Entry #7 Fresh

Having been a vegan from the age of 14 - 22 for religious reasons, I found this movie bringing me back to my core reasons for changing back to this lifestyle. 

Honestly, I knew a lot of what this documentary had to say about industrialized farming over 20 years ago. This vegetarian/vegan lifestyle was not popular like it is today. In fact, I was teased and ridiculed by family members, friends and strangers. I would spend much of my time researching animal cruelty and the deterioration of American soil to have educated arguments with people who opposed my veganism.

So what changed for me? First, I no longer subscribed to organized religion and I became a busy mom with a full time job. Preparing for healthy food became less important. I told myself that I didn't have time. I slowly started eating dairy, then, fish and chicken, then beef and finally...pork. By the time I was 30 nothing was off limits any more. When I read or saw videos of animals being abused in these industrialized farming pens, I would turn off the images immediately and try to forget them.

Since my life changed a few years ago when I found yoga, my guilt of eating diseased animals and chemically treated foods began to get the best of me. In yoga we are taught to lead by example with this chant:

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTHU

In sanskrit, this translates to: "May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

Ironically before watching this movie this week, my family decided to change our nutritional lifestyle a few weeks ago to vegetarian. We desired to eat more healthfully by consuming as much organic, locally grown food as possible. We also made the conscience decision to lesson our meat consumption by not purchasing any for the home and only consuming meat that we were confident the mean came from a farm that treated the animals in a more respectful, loving way (like the farmers on Fresh). As of today, I do not wish to eat any meat.

Admittedly, this movie pissed me off. At first I was upset that Chris did not give me the choice in watching this movie. If I had the choice, I would not have watched it because I already knew the realities and choose to ignore them. I hated seeing the baby chicks thrown out of trays on to the ground like "things". It made me sick to my stomach that these farmers were motivated by their own financial well-being. Facing the images made me uncomfortable in that I had to see what I have participated in for so many years.I have purchased industrialized foods because they were easy and cheap. I have shut off my consciousness by purchasing meats from farms I know do not treat their animals humanely.  I am part of the problem solution. 

This movie could not have come at a better time for me. It reinforced several things for my family: 

1. Our family made an excellent choice in our health.
2. I need to practice what I preach when it comes to all lives being important.
3. I do make a difference. This movement starts with just one person deciding to make a change.
4. Yes, I love the taste of bacon but could I really look into the eyes of a cute little pig and kill it myself without feeling like a terrible human being for doing so? No, I cannot. There are so many other choices in protein, do I really need to hurt another animal again? 

This is a very important topic. One I wish to share like my new found religion. Facing what I didn't want to see helped me see clearer. I hope to share this video and information in hopes of becoming a voice and advocate for awareness and consciousness for a better world. We are connected like a web whether or not we choose to acknowledge it. With technology today, I see no reason why we cannot change the world, one plate at a time. 

For more information visit: http://www.freshthemovie.com/