How to Create the World You Want to Live In

Being the emotional empath that I am, I can get into heavy conversations because it breaks my heart when harm is done to innocent animals, human included.

With the political split in my native US and in Europe where I now live, it’s challenging for me to stay calm because I feel those in power and those who support them want something else which breaks my heart even more.

Since I was taught to speak up and tell my truth, I tripped a few times and had to learn the hard way how to speak without upsetting others. It’s still a work in progress.

I was called a Nazi because I live in Germany, I was told I had no voice in the US election because I’m an expat and was unfriended by a close relative and a few not so close FB friends because I don’t agree with the current US administration.

Thing is, I’m not patriotic because I’ve been here for 23 years and my heart and soul belong to the Earth and Universe and loved ones, not to any government. Of course I pay my taxes, in both countries, but I feel no ‘allegiance’ to a flag and this seriously upsets some Americans.

And, I’m a vegan which upsets some people, too. More on that below.

Fact is: Every human has their own values and views and that’s a good thing, because with our differences, we have the power to help create the respectful diverse world we want to live in together.

But, we can only create this world if we respect each other at all times, even those who think differently.

Angry Vegans vs. Guilty Omnivores

As an example, I want to talk about veganism because it’s a very personal topic that seems to attract violent communication and honestly, I’m sick of politics so don’t want to used that as an example again.

Short background: I wasn’t born a vegan. I was forced to eat bone dry chicken and wash it down with lukewarm powdered milk because we couldn’t afford real milk, let alone quality beef, so our homemade burgers contained many bone chips which made me gag.
This seed was planted: Meat + Milk = Gross!

Another seed was planted: My parents taught me to respect animals and nature. I spent a lot of time in the woods in our backyard on Long Island in New York. We often went camping and my mom rescued, cared for and released many wild animals.

These seeds were nurtured and turned me into a pesche vegetarian in 1992, a vegetarian in 2012 and vegan in 2016. It took me a LONG time to turn vegan. All I can say is cheese.

Veganism: oh, how this topic triggers!

Many times when I eat with others, I get asked why I’m a vegan. I give a simple answer: Because I don’t want to support the cruelty in the food industry.

That’s my answer. Plain and simple and understood, but wow, it triggers and I think I know why.

When I say that above, the tone of the rest of the conversation depends on who I’m talking to and how they feel about the treatment of farm animals. It’s not about me, it’s about them.

And that’s why I wrote ‘Guilty Omnivores’ above – having a double meaning: 1) I’ve read many comments from (angry) vegans who blame/point fingers and demonize non-vegans for supporting animal cruelty, perhaps forgetting that they weren’t born a vegan and had to go through some kind of a journey to become one themselves and 2) many non-vegans react defensively around this topic, even when they bring it up.

 Because let’s be honest, no one in their right mind wants this cruelty. After I answer the why question, some tell me why they aren’t vegan which makes me wonder. You only make excuses if you feel a little guilty, right?

I’ve been there. I felt guilty for eating fish and cheese and made excuses as to why I ate it. Silly really because I don’t need any excuses as to why someone eats what they eat and I certainly didn’t need to make excuses to myself. I realized I either need to be OK with fish or not and I chose not. And I tell people that I have no judgement, it’s just the one thing I can control, what goes in and on my body and I don’t want any harm done in the process.

And hey, I love my omnivore family and friends! Are they evil? NO! Was I evil when I wasn’t a vegan? NO!

And do I believe if everyone turned vegan, our planet would be saved? NO. Just as little as I believe controlling guns will sole-handedly solve the shooting situation in the US. There are MANY things that need change in order to save our environment, it’s not just about what we eat. It all starts with out mindset about respecting all life.

It’s sad though because I see a lot of aggression about veganism on social media and my heart bleeds when angry vegans yell about murdering, saying it’s the ONLY way to live as much as when omnivores comment on vegan-related posts with animated gifs of someone slowly cutting roast beef.

Why?

Respectful Communication in Progress

What we need more of is respectful communication, like this and this! Two incidents when a farmer and slaughterhouse owner released their animals with animal rights activists after they sat down and talked to each other. After they found common ground. And understood each other. This is success and we need more of it.

Vegans are a rare breed and all we want is to save as many animals as possible.

This compassion does not make us holier than thou – or weird. We just want to eat in peace.
Eating meat does not make omnivores evil – or murderers. They just want to eat in peace.

This is where we need to agree.

My heart would sing if we discontinue viewing animal cruelty as normal, so that we can start working towards creating a kinder world.

If we all respect Mother Nature and all she takes care of, we would be at peace with ourselves. If we are at peace with ourselves, we are at peace with others. When that happens, we would have world peace. I firmly believe that.

We’re far from world peace, but we can start taking the steps by communicating respectfully with each other and find a better solution so that the industries will start to improve conditions.

For the love of all living beings:
All opinions matter and we need to speak with respect to create change.

Inspire ’em with kindness.

It works.

So, what’s it gonna be: Spread hummus or spread hummus with guacamole?