Thomas Gaita
1/22/2023 5:33 PM
I want to reflect more on how I feel in the moment to understand the things I'm feeling instead of avoiding them.
Thomas Gaita
Points Total
- 0 Today
- 165 This Week
- 814 Total
Participant Impact
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up to12minutesbeing mindful
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up to185minutesnot spent in front of a screen
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up to34plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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up to97minutesspent exercising
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up to233minutesspent outdoors
Thomas's Actions
Waste
Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion
I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.
Waste
RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES
I will spend 7 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Waste
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.
Community
Support Native Communities
I will use the resource links provided below and spend 15 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.
Community
LEARN ABOUT TRANS, FEMME, AND NONBINARY EXPERIENCES
I will spend 15 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.
Community
Research Restorative Justice
I will spend 15 minutes learning about restorative justice and conflict resolution opportunities in my own community or state.
Community
Engage In Active Listening
I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 3 conversations.
Water
Use Reusable Bottles
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Energy
Learn About Renewable Energy
I will spend 10 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.
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.
Nature
Go for a Daily Walk
I will take a 10-minute walk outside each day.
Nature
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 10 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.
Nature
Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset
I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.
Simplicity
Core Values
We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.
Simplicity
Meditate
I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 3 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.
Simplicity
Limit Social Media
I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 10 minute(s)
Simplicity
Go For A Daily Walk Outside
I will take a walk outside for 10 minutes each day.
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.
Feed
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Thomas Gaita 2/03/2023 2:47 PMI have recovered from my illness and now have a renewed desire to sit outside and look at the sky. -
Thomas Gaita 1/31/2023 8:01 PMSick today, so no EcoChallenge for me. At least it was rainy out, so I didn't miss any sun. :( -
Thomas Gaita 1/24/2023 1:52 PMIt was finally warm enough to sit outside to work today. I get so far ahead of my work when I do it outdoors, don’t know why.-
zoe klausner 1/24/2023 4:23 PMMe too!
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Reflection QuestionSimplicity MeditateWhat would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?
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Thomas Gaita 1/21/2023 10:49 AMI’m drinking way more water than usual…probably good for me in retrospect.-
Maria Quinn 1/25/2023 5:26 AMMore water always helps in the long run, especially if it's cold
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Reflection QuestionWaste Use a Reusable Water BottleWhile water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?
Thomas Gaita 1/19/2023 2:31 PMHonestly, the hardest part of using a reusable bottle is simply carrying it around to classes. As I do it more, however, I'm getting more used to it.-
Marguerite Saunders 1/19/2023 4:25 PMSomething that encourages me is taking a moment to be grateful for access to clean water on demand. An action I hope to take part in as part of the ecochallenge is learning more about lack of access to clean water in the areas around my community at home. What an eco(in)justice. -
Marguerite Saunders 1/19/2023 4:21 PMAgreed, Thomas. I carry a reusable water bottle around out of habit, but there are still times I forget it. Something that helps me is having multiple water bottles -- one at home, another at work, and another in my backpack.
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Thomas Gaita 1/16/2023 11:51 AMI started using a reusable water bottle for the challenge, hoping that it’ll cause me to drink more water and use less plastic. -
Reflection QuestionNature Enjoy the Sunrise/SunsetFather Thomas Berry says, "... our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." What is your response to Berry's assertion?
Thomas Gaita 1/15/2023 2:19 PMI respect Berry’s statement, but I choose to think of the sunset and sunrise as a symbol of the passage of time and simply a beautiful thing that you can rely on to show up everyday. It always looks different, but it will always be there in some form. -
Reflection QuestionHealth HappinessHow does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?
Thomas Gaita 1/11/2023 12:50 PMIt reminds me of what I love and keeps focus off what drags me down.