Honestly, during the COVID-19 outbreak, it was quite stressful to know that families were losing their babies or elderly loved ones because the virus had infiltrated their homes; sadly, many families were afraid even to go out to buy groceries. Since I was living alone at the time, every weekend I personally delivered a box of basic subsistence foods—donated by the church located across from the school—to about 25 families. I felt a great sense of relief knowing that I was making a contribution and that those families did not have to live with the fear of losing a loved one whose health might be fragile. They were terrifying times, but also deeply moving moments, as I witnessed the families' happiness when they received their food boxes. At one point, I got COVID-19 while living by myself, so one of my friends gave me a huge box of food for 4 people for 1 week. That time, I gained a lot of weight, even though I didn't eat for one week; it took me almost 6 months to finish it all.

To make sure my pets do not harm local wildlife, I can keep them supervised when they are outside, use a leash when walking the, and make sure they stay in safe, controlled areas. Being a responsible pet owner also means training them and not letting them roam freely. This helps protect wildlife and keep my pets safe from danger or getting lost. Overall, responsible pet ownership supports both the well-being of my pets and health of the environment by reducing harm to animals and maintaining balance in nature.

Expressing gratitude and doing small acts of kindness made me feel more positive and appreciative, and I think it also made the other people feel seen and valued. iIt helped me realize that small actions can really brighten someones day. Small acts of kindness play a big role in creating stronger communities because they build connection, trust, and respect between people. Even simple things can create a more supportive and caring environment for everyone.

Exercising each day has helped improve my physical and mental resilience because I have more energy, strength, and confidence in myself. It also helps me release stress and deal with emotions like anger in a healthier way. It has even helped me cope with not smoking and not drinking by giving me something positive to focus on and look forward to. I usually do stretching, walking, back workouts, and use the StairMaster in my apartment gym because it helps me sweat the most and feel more active. Overall, I feel more confident and Alice, and I'm proud of the progress I'm making. I'm going to continue to add physical exercise in my daily life.

I think I am addicted to sugary drinks and it's hard reducing how much I drink. But I also feel proud of myself when I am not drinking them.

Today, I did not have anything local but I did not eat very much today. I ate all of my vegetables and fruit purchased locally and need to get more but the next farmers market is Thursday.

My surplus food went to this small wooden box that we have in my neighborhood, and essentially anyone can drop off canned food or other goods that you want to donate to members of our community. It’s a first come first serve system so whoever needs it can grab what they need and also leave anything if they’d like to, I think it’s a neat idea and this challenge encouraged me to donate a couple cans of ravioli that I thought someone would enjoy. In addition, I believe sharing food strengthens the residence in my community because it gives everyone the ability and dignity to get what they need, without feeling shamed. To add, it also allows everyone to come closer as a community for our neighbors who might need a little extra help, and overall I think it’s sweet to have neighbors who care enough about one another to have built this box for everyone and anyone to use.

After meditating I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I particularly noticed that I had more mental clarity and optimism. In the other hand, before meditating I often caught myself having brain fog, feeling tired, and even overwhelmed when I didn’t perform my meditation before beginning my school work. I quickly learned that meditation was an essential task to my everyday life that I didn’t know I needed. Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend it!

Eating more fruits and vegetables instead of meat made me feel more energetic, rather than drowsy. I typically nap at some point after 6 PM, but after eating banana’s, blueberries, and strawberries as snacks I didn’t feel the need to nap or eat junk food. I felt like it filled me up, and I didn’t feel that temptation to snack on candy or chips. In addition, I would say I particularly enjoyed eating a combination of the blueberries and banana’s, it was super yummy!