I grew up in a very conservative town, conservative state. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being conservative, however, now that I look back on my education, I realize how much I feel was left out of a proper 'science' education in highschool.
Growing up in a place with virtually no diversity, and really no variance in religions or opinions, I knew I needed to move. As soon as I was 18, I packed up and headed for college- I chose a Binghamton University in upstate NY.
It was definitely different, and I would be lying if I said that my first year there was all roses and no thorns. It felt like a different world. But once I got the hang of it, I fell in love. I loved the open minds, I loved the freedom of expression, it was for me, a very liberating experience!
Of course, my choice of study was anthropology and I wanted to a do a minor in linguistics. I absolutely love foreign languages - today I study German on Monday, Hindi on Tuesday, French on Wednesday, Danish on Thursday, Swahili on Friday, Spanish on Saturday and Italian on Sunday :)
It's a bit of an obsession. However, my love for culture and language pales in comparison to my love for nature and animals.
In my first year, I needed to take at least 1 science course. I chose biology. I have never been too fond of science, but it was beyond fascinating to me. They never taught science like this at my high school! On top of that, they never not once spoke about some of the global catastrophes we are facing today!
To be honest, I was actually a bit horrified with the realities that were happening on earth due to our lack of connection to earths cycles, rhythms and natural processes.
How could humanity be on the brink of collapse and not be taking these issues more seriously?
It baffled my mind.
It was no later than one semester after that I had met someone who was studying environmental science, and she inspired me to do the same. At the time I was actually terrified of the sciences. It wasn't my strong suit, but I made the decision that I would rather push myself for a reason greater than myself, than to have an easy life laid out in front of me, with perhaps little meaning.. especially if the existence of humanity itself was dependent on our ability to confront these issues and to rise up together to change our habits.
In the beginning of my studies I felt so much anger and hatred towards humanity. I would come home crying every day because of what I was learning. I know right.. it's pretty pathetic, if you have never tried studying envi science in school as a major.. please do so.. hahah you might understand my extreme dismay for all of civilization.
I decided that change needed to start from above. Our leaders needed to lead the way and it was their responsibility.
Hence - I specialized in policy and law.
After four years of studying politics. I realized, our government is a mess, policies are a joke, law doesn't necessarily mean action, and to even get things as far as policies and law - a hell of a lot of convincing, debating, lobbying, advertising, persuasion, campaigning, etc, etc would first need to take place.
We've created one heck of mess for ourselves!
This swinged me in the complete opposite direction. If our leaders don't have the capacity to do change things, who does? WE DO!
more importantly, I DO!
I made the intention from that day forward to be and do everything in my power to live as sustainable as I could, in respect with all of life.
This has led me down the most beautiful journey, the most beautiful life. I can't claim to be living sustainability as of yet, but it is my end goal, and every day its in my thoughts, every day it's in my questions.... how can I do this better? How can I do this with as least harm as possible?
One thing that became very clear, fairly soon, was how much a change in diet can seriously positively impact our bodies, our world and of course our beloved fellow beings!
I know there are many ways to be healthy. I know there are many ways to save the planet. But currently in my world view, out of everything I have ever read, I have ever studied. This by far seems to have the greatest most amazing positive impact.
1- Eating Local. -- Is huge, know your farmer -- local does not mean from your 'local' grocery store. It actually has to be locally made products, otherwise it doesn't count.
2- Eating Vegan -- Many people have a lot of issues towards this. Being vegan isn't necessarily about being an 'extremist' or ultra fanatic about gaining weight. This is quite an expansive topic, and many extensive articles can be found online. Basically -- the dairy and meat industry are destroying our rainforests and pristine lands at a rapid pace. We have a beautiful opportunity at our door, that we don't have to be a part of it. We have the amazing ability to say no to animal abuse, rainforest destruction, loss of biodiversity, polluted waters, displaced indigenous people, mistreated workers.. we have the incredible opportunity to contribute to a world of peace and harmony, and in so doing... through karma.. through science.. (Also many resources on the web on how a plant based diet can cure just about anything) also becoming healthier ourselves!! I first went vegan for the animals.. I was pretty disgusted by the factory farm videos that I saw and then the environmental destruction. But with time, I came to realize how easy it is to maintain weight.. not have aches and pains.. not have health problems all my friends are experiencing.. or knee surgeries.. hip surgeries.. gall bladder removals.. I mean.. I would have neverrr expected any of these benefits.. Its absolutely beautiful, that this way of living is possible! <3
My time spent on farms is as much as possible.. currently living one one at the moment.. but I feel its important.. if not on a farm.. wherever you are.. you can reconnect to nature. When I was living in India in an apartment.. I started buying pots of soil and planting old veggies! It was beautiful to watch them grow and to have that connection to the land.. even 4 stories above the earth!
