I would want to start preserving foods that feel tied to the spring/summer. I like the idea of strawberries or peaches to maybe make some kind of homemade jam, or to use on toast or in yogurt. I would also keep tomatoes, since I like adding them to pasta.

It was hard coming up with my core values, but I have three that I think give a solid understanding of my goals: having integrity, committing to growth, and being loyal. I narrowed it down to these by thinking about the moments when I felt proudest of myself. The things that showed up when I thought about these moments pointed to what actually matters to me.

I should let my roommates know about taking shorter showers and not letting the faucet run while they are brushing their teeth. One of my roommates knows I have been participating in this challenge, and has slowly started taking these actions himself.

By spending more time outdoors, you actually start to notice where you are instead of just passing through it. I started picking up on the small things, like the way light hits certain buildings, what trees are native to the area, and by doing this, the area around me started feeling familiar and personal rather than just a place.

From my understanding, Georgetown gets its water from DC's public water system, and gets its drinking water from the Potomac River. To get more information on this, I am sure there is information on Georgetown's website, and I could also look into the local water utility for the city.

The biggest barriers are convenience and being forgetful. In other words, if I don't have a reusable bottle with me, it is way easier to grab a plastic one. I think in order to make this a permanent habit for me, I should keep a reusable bottle in my room and backpack at all times. I think by refilling it at the same times everyday, it could start to develop into a routine. I think over time, it would start to feel normal instead of something I have to think about.

By expressing gratitude and performing random acts of kindness, I think myself and the recipient felt good about themselves. When I actually made the effort to say thank you or do something small for someone, I wasn't stuck in my head as much, and it kind of forced me to slow down and notice the people around me instead of just moving through the day. What surprised me was how much it helped me too. I thought I was just doing something nice for someone else, but it honestly boosted my own mood.

I ended up watching the State of the Union a few days after it was given, and I learned a lot about Donald Trump's objectives for the United States. I think it's extremely important to listen to and watch your conflicting party, even if they don't express your ideals and beliefs, because you don't want to consistently read second-hand information without first listening to the source. A lot of words by politicians get misconstrued, and most people form their political opinions on this second-hand information. Honestly, I believe Trump had good grounds on some of his talking points during the address, like "giving back to the people," it's just the way he goes about them that's unjust and immoral. It's always better to listen and understand than to reject and hate.