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Michelle Henry's avatar

Michelle Henry

Washington College Center for Environment & Society- Fall Flock Together Challenge!

"To be inspired by the persistence of earth's processes to seek balance and to enact positive solutions in the world around me"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,652 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    85
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    955
    minutes
    of additional sleep
  • UP TO
    1,120
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    985
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    1,225
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    91
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    36
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    26
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    91
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables

Michelle's actions

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 3 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 37
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Support Native Communities

I will use the resource links provided below and spend 30 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join my Student Government or Local Group

I will join my neighborhood association, student government, or another local group of decision makers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 40 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 35
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Track my Purchases

I will spend 30 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 36
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with durable non-plastic options.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 33
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 36
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 35
DAILY ACTIONS

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?


  • Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 10/15/2020 8:54 PM
    Nice work, everyone!  I thought I'd share a cool image I stumbled upon.  Now it's time to continue ecochallenge offline.

  • Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 10/10/2020 2:59 PM
    When we move closer to our goals the wind may blow harder and the rain come down in sheets that blur the truth of what is real and needed.  Distraction is the rain that falls as the sun is still shining, teaching us that nothing worthy of sacrifice and hard work is a clear or crowded path.  Walking alone or in a smaller company for a time or purpose is not the sign of failure but of perserverence and thoughtful dedication.

  • Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 10/01/2020 5:23 PM
    All things in nature remain in constant motion, even as they seem to stand still, and the moon is watching.  We come from distant mothers of the same clan and see things in it's unfiltered light, cast upon rivers filled with answers.  
    Today was a beautiful day and tonight is following it's lead.

  • Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/28/2020 2:08 PM
    Though there are often challenges in this life and in our environment I have noticed many people who quietly do good things in the world and work to make a place for all people, for all living things.  Thank you to those good people who started our ecochallenge team.

  • Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/23/2020 12:46 PM
    Being conscious of everyday actions creates a feeling of being grounded and knowing more about myself and others.  It’s great to see the team working together and growing!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

    Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/17/2020 3:52 PM
    I used to compost before coming to school, and have a much smaller area to oversee and work on as far as gardening now but will participate in a community effort which will bring together two great things, environmental action and community engagement.  It’ll be fun!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Join my Student Government or Local Group
    How can your community support inclusive decision making?

    Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/16/2020 11:03 AM
    Listening well sounds as though it's an easy thing to do, yet, do we take the time to listen to what isn't verbal when we hear someone speaking to us?  We all have experiences that shape our perspectives and response to life.  Asking questions to confirm we've heard someone fully has the potential of opening new paths to understanding where someone else is coming from and how and why they feel a certain way about something.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Support Native Communities
    Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?

    Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/16/2020 10:50 AM
    Balance in living is conscious recognition of all that surrounds us and an acknowledgement of our part in a greater universal experiment, one that is constantly in motion and circular in nature.  Each particle of what makes up any element or being is important to what that element or being becomes.  Our planet is a circle or sphere of many elements working together to sustain the whole.  It teaches us the lesson we need to continue if we choose to pay attention.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Eliminate Toxic Plastics
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/13/2020 5:36 PM
    I try to avoid using single use items.  On the road traveling it is more difficult to avoid but I will clean and reuse cups and bring my own from home most often.  One item it would be great to eliminate is the plastic bag!  I carry things without a bag whenever I can.  There’s no need for a bag every time we purchase something!

  • Michelle Henry's avatar
    Michelle Henry 9/11/2020 5:37 PM
    Ecochallenge is a very simple but effective way to become more conscious of our own behavior, be mindful and act on our chosen principles, to learn from others and share thoughts with people in our community.  My choice to join was easy, and it’s been fun to choose actions that benefit not only myself but others too.