Because I'd like everyone to go vegan RIGHT NOW, and can't understand the apathy and complacency of those who still eat animals. Especially if they've been exposed to at least some of the facts of animal agriculture. And because being vegan is so my normal, and so the world I've inhabited for more than five years, I want others to hurry up and get there already. But it may be wise for me to remember the following:
- I didn't become vegan until I was 46
- while I knew in grade school that the idea of animals performing stupid tricks for humans in circuses or aquarium amusement parks made me uncomfortable and sad, I couldn't really put into words why
- in my early 20s I scoffed at a friend's sister becoming vegetarian because eliminating certain food products didn't make any sense to me if you weren't going to eliminate ALL animal-derived substances whether they be food, clothing, toothpaste or anything else, and of course, that was impossible
- I had no idea at the time that the concept I was referring to was called veganism, and was much more possible than I imagined
- when in my late 30s I actually ran across the term vegan, I too, asked what those weird vegans ate if they didn't eat meat, eggs, or dairy
- when in my early 40s I was horrified one night by seeing a cat skinned and boiled alive on a TV documentary program and began to wonder how people decide what animals to eat and what ones to love, I found it too painful to contemplate for long, and put it out of my head for another couple of years
- that it was only when I viewed an online video on factory farming (I don't even remember which one), that things finally went click, click, click...
So if it took me that long before I could even see, let alone connect, the numerous dots, then perhaps I need to practice the skill of patience and not demand that others become wise in far less time than I did?
If you enjoyed this post, please share. And until next time, Keep Calm and Vegan On.
