Lauren Paris

I pay much more attention to the sounds and the people around me when I'm walking vs. driving. I feel like I'm more in touch with my surroundings and feel more connected to my community. When I'm driving, I'm usually in a rush and don't pay attention to the little things that can make the day more enjoyable. 

That does ring true for me. I do believe that in today's society, we spend a lot of time indoors and work long hours mostly indoors (in the United States at least). I think this has really disconnected us from nature and has given us less appreciation for nature near and far. I know that when I push myself to go outside, I feel better and generally have a more uplifted mood. 

I absolutely agree. Investing in healthy food is a long-term investment that may cost a little extra in the short-term, but will likely reduce ones risk for cancer, disease, and obesity (which are all costly diseases). This can be easier said than done depending on your financial situation, but most people in the U.S. can make small changes in their diet that can make a big difference and won't completely break the bank. With proper budgeting, most can make healthier choices. 

This is a great question! One way in which I've done this in the past and want to try to do moving forward, is putting the entire fruit and vegetable (as long as they don't contain a pit) into a blender to make a smoothie. For example, If making a smoothie that contains strawberries, using the entire strawberry including the stem. The leaves or stems of many fruits and vegetables actually contain extra nutrients, and it will be difficult to notice they're even in your smoothie as long as everything is blended well. This is one great way to achieve less waste, and I plan to discover more ways along my journey.