Being vegan is like wearing a protective mask

What does that mean exactly? Well it doesn't mean vegans are hiding, that's for sure. Hiding is something vegans don't do very well, do we? That's because we're excited about our lifestyle and how sustainable it is. We don't have any desire to hide behind a mask. We want to shout it to the world when we find out how much going vegan can help us and others. 

So, what the heck am I talking about? How is going vegan like wearing a protective mask? 

It's simple, really. By going vegan, we decrease animal product consumption and use, thereby creating a healthier environment for all. We reduce disease, contamination, environmental destruction and pollution. We promote a cleaner, healthier, safer way of life. Just like we do when we wear a protective mask to prevent the spread of illness.

That's right. Going vegan helps reduce health risks to others, just as wearing a mask does. We protect our health and the health of others. It's not just about us, it's about everyone. That's because consumption and use of animal products is not just a leading cause of illness. It's also a leading cause of environmental destruction such as deforestation, air and water pollution.

So wear your vegan "mask" proudly. You're not just saving your own life. You're reducing health risks for everyone on the planet.

Kind people don't belong here?

I learned long ago that many people are resistant to anyone who's different. I also learned, ironically, to ignore their ignorance. But the other day, someone I previously reached out to in sincere kindness when they were suffering a personal loss, told me something that will likely stick with me a long, long time.

She told me that maybe I don't belong in Colorado, more specifically, in the rural region where we own our home. Apparently, the reason she felt that I don't belong here was/is that I don't eat meat or believe in raising animals for other products or for entertainment, which is how a lot of people in this area make a living.

When I previously reached out to comfort this individual, I knew full well that she was a cattle rancher and that her entire family was engaged in this occupation as well as participating in rodeos for generations. That didn't matter. All I saw was the grieving mother of a friend.

Maybe that's why this particular comment stuck with me. It felt like a slap in the face. If I could put my difference of opinion aside to comfort her, why couldn't she simply accept me for who I am, as I did her?

Why, no matter where I go, do people insist on making me feel unwelcome, simply because I'm a kind hearted individual who believes in species equality? I'm not a threat to their way of life. They are the majority. I am the minority. And in that respect, I don't belong anywhere in this world, I suppose.

And I guess, some might see where I live, surrounded by animal ag, as the worst fit possible. I don't see it that way at all. Because I'm not just surrounded by animal ag. There are two vegan animal sanctuaries within a few miles of our little town. There's also a wild mustang rescue. There are people engaged in using their land for raising food crops as well. Wheat, other whole grains, corn, soy, herbs, vegetables and even sunflowers are grown here.

This place isn't exclusive to animal ag and rodeo cowboys. It belongs to all of us.

There are wide open spaces here, fresh air, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. There are herds of wild animals, roaming freely, as they should be. In many areas, the land and vegetation is left to nature's own devices, as it also should be.

There are very few people here. Which means less people to judge and categorize me and tell me I don't fit in. Less people insisting that their neighbors have perfectly manicured lawns, rather than trusting the natural balance. Less persecution from the teaming masses.

 Our little acre plot will gradually transition into an organic vegetable growers paradise surrounded by natural native plants, herbs and flowers. We'll be using methods that work with, not against mother nature. We'll be feeding the wildlife, not exploiting it. We'll be feeding ourselves cruelty free produce too. Locally, very locally. From our very own yard.

 I am a kind person. I mean and do no harm. I live and let live. I'm not the enemy. I'm your friend and neighbor. I'm not going anywhere. Neither are you. So, let's just be nice to each other, shall we?

Vegan reboot with my hubby

It's a beautiful day for new resolve as a vegan. It sure is nicer to be vegan when your spouse or significant other decides to join you, isn't it? Easier to avoid temptation with no cheese or other baddies in your fridge to tempt you for sure. That's just one aspect of my recent reboot benefits.

As a result of hubby's newbie vegan enthusiasm, I've been watching a ton of current health centered videos with him. This gives me new inspiration to not only be vegan, but be a healthier vegan. There's so much to learn due to recent in depth research studies. Even having old info reinforced while hubby is learning for the first time is so helpful. 

It's also way more fun to learn new recipes when someone is cooking and eating the same way you are. No modifications needed. We're having an absolute food adventure. We even invested in an instant pot so we have no “there's no time” excuses for cooking from scratch. Even dried beans will be quick now. Yay! Because I really do love them. I was raised on them but I don't always want to cook them all day. 

I also have no reason to be tempted by vegan junk food because we're simply not buying it. Figuratively or literally. I have finally, after years of gradually working toward being as fully vegan as possible, significantly reduced my sugar and oil intake.

I only eat vegan cheese now and very, very sparingly, at that. I will take one slice and crumble it on the occasional salad or spread a teaspoon on the occasional burrito. That's about it.

