Create more environmental + social good. Join the People's Ecochallenge!

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

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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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Happiness

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

Char Osterlund 10/20/2019 9:31 AM

The happiness challenge is so much fun! I am often touched by a ray of sun hitting something just so, and little things like that. Having happiness as one of my challenges makes me express that by writing it down, and then I reflect on other things that make me happy and I realize that there is a lot of positive stuff out there. I need to be positive to focus in on something good, to feel empowered. So, the short answer is that I feel empowered when I practice gratitude.

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Char Osterlund 10/15/2019 12:30 PM

I love my happiness action. With all the depressing news, writing down three things for which I am grateful continues to sustain me. Today it was mostly looking at the bees in my scabiosa. I will try to remember to take a picture of it. Scabiosa is a perennial, but it literally blooms all summer. Bud, flower and seed pods are all very nice to look at. Scabiosa attracts bees and butterflies and that makes it such an exquisite plant.

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Char Osterlund 10/10/2019 5:51 PM

My health and happiness challenge is not a challenge at all once I start doing it. It makes me stop to see the joy and to be an optimist. It takes optimism to act. Today in writing down things for which I am grateful, I realized that being grateful makes you take the road to happiness. What a better way to live. I was grateful for the song I was listening to..."Good Golly Miss Molly" by Little Richard. It was so full of energy it had me dancing and then my whole day started with positive energy.

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Kristal Ayne 10/09/2019 5:38 PM

I did not do well today. We had a monthly meeting and potluck. I ate food I normally don't eat and a lot of recommended sugary desserts I didn't even want. The good takeaway is that I wasn't satisfied or happy with what I ate and hopefully will be able to make better choices next month.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Mug

Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

Char Osterlund 10/09/2019 1:56 PM

The most difficult thing about making the switch is remembering! When we go out for our weekly breakfast it is easy to remember most of the time, but when it is an unexpected cup of coffee that someone offers me and it is in a plastic or paper cup, it is difficult to refuse.

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Kristal Ayne 10/08/2019 7:21 AM

I finally understand how to enter my challenges. The sugar challenge is difficult

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

Char Osterlund 10/07/2019 10:05 AM

Meat typically costs more, …

More resources are used to produce meat. Forests that help to sequester carbon are cut down to make for pastures so that is not good for the environment.

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Kristal Ayne 10/03/2019 5:58 PM

I am not sure I am checking in correctly and could use some help. Are there instructions I missed?

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- Kristal Ayne 10/04/2019 3:38 PM
  
  I can get to the page but I'm not sure how to put in my daily activities. Also one of my coworkers signed up today and will get her friend to join.
  
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- Char Osterlund 10/04/2019 12:08 PM
  
  I was having trouble too, then my husband gave me this link that gets you straight to our page.
  
  https://peoples.ecochallenge.org/teams/springfield-vt
  
  login should be at the top right hand corner, and then if you just click on sign in if you had your password saved, it will take you directly to your challenges.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Reduce refined sugar

Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now?

Kristal Ayne 10/03/2019 5:55 PM

I confess I am still addicted to sugar. It brings up the feeling of being good/loved/worthy going back to my childhood. I am choosing to eat more grounding foods and when craving, I am choosing to eat fresh fruits and nuts.

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- Kristal Ayne 10/04/2019 3:44 PM
  
  I've known I'm addicted for over 40 years. This is connected to self worth and when I'm stressed, I just go for it. I used to get to the grocery check out and start the mantra "I love myself". If when I got to check out, if I still wanted candy, I allowed myself to have it. However, many times I was able to pass it up.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water 5-Minute Showers

Five minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?

Char Osterlund 10/03/2019 7:15 AM

I actually timed my shower yesterday and it only took 2 1/2 minutes. That astounded me. On days of non-physical activity I could switch to a French bath. I already save on washing clothes by airing clothes out instead of washing them every time I wear them. If the item shows no dirt and passes the sniff test, it is okay. It also makes some of my favorite things last longer.

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