November 1 – World Vegan Day

Today is World Vegan Day and the first day of World Vegan Month. As I paused a moment to acknowledge this day, it brought me back to that infamous day in November, 1997, when I was thrust  into transition because Freya Dinshah, Executive Director of the American Vegan Society, recommended that I read the book Skinny Bitches (written by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin) to learn more about what it means to adopt a vegan lifestyle.Each of us came to this lifestyle at different times in our lives and for varying reasons. Some of us were raised in a home that was either vegetarian or vegan. But for the vast majority of us, we didn’t start out that way.

We were raised in homes where we were fed the Standard American Diet, but something happened along the journey. It might have been a movie that we saw. It might have been a piece of literature that we came upon or a book that we read.   It might have been as the result of a medical intervention. Some of us started on this path because of our compassion for animals, other sentient beings. Still others came to this lifestyle because of the environment.

Whatever the reason, here we are.

Today, let us take a moment to celebrate our vegan lifestyle and the awareness, compassion, and integrity it has brought forth in our own lives. Know that every day, each of our individual efforts makes a difference. Sometimes, as we walk in our everyday ordinary reality, it is easy to forget that what we do, individually and then exponentially collectively, is making a difference.

Is there still much to be done? Absolutely, yes. But it is always important to take time to recognize the progress that has been made so far, both individually and as the collective.

On a personal note, I’d like to suggest this task — take in a breath and mindfully check in with yourself to identify the ways in which this lifestyle change of becoming and being vegan has made a difference in your own life. Then, expand that thought in your conscious awareness to how you have been able to make a difference in the lives of those around you, and then within your community, and then go bigger–seeing how everything we do matters in the global and universal perspective.

While today is World Vegan Day, it is actually the first day of World Vegan Month. So, I am going to step out of my box of weekly blogging. For the Month of November, I will post some brief thoughts on a daily basis, down and dirty (so to speak). I hope you stay with me and share this blog with friends, loved ones, colleagues, etc.

We’re in this together, and we are growing in numbers becoming stronger. As the saying goes, “In unity there is strength”. So, in your own way, celebrate World Vegan Day and World Vegan Month as we share the joys of becoming and being vegan.

Namaste…

Linda Voorhis