In the past year, largely due to some themes that I’ve been learning in class, I have made some really major changes to my life and attitudes. What really pushed me over the edge to make some major changes in my lifestyle were some popular Netflix documentaries.

The first of these to set the ball rolling for me was Kip Anderson’s “Cowspiracy”. Made in 2014, this documentary really outlines the environmental impacts we have by choosing to eat animal products. It is not at all about converting you to veganism based on animal cruelty, but it really forces you to consider what your consumption of animal proteins does to the environment.

The second mesmerizing documentary is narrated by Sean Penn, and it’s called “The Human Experiment”. Although it has a strong focus on increased rates of autism, they draw a lot of awareness to the bombardment of chemicals that are surrounding ourselves with. Not only are we exposing ourselves to a multitude of chemicals in the cities that we live in, but also in the household products we buy.

There is always a lot of controversy surrounding these documentaries, whether political, fact based, perspective based, or people not wanting to change their ways. I am not saying these films, or any film, is rock solid, 100% accurate, nor do I believe any of them to be non-bias. However, each of these films, as well as countless other documentaries that I’ve watching on these subjects, bring something to the table that can help people find motivation, interest, or simply, a starting point.

I do recommend that you do take on gathering your own research for these subjects, but a documentary is not a bad place to start.

Back on track.. so… How did these themes impact my life?

1. My Diet – I am incorporating a whole lot more food, and a whole lot less processed foods, meats or dairy. It is crazy how easy it is to have a dinner with one or two things on your plate, rather than an array of foods to nourish your body.
2. Cleaning & Beauty Products – I am becoming more and more aware of reading ingredients lists not only on my food packaging, but also on my products packaging.
3. Disposable vs. Reusable – Furthermore, in the products that I do buy, I look for things that are less likely to be disposable, one-time use products. I also look packaging when buying products to see which is the least wasteful. Ex; pasta sauce in a mason jar –> I love my mason jars for water bottles or salad containers!
4. They have also made me more in tune with my studies. I am studying and practicing Geography, and I cannot be a hypocrite while doing so!