Tara Curtin

Nature, God, and Social Justice Spring 2025

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
621 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

197

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

855

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

3.3

pounds of paper

have been saved
UP TO

168

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

495

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

970

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

45

minutes

spent learning

Tara's actions

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 10 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 15-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Eat Mindfully

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products

I will spend 45 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

How might spending more time outdoors enhance your brainpower?
Tara Curtin 4/22/2025 4:16 PM
Spending time outdoors enhances brainpower by reducing mental fatigue and grogginess, improving focus and attention through that exposure to natural environments. I feel like nature provides cognitive restoration and lowers my stress. The combo of the physical activity and vit D and sensory stimulation supports my brain health a lot and probably things like memory formation and problem solving abilities.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

Kathleen Dean Moore says that a sense of gratitude leads to a sense of moral obligation. Do you agree? How can we cultivate a sense of gratitude as individuals, and as a society?
Tara Curtin 4/20/2025 12:31 PM
Yes, I do agree. I feel as though gratitude naturally creates some kind of moral obligation. When we are able to recognize our gifts received, we may feel more responsible for their care as an extension to others as well. Individually, we cultivate gratitude through daily awareness practices, we do that by acknowledging what sustains us. Societally, we need more cultural narratives and institutions that honor our relationship with nature.

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- Sarah Kang 4/20/2025 6:14 PM
  Hi Tara, thanks for sharing! I agree with your perspective on gratitude creating moral obligation. For individuals, we could practice gratitude by taking a moment each day to notice what we're thankful for, writing thank-you notes to people who've helped us, or spending time in nature to appreciate its beauty. As a society, we might create more community celebrations that bring people together, design public spaces that help people connect with nature, share more stories about kindness and generosity, and teach children about gratitude in schools.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

How do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?
Tara Curtin 4/15/2025 1:20 PM
Walking through the neighborhood reveals what driving conceals. I notice weathered faces, blooming flowers, peeling paint, that the blur at high speeds of driving hides. Walking slows time, creating space for chance encounter and conversation impossible from behind the glass and metal of the Uber I usually ride in. I feel the elements on my skin, the ground beneath my feet, reconnecting me to the created world. It's more intimate and more sacred, inviting contemplation and little glimpses of divine in everyday life.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How do your eating experiences differ when practicing mindfulness?
Tara Curtin 4/08/2025 4:59 PM
Eating without my phone allows me to appreciate my food so much more, I'm noticeably much more engaged with the flavors and grateful to eat good food.

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