During this first week, I considered an underlying theme of mindfulness in relation to my essential question (What is wellness and how can I maximize the wellness of myself and others). While the terms wellness and mindfulness are both defined in many different ways by various thinkers, I have come to believe that one must find their own definition of wellness. Throughout this week I have been exploring different mindfulness apps, but I also have been continuing the Science of Wellbeing class on Coursera. An interesting intersection I found between these two sources was the use of technology, and apps specifically in relation to wellness. In one of the lectures for my class this week, the professor examined the things that many people perceive will make them happier, but in reality, don’t. This included many materialistic possessions but also the comparison of oneself to others, specifically on social media. For me, this tapped into some of what I already know about wellness, in that social media can be very harmful, fueling anxiety and depression. I would have normally decided to limit my use of social media, in hopes of being more present, and focusing on my needs. However, being in quarantine because of the CoronaVirus right now has added complexity in navigating this balance. If I limit my time on social media too much, I will not be able to be as social as I would in everyday life, because I can’t see my friends in person- leading me to believe I will feel more lonely and isolated, which are not good things in terms of wellness. However, there are still times when I feel overwhelmed and upset by social media so learning to navigate social media during quarantine and then afterwards will be an interesting challenge to accompany my journey in maximizing my wellness. I would love to know how others my age are dealing with this, and if they have even thought about it. Further, this consideration of social media opens up the broader topic of how technology can help and hurt our lives.