Randi

March 23, 2004

In a message dated 3/17/04 3:10:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, writes:

I've been a vegetarian for almost a year, which has been simple. I was vegan for a little over a month, I think, then slowly started letting the animal products slip in again. I've cut them out again, though. I just don't feel right eating them - morally or physically. It's really hard where I live, though. There is only one 'health food store' I know of where I can get vegan stuff, and the pickin's are pretty slim. I've done the mail order thing several times, but it gets expensive quick. I know it's kind of pathetic on my part, but I think I just need a little encouragement. Everyone I know thinks it's weird that I won't eat meat. Some even joke that it's a religion or something. I don't know what to tell them. I can never seem to find the right words when the time comes. I don't even know any vegetarians or vegans, so I'm kind of on my own.Well, that's all for now, I guess. Thanks -Randi

Randi! Big hugs for you for trying reach your ideals! You are doing great...and you know simply because you live in an area where it's harder to be veg shows even more how "good" you are.

Let me give you some encouragement. First of all...please please please don't be hard on yourself if you are not perfect. Just keep trying to develop new habits of cooking and eating. I think some people in this movement have a kind of purity ideal...an "all or nothing" kind of attitude which I don't think is practical or effective. The mere fact that you have given up flesh is HUGE! Don't forget that! If everyone did just that...or radically cut back...there would be a huge difference in animal suffering. To me, I'd rather see people stop eating the chicken legs rather than worry about the traces of milk in a muffin. Please remember all of this and remember that new habits often take time. I suggest committing to learning a new recipe every week or so until it becomes a part of you...then when you shop you know exactly what to buy to put it all together. If you can...try to energize your self with veggie comraderie (if you can). That helps you keep going and adds more fun, too. If you can't find any veggies...consider moving...there are more progressive cities. As for the nay sayers...hand them a the Christian Vegetarian Associations pamphlet...it's a good one and the one that mainstream Americans may relate to the most.

Keep it up! You know you are a Saint just for being veg in a hard to be veg area!

Kristina

March 26, 2004

some real good points, kristina. and randi, i missed your initial e-mail, but i hear you. i live in a small, country place, and they aren't lovers of empathy, either. i think very highly of you for your unyieldingness to their disapproval, and, i know this is pretty stupid, but whenever someone would question me (in a way not merely being inquisitive) i'd respond while feigning a cocky attitude, "yeesh! i do not eat ANYone who ever had a brain!........but, don't fret, you're safe anyway" there are some people who are receptive to hearing what you'll say, but others who are just so stubborn and offensive that they have to be written off. the best way to deal with the latter party*eyeroll*, as far as i can tell, is to spout something flippant and appear to be at ease before they can destroy your resolve. for those people apt to be at all receptive to you, i'd suggest "the vegan sourcebook" by joanne stepaniak. it's brimming with sound reasons for most of the questions you'll get (i think it's good stuff, too, that anyone will understand). it might pay to have some pages bookmarked and on hand. i have to say one more thing;...even the milk in the muffin comes from mommas whose babies were sold for veal. the meat industry and the dairy industry could never be pried from the sick embrace of the other. they're an ugly package. ~~brii

>lv2breathe > > >CC: Lv2breathe > Randi >Tue, 23 Mar 2004 20:03:55 EST > >In a message dated 3/17/04 3:10:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, > writes: >I've been a vegetarian for almost a year, which has been simple. I >was vegan for a little over a month, I think, then slowly started >letting the animal products slip in again. I've cut them out again, >though. I just don't feel right eating them - morally or physically. >It's really hard where I live, though. There is only one 'health food >store' I know of where I can get vegan stuff, and the pickin's are >pretty slim. I've done the mail order thing several times, but it >gets expensive quick. I know it's kind of pathetic on my part, but I >think I just need a little encouragement. Everyone I know thinks it's >weird that I won't eat meat. Some even joke that it's a religion or >something. I don't know what to tell them. I can never seem to find >the right words when the time comes. I don't even know any >vegetarians or vegans, so I'm kind of on my own. >Well, that's all for now, I guess. Thanks -Randi >Randi! Big hugs for you for trying reach your ideals! You are doing >great...and you know simply because you live in an area where it's harder to be veg >shows even more how "good" you are. > >Let me give you some encouragement. First of all...please please please >don't be hard on yourself if you are not perfect. Just keep trying to develop new >habits of cooking and eating. I think some people in this movement have a >kind of purity ideal...an "all or nothing" kind of attitude which I don't think >is practical or effective. The mere fact that you have given up flesh is >HUGE! Don't forget that! If everyone did just that...or radically cut >back...there would be a huge difference in animal suffering. To me, I'd rather see >people stop eating the chicken legs rather than worry about the traces of milk in >a muffin. Please remember all of this and remember that new habits often take >time. I suggest committing to learning a new recipe every week or so until >it becomes a part of you...then when you shop you know exactly what to buy to >put it all together. If you can...try to energize your self with veggie >comraderie (if you can). That helps you keep going and adds more fun, too. If you >can't find any veggies...consider moving...there are more progressive cities. >As for the nay sayers...hand them a the Christian Vegetarian Associations >pamphlet...it's a good one and the one that mainstream Americans may relate to >the most. > >Keep it up! You know you are a Saint just for being veg in a hard to be veg >area! > >Kristina All the action. All the drama. Get NCAA hoops coverage at MSN Sports by ESPN.