Now I realize it's about taking actions at all levels. It's about doing what you can, sharing your journey with friends and family, supporting your community in green and eco events, being involved politically - following stories voting for policies and actions that count, volunteering when you can with worthwhile projects, donating as much as you can afford to environmental organizations. This year alone I've spent atleast $1000 on green organizations.. and it doesn't include the amount of volunteer hours I've also spent... It's the most fulfilling satisfying heart warming thing to be able to support causes that resonate with your heart! I am not heavy earner either.. I've definitely earned less than that in the past 3-4 months. But I have realized the more you GIVE to mother earth, the more she provides you with everything you could possibly need and more.
Money means absolutely nothing.
But if you care for her, she will provide you with clothing, food, shelter, love and warmth.
So far has been my experience at least.
Many blessings to your Journey to Sustainability.
Also recently posted this on my fb page: Jubilant Life.
Many people may be interested in becoming vegan, but because it's such a dramatic change from the 'common' diet, many people become afraid. I know I was absolutely clueless when I first started. I read multiple cookbooks, before I was able to kind of get a feel for what I needed to do and what I was eating. But every step of the journey was beautiful and eye opening.. I wouldn't change it for anything.
Many people may be interested in becoming vegan, but because it's such a dramatic change from the 'common' diet, many people become afraid. I know I was absolutely clueless when I first started. I read multiple cookbooks, before I was able to kind of get a feel for what I needed to do and what I was eating. But every step of the journey was beautiful and eye opening.. I wouldn't change it for anything.
I started off with being vegetarian-- before I could muster being vegan.. I remember being SOO afraid that I wouldn't get my protein, that I ate soy cereal, soy milk 3x a day.. and every other soy product available.. so I would have enough ! Which was absolute craziness when I think about it now.. but I didn't know at that time. I actually developed a pretty serious allergy to soy, because I over consumed it, lucky for me I didn't blame the vegetarian diet.. but quickly came to realize that the overconsumption of soy was making me sick! After I figured that one out.. everything was smooth sailing :) Unfortunately I wasn't so smart when I finally had the guts to go from vegetarian to vegan. Well, meaning that once I was vegan.. I actually flip flopped from being vegan to vegetarian on and off because I wasn't convinced at that time that vegan was actually that healthy for anyone.
And when I finally became vegetarian again after being vegan for a full year.. I got extremely sick.. I suffered from re-occurent yeast infections, depression, low energy.. I mean miserable.. It was a pretty hard 6 months. But I never actually pinned it on milk!! Finally I went raw vegan.. and all symptoms magically disappeared almost overnight!
For some reason I still wasn't convinced that it was the milk.. and once on the road.. raw vegan was a bit hard for me to keep up with so I slipped back to vegetarian.. I got even more sick than previously.. fevers after fevers.. colds after viruses.. for months on end! Diarrhea and terrible stomach pains.. I even fainted! It was pretty bad.. I still couldnt figure it out.
It went on for 6 more months of on and off illnesses, finally I attended a seminar by Dr. Nanditah Sha. She was a homeopath doctor until she realized that advising food and nutrition gave her patients more successful results and in the long term! She currently is the head of Sharan organization in India and teaches workshops all over called, "Peas Vs. Pills"
I attended one of her workshops.. and it all clicked into place.. Milk is not a natural food.. You can live off of it, but it won't give you superior health in comparison to what kind of health you could have if you replaced those calories with greens.. or other vegetable foods.
