October 6 - October 27, 2021

Brenda Castaneda

"Help to make the world a better place by being a positive example for others through my positive actions & interactions with our planet, animals, and people. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
899 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

48

conversations

with people
UP TO

160

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

200

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

lightbulb

replaced
UP TO

650

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

53

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

190

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched

Brenda's actions

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

Do at Home

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

Do at Home

I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

Do at Home

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

Do at Home

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Do Nature Activities

Do at Home

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 10 minute(s) each day. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Engage In Active Listening

Do at Home

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 15 conversations.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Learn About Constructive Communication

Do at Home

I will spend 5 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Organize a Course

Do at Home

I will organize Ecochallenge.org's discussion course A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World with my family, friends, co-workers, or classmates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Forgiveness

Do at Home

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Spend Time Outside

Do at Home

I will replace 20 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

Do at Home

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

Do at Home

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Know My Health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

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
Water

How do you think climate change will affect your region’s water supply? Think about the effects of weather, storms, salinity, and sea level rise, among other changes. How can you find out more about climate change’s impact to your region's water?
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 3:32 PM
I understand that climate change can alter rainfall, influence crop yields, affect our health, and cause changes to forests, create insect outbreaks, and produce droughts to name a few of the adverse effects. So our weather extremes create dangerous situations.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing and Renewal

How can you, your loved ones, the community, and environment all benefit from constructive communication?
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 12:01 PM
This is how we grow & learn. It makes us all better, especially because we are only looking at everything through our own skewed lens. If we are open to it, we can widen our own viewpoint and consequently make better choices. Communication with others can also improve if we try to understand that there is much to learn outside of our own perception.

Read More
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 11:48 AM
This Echochallenge has been very inspiring. It is a reminder that there is so much we can do to make this world a better place. Feeling grateful for being part of something that helps in that evolution.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 8:13 AM
I will use it to keep improving my backyard by eventually adding sod and designing a sidewalk along the sides.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

How can you use Ecochallenge.org programs to help mobilize your community to take action toward a sustainable future?
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 8:02 AM
I think it takes a step/action and a conversation to start the ball rolling. Being an example, having conversations about the program and asking others to do some research becomes a good start. :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

How do you deal with the physical and emotional stress of the big problems we face? How can you help others cope?
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 7:42 AM
Several things come to mind when I am dealing with physical and emotional stress. The actions I gravitate to in no particular order are: 1. Family conversation/support, 2. Exercise, 3. Eating healthier, 4. Playing with my animals, 5. Music (this uplifts my mood), 6. Good sleep, 7. Meditation & prayer, 8. Inspirational quotes, & stories.
I start by taking a step, and before I know it, I begin to climb.

Read More
- Marti Mendenhall 10/27/2021 8:14 AM
  Great post, Brenda. I can realte to so many of these items! And yep - it all helps mitigate that thing called stress!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

How do you practice self care?
Brenda Castaneda 10/27/2021 7:29 AM
It has been a journey finding my way back to being healthier, and I realize it is a commitment for life, but as I change through exercise and eating better, more and more of my life falls into place. And even though it is a challenge, I will continue to earn my way back to a better place in mind, body, and spirit! Go ME!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA or another trusted source. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?
Brenda Castaneda 10/26/2021 6:25 PM
I used an instant pot and made some lentil soup with ham, and vegetables. It is nice to be able to freeze portions and have soup whenever I feel like it. Yay! It is that time of year for soups!

Read More
- Jon Peterson 10/27/2021 11:18 AM
  I LOVE lentil soup with ham (lentejas)!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing and Renewal

How has the process of forgiving, or contemplating forgiveness, benefited you?
Brenda Castaneda 10/26/2021 6:21 PM
The biggest benefit of forgiveness for me is the peace that follows. And not being able to forgive can also lead to all kinds of health issues. It isn't always easy, but it seems it is always better in the long run for everyone. :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

How do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?
Brenda Castaneda 10/26/2021 6:16 PM
Fall is my favorite time of year, so I appreciate walking out in the neighborhood because of all the beautiful bright-red and orange leaves that brighten up all the landscape.

Read More