It for sure rings true for me. There is something special about spending time outside whether it is to play sports, take a stroll or just take a deep breath of fresh air. Now more than ever when we are asked to stay indoors as much as possible, one can really tell that observing a beam of sunlight is not the same as feeling it, which I took for granted for too long. It is interesting though that now that we were told not to go out, humans decide to all flock outside. I guess it is not only a culture that enjoys spending their time indoors and glued to their phones, but also one that enjoys doing what they should not when there are restrictions in place. What other shifts have you noticed in our culture since the pandemic rocked our world?

It's especially important now to connect with friends and family because it provides emotional support when we're all struggling and feeling isolated physically and emotionally. Connecting with others helps to ground my anxious thoughts that will go unchecked and become bigger if I don't share them.

Yes, I've noticed during this quarantine how important it is to spend time outside. I find myself a lot happier when I take the time to exercise and explore the city and parks through running. It's a way to slow down and notice all that goes on around us. I feel most connected to this earth and the environment when I feel and notice the cadence of my feet connecting with the ground beneath me. I think spending too much time inside can lead us to forget the grandness of the natural world and we can become too self involved with what we can take rather than what we're given. 

Connecting with others helps me with my own mental health by showing me that I am not the only one struggling through this time, and that it is okay to not be okay. It helps with my emotional health by keeping my support system and friendships active even if I do not get the chance to be with them physically. Funny enough I have connected with people I had not talked to in a long while as there are no longer excuses to not have a video or phone call. This type of interaction has also been beneficial in sharing tips and activities to do alone or through video calls! What has been your favorite activity you have done while in quarantine?

My neighborhood group recently spent the afternoon picking up trash!  And I'm signed up for the Anacostia Watershed Cleanup which is happening later this year.

Food sovereignty is all about encouraging local food systems and local farmers.  We cannot continue to dump cheap grain onto developing nations as it has and will continue to destroy local economies.

More than 1/3 of the worlds crop production is dependent on bee pollination.  We have been in 'partnership' with honeybees since early recorded history so a world without pollinators will be bleak.

Yes, I am surprise the average is $1,500 a year.  I thought it would be more.  I would rather go shopping or invest the extra spending money. :)