RE: Cathleen

August 2, 2004

Cathleen,

I totally understand what you are going through, my friends and family and I bump heads about my being vegan all the time. It can be very awkward at times, plus I still live with my family and they all consume animal products like they where going out of style. I don't know if this will help, but here is how I went vegan.

I was a lacto ovo veg for about six months prior to becoming vegan; I didn't even know that there was such a thing. Then I read somewhere that the most important thing to do if you believe in something to the extent that it alters your life is to do alot of research.

That is exactly what I did. I started with a book call "The Complete Idiots Guide To Being Vegetarian." This book was not pushy towards becoming vegan at all but that is what it did for me. Reading about all the health issues, environmental issues, and animal welfare issues made me turn vegan virtually over night.

Then the more books I read, the more my beliefs where confirmed and the more conviction I had. Plus, I am filled with so much Vegan knowledge that when a curious meat eater has objections, I can calmly and decisively answer with the facts.

I'm not saying this is the only way to become vegan, or the best, but this is what worked for me.

I do, however, believe that it is nearly impossible to be a vegan without research and knowledge so I strongly recommend that that is something everyone should be doing.

I hope this helped.

Shana

Craig Dearth <cd39 wrote:

PJ,

in a perfect world we would all be vegan

if your partner (and yourself have trouble )

try doing it one step at a time

for your partner

stop eating beef

then pork

then chicken

then fish

then dairy

then eggs

then all the really hard stuff the hidden meat stuff additives preserves etc..

the point being goal setting does make it easier

and slip ups are not defeats

once your there you'll never look back

all the best

Craig

PJ [pjsparkles80]Monday, August 02, 2004 9:43 PM Subject: Re: Introduction

Hi Cathleen,

I think I just read my auto biography in your e-mail. I feel the same exact way. I am a vegetarian, (a newbie at that) and want to become vegan. I am noticing more and more how they mis treat these poor animals!! It's just more expensive, as well as difficult. When I go out, with friends (all of my friends LOVE eating meat.) I always end up getting a veggie burger. Even the salads at all the restaurants have at least chicken in it!!! So I guess I'm a part time vegan. Or a vegetarian with good intentions.

I also am with someone that cannot seem to give up meat. He's eating less of it at least but he LOVES cheese and for some reason it bothers me that he consumes sooo much of it. He thinks that just because they don't kill the animal, it's ok. But if you consider the fact that Americans conusme a WHOLE LOTA dairy product, they can't be treating these cows properly! I am a real believer in what I am doing and would love for him to feel the same way, but I am not here to change someone. I am confused as to what to do, because other than that, he really makes me happy.

"Never frown, someone could be falling in love with your smile."

With lots of love,

***PJ***

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