I haven't looked back since that workshop. I haven't gotten sick either. My mental health is for the most part awesome -- apart from if I see tooo much negative news in the media.. but I know everything is as it should be.. and I need to trust life, while doing whatever part i can :)
All is well.
That's my journey, there ya have it.
My ultimate ultimate goal. Is to someday live in an eco-community where everyone helps and cares for each other.. all of our needs are met by our surroundings in a sustainable way. Life grows abundantly and perfectly.. :)
That's my dream! Someday :)
Oh PS. this is what I posted on fb today about protein:
Common myth of today: That by eliminating animal products we won't get enough protein.
Taken from Super Immunity by Dr. Joel Fuhrman,
"Don't buy the fallacy that you need more protien - protein deficiency does not cause long-term fatigue."
"One of the most common symptoms that occurs when someone lowers the amount of animal protein and eliminates sweets from the diet is temporary fatigue. This is just part of the normal detoxification process that most people have to get through. Again, this process most often results in mild symptoms that last less than 5 days. Reducing salt intake suddenly can also cause fatigue from a lowering of blood pressure, which occurs from a temporary dip of sodium in the bloodstream as the kidneys adjust. It could take a few weeks for the kidneys, accustomed to dumping a huge sodium load, to recognize that they need to stop removing so much sodium from the system. This initial miscalculation contributes to the fatigue experienced the first week after a major change in one's diet. "
Basically as long as you are getting full on whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, lentils/beans, sprouts and maybe some grains minus deep fried or processed foods, you will be getting plenty of protein. Protein deficiency is a deficiency in calories and nutrients - this is what you might see in poverty stricken areas, where all the food they have to eat may be white rice (which is completely void of nutrients - it's empty calories) and most likely not enough to even create the sensation of fullness.
Actually our modern world for the most part suffers the opposite problem, protein overload. A high protein diet is associated with:
-osteoporosis
-strain on kidneys
-cancer
-damage to internal organs
-nutritional deficiencies
Eating animal proteins more than 1x a week, can put someone at risk for these problems. Even on a complete vegan diet, high protein foods such as lentils - is best eaten 1x per day (1/2 cup per serving), and of course nuts and seeds are highly recommended to be consumed at least 1 oz per day - but also not going too much over that amount either.
--read more--
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-negative-high-protein-diet-effects.html#b
Taken from Super Immunity by Dr. Joel Fuhrman,
"Don't buy the fallacy that you need more protien - protein deficiency does not cause long-term fatigue."
"One of the most common symptoms that occurs when someone lowers the amount of animal protein and eliminates sweets from the diet is temporary fatigue. This is just part of the normal detoxification process that most people have to get through. Again, this process most often results in mild symptoms that last less than 5 days. Reducing salt intake suddenly can also cause fatigue from a lowering of blood pressure, which occurs from a temporary dip of sodium in the bloodstream as the kidneys adjust. It could take a few weeks for the kidneys, accustomed to dumping a huge sodium load, to recognize that they need to stop removing so much sodium from the system. This initial miscalculation contributes to the fatigue experienced the first week after a major change in one's diet. "
Basically as long as you are getting full on whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, lentils/beans, sprouts and maybe some grains minus deep fried or processed foods, you will be getting plenty of protein. Protein deficiency is a deficiency in calories and nutrients - this is what you might see in poverty stricken areas, where all the food they have to eat may be white rice (which is completely void of nutrients - it's empty calories) and most likely not enough to even create the sensation of fullness.
Actually our modern world for the most part suffers the opposite problem, protein overload. A high protein diet is associated with:
-osteoporosis
-strain on kidneys
-cancer
-damage to internal organs
-nutritional deficiencies
Eating animal proteins more than 1x a week, can put someone at risk for these problems. Even on a complete vegan diet, high protein foods such as lentils - is best eaten 1x per day (1/2 cup per serving), and of course nuts and seeds are highly recommended to be consumed at least 1 oz per day - but also not going too much over that amount either.
--read more--
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-negative-high-protein-diet-effects.html#b
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