I have stopped drinking carbonated beverages. Yup, even Dr. Pepper. It's still tough to walk past that soda pop aisle but if I did buy it, I'd be encouraging someone else to cheat too. And that makes a difference in my ability to resist.

With several chronic illnesses, inflammation is a real threat to me. So it's important to stay away from anything that contributes to it. Doing this vegan reboot with hubby really helps me stay on track with better eating habits.

Lastly, but perhaps most important is the reminder that not all vegan food is good for me. Some vegan “substitutes” are no better health-wise than their non-vegan counterparts. Sure, they save animals and the planet but that doesn't mean they save me. I'm loving this vegan reboot.

I highly recommend finding a fellow vegan to share your life with. It makes such a difference!

How to be a lazy vegan

I'm a pretty lazy vegan. When people ask me for vegan recipes, well, I don't really have any to speak of. I'm no chef. I don't really have time for elaborate concoctions. I eat what I like. I eat what's good for me, mostly raw. It's all vegan, but I can't even tell you how I made my last meal.

I don't really cook. I graze. I eat a lot of wholesome fruits and veggies. I throw in some nuts, beans and grains for good measure. I toss together a few of my favorite things and that's dinner. Sometimes, I make green smoothies. About the closest thing I do to cooking is making a bit of organic oatmeal. So, when it comes to spending any length of time in the kitchen, I'm a pretty lazy vegan.

I don't even “do” cheese or meat “substitutes” as a general rule. They just taste too processed to me. That makes it even easier to be a lazy vegan.

You see, I'm just too busy living to live in the kitchen. Do you want to be a lazy vegan? If so, stick to mostly raw foods. Avoid cooking like the plague. Eat a wide variety of fruits and veggies. Sprinkle a little nutritional yeast on your food here and there or take a supplement for vitamin B-12. Be sure to toss a handful of nuts or beans on your salads and relax.

You don't have to be a super chef or a nutritionist to go vegan. You just have to eat healthy foods and stay away from meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

It's a snap, even if you're a lazy vegan like me.

Vegans may not be who you think they are if....

Vegans, or at least the ones I know, do not represent the typical stereotypes people associate with them.In fact, like the ones in the above photo:

They don't harass people.

They don't engage in violent protests.

They don't hate on people who consume meat and dairy.

They are not out to brainwash you or your progeny with slanted propaganda.

They don't speak ill of others except in self defense.

(Even then, they make a sincere effort to be kind. At least initially.) LOL Let me explain.

Vegans are human beings, you guys. So yes, some of us become defensive when our way of life is insulted or laughed at. Which it unfortunately is, quite often. Oh, we're not as persecuted as some, for sure. I would never say that. But the bias is there and it hurts. Even worse, unlike other forms of discrimination, it seems to be widely acceptable to bash vegans. That is, discrimination against vegans is not looked upon as the bigotry it is. A lot of people think that's funny and acceptable. No idea why.

But back to the subject at hand: Vegans may not be who you think they are.

There are a wide variety of religious beliefs among vegans. Some are even atheist or agnostic. Veganism is not a religion.

Vegans are vegan for a myriad of reasons. Some people adopt a vegan lifestyle for the health benefits. Others are vegan for environmental protection. Others do it for the animals. Still others for the preservation of natural resources. Some are vegan for all or several of those reasons combined. Some have other reasons too.

Vegans come from all walks of life and every race, creed, color and sexual orientation.

Vegans are not self absorbed, obsessive preachy naysayers. Their sole purpose in life is not to make other people miserable or convert everyone to their way of thinking.

Vegans don't talk nearly as much about veganism as they are thought to, except maybe to spread awareness on social media.

Believe it or not, being the center of attention and playing “20 questions about my choices” at every gathering you attend where food is involved is not really our idea of a good time.

News flash: We have other qualities and interests, aside from being vegan. Let's talk about those for a change, shall we?

But not here, because this is about who vegans are.

As it turns out, vegans are no different from anyone else in the world and just as varied as anyone else in the world too. Except for one thing. They don't consume or use animal products.

That's it.

But just as sometimes happens with other groups of people, vegans are often judged by the actions of a few extremists, even though only an insignificant number of us actually engage in negative extreme behavior, violent demonstrations, etc. Most of us do our best to adhere to the principle of kindness.Violence isn't really our thing.

So, vegans are not who you think they are if you think they're all pushy, judgmental extreme weirdos who spend every walking moment trying to convert you. Seriously? We have lives of our own. We have other things to do, you guys.

But if you post or say something bashing our way of life, the food we eat or make a running joke out of us, do expect us to call you on it. Not because we hate you. Nope. Because we care about everyone. We don't like to see our friends engage in bigotry, especially if they're not aware that what they're doing is hurtful. In fact, if we bother to comment on something you post or verbalize, take it as a compliment.

