I am an avid Netflix watcher. I will watch just about anything because, why not? I (my parents) am paying $8 a month to have all of this entertainment, so you better believe I am taking full advantage of it.
Last night I watched a documentary called “Living on One Dollar,” directed by Sean Leonard, Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple. It is about four college students who spent their summer living on one dollar a day in rural Guatemala, in attempt to experience life on the edge of extreme poverty.
These four guys spent two months living life as locals in the village of Peña Blanca. They bought a small house and planted beets hoping to sell them. They faced the harsh realities of poverty and endured what a large part of our world has to deal with. It was crazy watching these guys from New York struggle to make a living for two months, while the locals face those struggles daily.
Unlike the last documentary I watched, “Russia’s Toughest Prisons,” this one was surprisingly inspiring. I assumed it would spark emotion, but it made me question what I’m doing with my life. Now don’t get me wrong, “Russia’s Toughest Prisons” made me question things too, but those were very different questions.
I’m sitting watching this movie in my queen-size bed, in my own room, staring at the luxuries I have and consider necessities. Why is it necessary for me to have 20 sweaters and a new purse for the winter season? It’s not, but society tells us that we need these things to survive socially. I say, “survive socially” because it’s not like they tell us that we literally will not survive without these things, but not having the latest and greatest is made to seem like social suicide. I would say this is a problem of the new age, but unfortunately I think it has always been an issue.
While watching “Living on One Dollar,” I saw Guatemalans struggle to put food on the table for their families, and I’m complaining because I have to eat in the cafeteria for lunch. Honestly, I have become a very selfish, bratty person. I don’t think it’s just me though. I think it’s a huge problem in our society.
The sad thing is, I have seen this kind of poverty first hand and I still act this way. I’m almost ashamed to say that because I have no excuse. In 2010 I went on a mission trip to Haiti. According to Fox Business, 77 percent of Haiti is living in poverty. I saw people who were living in a city dump. Mission trips are great, but what’s the point if you don’t let them change you?
I think we all need to take a step back and reevaluate our lives. Maybe instead of spending $8 on Netflix, I’ll donate that money to a non-profit or sponsor a child. We are all incredibly blessed, and I think it is time we share our blessings.
