Jerry-

June 19, 2004

Jerry-

You should certainly pick up a copy of " Being Vegan "

by Joanne Stepaniak. It's a wonderful book that is a

great source of encouragement and helps to explain

veganism and all that comes along with it from a very

reasonable, logical and gentle standpoint (also talks

about vegetarianism). Joanne Stepaniak really puts

everything very well even has a chapter on

relationships with family, friends and spouses who are

not vegetarian or vegan. You might also want to join

some other vegetarian/vegan lists if you are not on

them already for support. I belong to two wonderful

ones, they are a wonderful resource for information,

encouragement and support. You are doing a wonderful

thing by choosing to be vegetarian for the reasons you

have. Never shortchange yourself for the compassion

you express through your actions. Being vegan is a

journey, and everyone inclined to live such a

lifestyle has to do it at their own pace. You have

already made one giant step that is very difficult and

you have succeeded! I was a vegetarian for almost 3

years and really hoped to adopt a vegan diet but was

sure I would not be able to give up certain foods.

Then suddenly, something hit me and I just quit

eggs/dairy one day and never looked back. Living a

vegan lifestyle is extremely rewarding in many ways

for me. I'm finding just as much if not more to eat

than ever, in fact we just went to a vegan " fast food "

restaurant last night and I was very excited about all

the food they had to offer. So was my non-vegan

(trying to be vegetarian) boyfriend! Anyhow, just

wanted to offer you some words of encouragement and

tell you that you've come so far, and if you choose to

adopt a vegan lifestyle, know you've got at least one

person who is happy to support and help you in any way

I can. Best, Rebecca

--- Jerry Tenney <jthebear wrote:

> I am a person that eats dairy and eggs. I have

> rationalized that it was less harmful than eating

> meat. I realize there is a flaw in my argument. I

> mean, less harm is still harm. I have also

> rationalized on a utilitarian basis. The time,

> effort, and access to be a vegan present

> psychological

> barriers. I am 56. I gave up meat 32 years ago. I

> live with a wife and son that consume flesh.

> Positive reinforcement in my life with regards to

> being vegan is practically nonexistent. But I am

> becoming increasingly less happy with my own

> contradictions.

>

> Peace,

> Jerry

>

> =====

> May the next person you meet see compassion in your

> eyes.

>

=====

Check out Linus & Lucy's Playground

Check out Compassionate Planet

Help stop animal cruelty at PETCO stores:

Read and sign the petition

(email me for more info)

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June 21, 2004

Rebecca, I was wondering where you lived that they actually had such a "fast food" restaurant? Man, I need to move. I get VERY discouraged living in the town that I do. There are next to no people here who are really vegetarians. It is almost impossible in some ways. And there are only one "health food" stores that I have been able to find. Ones that actually have things made w/o meat etc. Anyway, I too also have trouble sometimes justifying my eating actions to those closed minded or uneducated folks around this area. I might pick up that book that you mentioned. I have been thinking of converting to vegan. I have been vegetarian for almost 2 years, but all the things I have read about milk imparticular have made my stomach turn time and time again. Plus, it's a will power thing and I enjoy the challenge as well as the reward.

Thanks,JamieRebecca <livecompassionately wrote:

Jerry-You should certainly pick up a copy of "Being Vegan"by Joanne Stepaniak. It's a wonderful book that is agreat source of encouragement and helps to explainveganism and all that comes along with it from a veryreasonable, logical and gentle standpoint (also talksabout vegetarianism). Joanne Stepaniak really putseverything very well even has a chapter onrelationships with family, friends and spouses who arenot vegetarian or vegan. You might also want to joinsome other vegetarian/vegan lists if you are not onthem already for support. I belong to two wonderfulones, they are a wonderful resource for information,encouragement and support. You are doing a wonderfulthing by choosing to be vegetarian for the reasons youhave. Never shortchange yourself for the compassionyou express through your actions. Being vegan is

ajourney, and everyone inclined to live such alifestyle has to do it at their own pace. You havealready made one giant step that is very difficult andyou have succeeded! I was a vegetarian for almost 3years and really hoped to adopt a vegan diet but wassure I would not be able to give up certain foods.Then suddenly, something hit me and I just quiteggs/dairy one day and never looked back. Living avegan lifestyle is extremely rewarding in many waysfor me. I'm finding just as much if not more to eatthan ever, in fact we just went to a vegan "fast food"restaurant last night and I was very excited about allthe food they had to offer. So was my non-vegan(trying to be vegetarian) boyfriend! Anyhow, justwanted to offer you some words of encouragement andtell you that you've come so far, and if you choose toadopt a vegan lifestyle, know you've got at least oneperson who is happy to support and help you in any wayI

can. Best, Rebecca--- Jerry Tenney <jthebear wrote:> I am a person that eats dairy and eggs. I have> rationalized that it was less harmful than eating> meat. I realize there is a flaw in my argument. I> mean, less harm is still harm. I have also> rationalized on a utilitarian basis. The time,> effort, and access to be a vegan present> psychological> barriers. I am 56. I gave up meat 32 years ago. I> live with a wife and son that consume flesh. > Positive reinforcement in my life with regards to> being vegan is practically nonexistent. But I am> becoming increasingly less happy with my own> contradictions. > > Peace,> Jerry> > > =====> May the next person you meet see compassion in your> eyes.> > >

> > > > > =====Check out Linus & Lucy's Playground Check out Compassionate Planet Help stop animal cruelty at PETCO stores:Read and sign the petition(email me for more info) Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard. The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. -- Gandhi