It means we believe you're a good person who does not consciously realize what they're saying is discriminatory. It means we love you enough to let you know when you're being hurtful and that we have faith you will stop being hurtful when you realize it.

Remember, whether you think your “joke” is harmless or not, it's the feelings of the people it's directed at that determines whether or not you should say it.

Lastly, and perhaps, most importantly:

Vegans are really not who you think they are if you expect us to be OK with bigotry toward anyone. Come on, dude, Do No Harm is our mantra. We wouldn't let you poke fun at anyone else and we're certainly going to stick up for ourselves. It just makes sense.

So, rather than insisting that you meant no harm or going on and on about how horrible we are in comparison, why not actually listen to what we're trying to say? Which is that no matter your intent, you have insulted us with your cute little jab. Cheap shots do not become you. They don't become anyone.

Please think before you speak. Play nice or I'll have to ask you to leave my sandbox. This is a peace zone. Bigotry of any kind is not welcome here. Vegan or not.

Vegan knowledge turns idyllic pastures into killing fields

Before I began going vegan, I used to think of farming as an idyllic way of life. Green, rolling hills and open spaces still hold the same appeal for me. Unfortunately, when I see the animals in those fields, my viewpoint changes. I know now, that there is no such thing as a happy cow, pig, sheep, goat or chicken on farms. 

I don't see rodeos and zoos the same way, either. 

Just why do we feel that it's alright to exploit other beings for our own uses? In fact, the more educated I become, the more jaded my opinion becomes.

I'm not sad about it, though. Here's two reasons why:

1. I'm a realist.

I don't like being lied to or misled. I'm glad that I know the truth about the meat and dairy industries. I don't like the way they use the image of peaceful farms to market their products. 

Yes, some farms do care about the animals. However, they still use many cruel practices, believing them to be a necessary part of farm life. Plus, those animals are bred to be used and to die, no matter how you look at it. It's incredibly sad to know the truth. It would, however be sadder to be purposefully ignorant of it, simply to serve my own needs. .

2. I crave knowledge.

I'm not afraid of knowledge. I crave it. The more I learn on any subject, the more I grow as a person. I like the idea that I can take my knowledge and do some good with it, too. 

I like spreading the word about veganism because I know that it's a positive change we can all make to save the planet, curb world hunger and of course, stop animals from being over-bred as food or commodities. 

Knowledge is power, as they say. While I'm not as interested in wielding power as I am about using my knowledge for good, the saying still holds true.

So, even though my choice to be vegan often reveals the ugly truths of this world, and our society in particular, I have no regrets. In fact, I'm doubly inspired when those rolling green pastures remind me of some of those truths. Farms are not idyllic. They never have been. I just wish I'd seen them for what they really are long ago.

When a vehicle hits a deer

OK. I get that this type of accident can be lethal for humans. As well as causing a lot of damage/unexpected expense, etc. I really, really do. But folks, why do so many people blame it on the deer? Or praise culling the deer population as a solution? Or joke about free food? Or just ignore the fact that the deer lost their life in a horribly painful manner?

In other words, how can people be so cold? We invented the vehicles. We built the roads. We took away animal habitats to do so. What right do we have to blame it on the deer, who was just minding their own business, living their life? A life which, by the way, is seriously threatened by human intervention to begin with?

It makes no sense you guys.

I really wish, with all my heart that humans were not so desensitized to the feelings and lives of other living, breathing beings. They matter just as much as we do in the web of life. We are not the be all, end all of the natural world, no matter what you've been conditioned to believe. We are just a part of it. We are animals. Nothing more. Nothing less. We have no right to lord it over any other being. None.

Yes, we are animals that developed a bigger brain by eating more carbs, but we're still animals, just the same. And by the way, if our brains are so superior, why is it that we are the only animal that is systematically destroying the planet for the love of our “creature” comforts? Other animals don't cause pollution or environmental devastation, except when we manipulate or move them to suit our needs.

And sure, if someone I love is in an accident, I think of their safety first. That's only natural. But discounting the deer altogether, or referring to their part in the accident as if they were nothing but an inanimate object just feels so horrifically inhumane, even somewhat narcissistic to me.

When a vehicle hits a deer, the deer is just as much a victim as the people in the vehicle. Sometimes more so, because they are at a higher risk of losing their life than anyone involved. Yes, we need to be concerned for the safety of our loved ones in such a situation. Yes, it's a tragedy for the humans involved. But we should also be concerned for the deer.

Our senses of self importance and superiority astound me sometimes. But what's even worse is that many people find them justifiable. By showing a complete lack of empathy for other beings, they are essentially proclaiming other lives insignificant and meaningless in comparison to ours. It's so revealing of our blatant, purposeful ignorance and arrogance.

And yet, for some, the deer's plight remains invisible as does their awareness of the implications.

Nauseating.