Vegan Is Love

That’s the name of the children’s book we recently bought for our kids. It arrived this week. The book illustrates “how our daily choices ripple out locally and globally, conveying what children can do today to protect animals, the environment and people across the world.” You can learn more about it here.

I have great admiration for people who challenge the status quo or who go against popular opinion not for personal gain but to better the world around them. It has always struck me as selfless because oftentimes these “rebels” aren't around to see the results of their efforts.

My oldest and dearest friend has a beautiful 14-year old daughter who I believe embodies these character strengths. Since she was a small child, Katie has had a natural tendency to protect not just people but all living things. It’s part of who she is. As soon as she was able to really assert herself, she refused to eat meat because it came from the killing of animals. The fact that a 7-year old could connect those dots was mind-blowing. These weren’t views taught to her by her parents. Other than the occasional rodent brought into the house by the kids over the years, my girlfriend and her husband have never owned a pet, nor are they members of PETA. In fact, they both enjoy eating meat pretty routinely. So where does that pure and honest love for animal wellbeing come from in this little lady? I wish I knew so I could get some for myself. I find her choices even more special and admirable when I recall how challenging it can be to be different and to think differently in childhood, especially during those dreadful teen years. She’s quite remarkable.

My driver in adopting a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle has never been the selfless “compassion” angle. It has always been about optimizing my health and trying to prevent diseases, especially those that run in my family. Looking at the two primary reasons that compel people to give up meat and animal products (dairy and eggs), I chose the selfish one.

When I watched Food Inc. in the summer of 2010 (prior to adopting a whole-food, plant-strong diet), I didn’t like the cruelty I saw inflicted on factory farm animals but once the movie ended I didn’t think much more about it. In fact the only action I took -- again motivated by the health component -- was to begin buying 100 percent organic grass-fed beef, organic chicken, etc. (Though, I do recall "patting myself on the back" that we were at least eating animals slaughtered “humanely” and by someone with a heart. Talk about a warped justification!)

I don’t know what our children’s takeaways will be from the book once we read it together, but when I read it by myself I was reminded of how our clothing, food and entertainment choices impact other living things, as well as the negative consequences those same choices have on the health of our planet. Absent of a life or death need, I don’t believe there’s any valid reason to harm another being. To do so simply to fill a want or desire or to carry out a hobby or sport feels unjustifiably wrong. I say this now but if history has taught me anything, I will require constant reminders. I’m no Katie. Who knows, maybe my children will end up being my conscious, in which case I’d welcome it.

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