:47 AM

I feel more nutritional education is need for people to understand what a healthy diet consists of. Also to teach different ways to incorporate fruit and vegetables to their daily diet. I think if grocery stores would have more sample of fruit and veggies people would be more incline to try them and take some home.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle

While water bottles serve an important role in places for health and safety, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. Can you identify the barriers in making this a new habit? How can you set yourself up for success in making this a permanent change?

Paola Villegas 10/04/2018 10:26 AM

I have several reusable bottles. I keep one in my office, my car and at home. This way I always have one handy. This has definitely worked for me, I often found myself forgetting my water bottle and either not drinking water or giving into buying something.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use Reusable Bags

What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reuseable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to establish this a successful habit?

Paola Villegas 10/04/2018 10:21 AM

I keep most of my reusable bags in my car that way I always have them when I need them. If I don't have one I try to carry things with my hands or a grocery cart.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Exercise Daily

How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

Paola Villegas 10/04/2018 10:19 AM

I actually invited my husband to go on my 30 minute walks. During our walk we talk about our day and make plans without interruptions. I'm really enjoying the quality time as well as the exercise.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Happiness

How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?

Paola Villegas 10/04/2018 10:16 AM

We can appreciate positive traits in ourselves, but I think true gratitude involves a humble dependence on others. We acknowledge that other people or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset—gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.

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