Hi. Here we are. I just have to take a moment to reflect on and acknowledge the crazy reality that is everyone’s life right now.
My breath caught in my throat when I looked at the tagline of my blog, “An exploration into finding and pursuing the moments that spark a zest for life.” The background picture of mountains behind seemed particularly ironic as I realized I’d have to start doing this from my couch.
I am an extrovert and I love socializing with people. This reality is going to be very, very hard for me. But I have to trust that I can do hard things. Most importantly, I have to put the same energy into finding things that spark a zest for life in my house that I did in the outside world, but also give myself grace if I don’t have the energy on certain days.
So, in the spirit of finding the beauty and fun in ordinary things, this blog will be a list of my favorite documentaries that should be fun, informative, and great to watch with the family.
1. The Dawn Wall (2017)
I absolutely love climbing and anything outdoorsy so I may be a little biased, but this is one of my favorite documentaries of all time. This film follows the journey of Tommy Caldwell as he plots, plans, and executes the scaling of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The sheer determination and overcoming of adversity demonstrated in this documentary is inspiring and empowering to watch, and is a great champion of teamwork and setting goals. If this sounds too cheesy or you’re not really a climbing fan, fear not, this story line is full of twist and turns that don’t fully involve climbing, from losing a finger to getting taken hostage in Kyrgyzstan.
(Available on Netflix)
2. Expedition Happiness (2017)
Far and wide less known than the above documentary, this little low-budget documentary follows German film director Felix Starck and his girlfriend, Selima Taibi across North America in a refurbished school bus. Everything about this film, from the premise to the travel to the tiny house to the sense of wanderlust and beautiful scenery, makes this such an interesting and fun watch. Seeing all the jaw-dropping places they travel, and their mostly carefree attitude just makes me feel happy and excited for life.
(Available on Netflix)
3. Feminists: What Were They Thinking? (2018)
Compared to the two above, this is a more informative, activist documentary that follows the second wave of feminism in the 1970s and the role, expectations, and realities of women in our culture today. Featuring famous female artists and activists such as Judy Chicago, Jane Fonda, and Gloria Steinham, this film dives into complex topics such as identity, race, abortion, and motherhood.
(Available on Netflix)
4. The True Cost (2015)
Directed by Andrew Morgan, “The True Cost” follows the fashion industry and the mode of production across the globe to evaluate the “true cost” of harmful fast fashion trends and the ethical questions they pose. Perspectives from environmentalists, garment workers, factory owners, and many others are included in this documentary, and the overall emphasis surrounds raising awareness about the dangers of fast fashion and promoting sustainable clothing production. This truly opened my eyes to this issue and altered the brands and corporations I personally give my business to.
(Available on YouTube and Amazon Prime for $3.99)
I hope at least some of these options look interesting to you and if they don’t, I encourage you to reach out and ask friends, family, and the internet for fun suggestions that get you excited.
I genuinely feel that it’s choosing to continue to find little things that spark joy and inspire happiness that will help get us all through this time. It’s a message I really need to hear and take to heart.
Every day is a new clean slate full of promise and opportunity.