One thing I have learned in sharing
my lifestyle with other people is that they are not willing to make a change
unless there is something else in it for them. Which, I get it, humans are
selfish. It is part of why we have done so well at surviving. That being said,
I thought it would be worth while to share some of the unanticipated benefits I
received from my lifestyle changes.
First, over the last two years I
have twenty-five pounds. I am not an expert, but I would wager that most of my
loss stems from giving up added sugars in processed foods. Because let us be
honest, thanks to law school I am more sedentary than ever.
Second, I can afford better products
like organic produce. So many people have told me they could never buy fresh
produce because it is too cost prohibitive. For many Americans that is true.
They over purchase and end up wasting around forty percent of what they buy. In general, I live by the mantra, “buy less, but better.”
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| Image source. |
Finally, I have talked to people in
ways I never have done before. Specifically, I have opened up to my classmates.
In the Global Environmental Governance (GEG) class, we have had very productive
conversations. It was a safe space where everyone respected each other, even
when we had differing opinions. This class pushed me to better define my values
so I could share them with my classmates and professor.