How The Movie "Blood Diamond" Made Me A More Mindful Consumer

It had been years since I saw the movie, one that made a profound impact on me. The first time I saw it, it taught me about the immense power a film can have to shed light on issues that are imperative that we all understand. Since then, I have been hooked on exposing myself to other films and documentaries that broaden my understanding of important topics I'm not knowledgeable in or that introduce me to new issues altogether (then supplement them with additional research, of course).

After watching Blood Diamond again recently on a flight home, I was reignited with passion for something that matters to me deeply; the intention to spread awareness of how what we purchase almost always has an incredible impact either positively or negatively...and that we essentially always have the option and luxury of choosing exactly which one it turns out to be. Supply and Demand. Be it the diamonds/produce/clothing/plastic products we use, etc., we have the power within our purchases that demand better for all beings and our planet, every time we buy.

So where do we start? I know it can feel overwhelming. Here are some of the things I think about when making a purchase (in no particular order):

• Can I re-use this product? If not, can I at least recycle or upcycle it?
• Is it fair trade? Did the people making this product receive a fair wage in the process of making this product? Rule of thumb, if you're buying a $10 sweater....the answer is probably not. BUT just because a sweater is $200, doesn't mean that they did either. Luckily, more and more companies are prioritizing transparency all the way up the supply chain. Everlane, for me, is a recent favorite that does this well. Next time you go to shop somewhere, take a peek at the companies website and peruse the mission statement to see what they stand for.
• Furthermore, in the case of diamonds, is it conflict-free? (Side note, I recently learned about a stone called Moissanite. It's an eco-friendly, durable, affordable diamond alternative that eliminates the predicament of wondering if it really is conflict-free altogether).
• Was it tested on animals?
• Is it organic? If so, great! It's less toxic to the soil/water/air when produced and to our bodies when we eat it.
• Is it made locally? This decreases the amount of travel the product took to get to the consumer = lower carbon footprint.
• Is it sold locally? This circulates the dollars spent within the local economy.
• Do a portion of the proceeds give back to people in need and/or environment? There are lots of great companies that make purchasing with a purpose easy and a no-brainer. Even better, they are usually also mindful during production. Some of my personal favorites in this arena are: Conscious Step, Ten Tree, Cuddle + Kind, 4Ocean, Homeless Garden Project, Purpose Jewelry and Toms.

These questions can feel overwhelming when you just want to run errands and get on with your day. I get it. But, not thinking about these things, turning a blind eye (once we know better) unfortunately makes us culpable too. I also recognize that a lot of the above can be identified as many of the buzz words that we see all around us today. But it's within these words that give us the opportunity to be instrumental in demanding better working conditions, better health for ourselves/workers/the planet, for people to not die harvesting diamonds, etc.

Admittedly, I can openly say that I am not perfect in deploying some of these efforts all of the time. But I can say that I strive to be more mindful and better about them every day. Additionally, I realize this is not a complete list of things to consider and how we can do better, but rather, I look at it as a starting point to important dialogue and collective learning. Join the conversation by commenting below to share your thoughts and some of the ways that help you be a more mindful consumer!