Many parts of climate change are incredibly overwhelming, but one thing I have learned after watching countless documentaries and reading books about it is that a lot of people do not understand how our actions impact the earth. Nobody wants to feel villainized for their actions but many small steps can have a huge impact. Particularly with consumerism there is a lot of opportunities for people to make conscious choices that can have a positive impact on our earth. This makes me hopeful that we can collectively be more cognizant of these changes to make positive impacts in the future. 

Spending time in a city for while makes you even more appreciative of nature when you get the chance. I lived in Madrid for 5 months and had an apartment at the center of the city. The toll that the city air and bustle takes on you is not apparent until you get a chance to go away. I had the chance to go away to the coast and I sat by the water for hours enjoying the fresh air. Even though a large population of people live in cities, it is important to understand how critical the wilderness and nature really are to our earth and to us.

Virtual meetings are a useful way to connect with people you aren't physically near. It is important to set boundaries as to how meetings will be conducted and ensure that everyone has a good forum to communicate.

I'm lucky to live in an area that has many women-owned businesses, such as Hopewell, Mini Mott, and Diversey Wine. I've made them my go-to takeout places during the pandemic, and even bought a monthly subscription at one of them to steadily support them during this tough time. 

Daily walks are a great way to decompress after a busy day at work. It is easy to get stuck in the cycle of staying inside all day or for several days without ever leaving but going outside makes a huge difference in how I feel. More pedestrian cross-walks or cross-walk lights would be helpful for my walks, I live near many busy intersections that don't have stop signs or stoplights to help with crossing and it can be dangerous to do so during traffic.

The options outside of recycling can be more important than recycling itself. Consumerism leads to an increased waste and the ability to work with what you already have goes a long way for a sustainable lifestyle. I like that some companies also embrace these ideals and work to make their products high quality and offer options to repair. A great example of this is Patagonia, that launched a campaign to tell people to buy less of their clothing in an effort to curb the waste that follows excessive consumerism.

I did not previously know that many states and countries had advisories on eating fish, I investigated further and found that my diet choices do fall within the recommendations of US. It is something interesting to consider when traveling to other countries. 

I like the autonomy and independence it gives me of being able to move/commute on my own schedule. Chicago can do so so much to improve safety for cyclists though. 

I do a lot to lead by example within my peer group. I think it's important for other people to see that their friend gladly takes the bus or other transit options rather than opting for an Uber.