take it in

Some of my closest friends say that I've been really busy the last year and a half, or that I've made such a drastic change in my life. All really nice things, they say. Personally, it's just that I decided to make certain changes in my life and then I've been forced to make changes. By that I mean that in the last year during my pregnancy, I was forced into bed rest due to some complications. During that time I applied my practice more so than ever to my daily life (Dharma), I read lots, watched a great deal of independent, eco-educative tv, and tons of short documentaries (thanks current). I made changes such as starting a compost, committed to recycling, using non-toxic household products, etc. I must say, it's been a little adjusting, damn well worth it.

In the recent past I saw yet another documentary that really made an impact and tied in all the other changes I had already made. I saw Food, Inc.

A close friend had told me a while back and I cut him off quickly saying I just couldn't afford it and that was it. But then I saw it for myself.

Let's just say this really answered an endless amount of questions and raised others. This film laid it all out on the table. From the growers, to the farms, to the processing plants, to the table, to the hospital. Really confirmed once again our interconnectedness. It addressed the veil that this "great country" of ours pulls over our eyes on a daily basis. Not only are they deliberately hiding the livestock covered in feces, but they're not even washed before they're dismembered. Riddled with disease and bacteria, this is what we buy at our local market. The occasional diarrhea...bacteria. So many unreported child deaths due to E. Coli. And so on, and so on.
You think you know...

This is our government.

The truth is that now days eating organic and reading our labels is our weapon against being puppets. We must educate ourselves to the best of our intelligence and human ability to know what we're eating and where it comes from. Be aware of what it really is we're feeding our children (if you have any). It's imperative that we pass this on to them and at least be in control of what we eat.

More and more supermarkets are increasing their organic lines, so the "high price organics" is no longer a valid excuse. Here in South Florida, Winn Dixie Supermarkets carry their own organic line. Walmart also carries a variety of fruits, veggies, milk and other products as well.

Personally, here at home, we've cut down on meats, poultry and fish to once a month each, Maybe even longer. Honestly we don't even miss it. But that's just us.

It just takes a little re-budgeting (I know, I know times are tough) and a little research and it's all worth it. We are 6 and a dog on one income and we still manage to pull it off.