Today, with my loving husband's pursuance, I have decided to start
a blog. I have only read maybe 3 blog posts, ever. So this world
is completely foreign to me. I'm not sure what to expect, as I am
leaping into a new adventure. I have a 'voice' that I'm discovering how
to use, and would be happy to have a few fellow voyagers to take this
trip with. Here is a sneak peak of what to expect:
How am I feeling? That depends on if we’re talking about today or generally. Today I am feeling happy. It’s Friday, I slept well last night, I am calm and peaceful. Contradictory, lately I have been rustled. I’m not sure that’s an accurate word to describe what I mean. I just looked it up on an (probably unreliable) online dictionary. It didn’t confirm or deny this use. I will explain. Over the years I have become more aware of global issues, mainly to do with animal rights, environmental/sustainability needs, and social justice. To be honest, it is tearing me apart. The more I learn, the worse I feel about the current societal climate, globally. I have been slowly altering my lifestyle to reduce or eliminate my contribution to some of these issues. To the people around me, it’s “just the way Lydia is”. As though it’s easier for me than it is for others to make these life changes. Let me clarify; It has not, and is not, easy for me. I too grew up as a mass consumer, meat eating, milk drinking, and blissfully ignorant individual. I am a human, and therefore have nostalgia associated with many things that I have given up. No one wants to leave their cozy cocoon to enter a world that is not tailored or friendly to conscience people. I have to seek out vegan, ethical and sustainable products, or succumb to the norm and compromise on my values. I am, for the first time in my life, a minority. Does that sound easy? Some may argue that it’s my own choice, and so I have put myself in this ‘dilemma’. I think that’s an ironic, irresponsible and unreasonable view. I haven’t chosen to lead a difficult life; I have chosen to lead a life in line with my values. I am not at fault for the lack of compassion in our world. I can’t explain why others choose to ignore facts, and are okay continuously contributing to the suffering incurred to allow them to live their life as they are. I want to help people see the impact, and motivate them to start making changes. But I don’t know how. That is why I have been rustled. Isn’t that a great description? I feel like I have reached a whole new level. Having never navigated these waters, and not knowing where to find a map, I am lost. I have thought of a few bandaid solutions, but can’t be sure they will sustain me. Where should I look for my answers? Do you know? Who does the minority turn to? The other minorities who are as lost as you? Sigh.
I am open to hearing your stories, opinions, suggestions and support. Without them, I won't know to keep writing. :)
How am I feeling? That depends on if we’re talking about today or generally. Today I am feeling happy. It’s Friday, I slept well last night, I am calm and peaceful. Contradictory, lately I have been rustled. I’m not sure that’s an accurate word to describe what I mean. I just looked it up on an (probably unreliable) online dictionary. It didn’t confirm or deny this use. I will explain. Over the years I have become more aware of global issues, mainly to do with animal rights, environmental/sustainability needs, and social justice. To be honest, it is tearing me apart. The more I learn, the worse I feel about the current societal climate, globally. I have been slowly altering my lifestyle to reduce or eliminate my contribution to some of these issues. To the people around me, it’s “just the way Lydia is”. As though it’s easier for me than it is for others to make these life changes. Let me clarify; It has not, and is not, easy for me. I too grew up as a mass consumer, meat eating, milk drinking, and blissfully ignorant individual. I am a human, and therefore have nostalgia associated with many things that I have given up. No one wants to leave their cozy cocoon to enter a world that is not tailored or friendly to conscience people. I have to seek out vegan, ethical and sustainable products, or succumb to the norm and compromise on my values. I am, for the first time in my life, a minority. Does that sound easy? Some may argue that it’s my own choice, and so I have put myself in this ‘dilemma’. I think that’s an ironic, irresponsible and unreasonable view. I haven’t chosen to lead a difficult life; I have chosen to lead a life in line with my values. I am not at fault for the lack of compassion in our world. I can’t explain why others choose to ignore facts, and are okay continuously contributing to the suffering incurred to allow them to live their life as they are. I want to help people see the impact, and motivate them to start making changes. But I don’t know how. That is why I have been rustled. Isn’t that a great description? I feel like I have reached a whole new level. Having never navigated these waters, and not knowing where to find a map, I am lost. I have thought of a few bandaid solutions, but can’t be sure they will sustain me. Where should I look for my answers? Do you know? Who does the minority turn to? The other minorities who are as lost as you? Sigh.
I am open to hearing your stories, opinions, suggestions and support. Without them, I won't know to keep writing. :)
So I already tired posting this comment but it didn't work ( I don't think) so here's take two:
ReplyDelete"...The ancient prophets had called for fire to descend from heaven ... the leaders of the 18th century rebellions had called for the destruction of whole cities until not one stone lies on another. Michelet, the 19th century French historian, prayed that the cities would become forests and that men would once more become forest dwellers..."
This comment will probably seem very disjointed. Mainly I just want to congratulate you because this takes courage and you're doing a great thing.
1) I did my degree in Poli Sci, which basically means I spent an inordinate portion of the passed four years being force-fed grand and empty theories about "the fabric of this, our human community". I don't remember most of it, thankfully. A few things, however, did jump off a page and graft themselves on my consciousness, notably the above transcribed passage, which is taken from the biography of Vladimir Lenin by Robert Payne (great book). I think it struck me because it echoed a desire that I had been as yet unable to articulate: the discontent I felt with myself and everything I was made of and the desire to destroy it, to break it down. I'm not an aggressive person but I feel violent about what I've sadly come to understand as our irremediable imperfections...
2) You are part of a minority, but that is so invigorating! Also, you're in very VERY good company. I don't recommend books lightly (because books are my life) but I think you should read "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer, if only so you can feel slightly less "alone". Maybe you've already read it. Maybe you should write up a casual review of it for the purpose of this blog!? :) http://www.eatinganimals.com/
3) There's an image that's been forming in my head for a while now that i'm going to try to paint out here. This is my first time trying. I'm really interested in particle physics and this idea stems from a fact of this physics, namely, that our reality "the universe" is made up of "scales of existence". There are very big things (big in relation to our human size) and there are small things and there is a huge range between the biggest scale of being (which is hard to conceive of) and the smallest scale of being (equally difficult to conceive of). This is kind of really abstract and it's very scientific but I think this idea of "scales of existence" can apply to where you choose to direct your life energy, what you choose to concern yourself with. A great majority of human beings live "on a certain scale" - the scale of interpersonal relationships, the scale of survival, from which is derived this very narrow understanding of the world and a limited concern with what is outside this scale of being. Holy shit I don't know if this is at all coherent.
So I'm just going to stop now.
4) KEEP WRITING. Btw, we were talking about his yesterday, on my way home from work I was driving down Somerset and I drove passed a hair salon called Mint. CHECK THIS OUT:http://minthairstudio.ca/
"At Mint Hair Studio we believe in leaving as little negative impact on the earth as possible so we strive to have the most environmentally sensitive options available whenever possible."
Ok that's all! I love this, keep it up.
V.
Thanks for your comment! I have reread the passage you quoted a couple of times now. I didn't see the connection at first, but the more times I read it the louder it speaks to me. It is quite fitting. Thanks for sharing it! It brought to my awareness a deep desire I have for the ability to wipe things clean, have a fresh start.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of the book Eating Animals but I have not yet read it. It will be a difficult book for me to read without deepening the pit in my stomach. However, perhaps it will light a new fire in my spirit and inspire a new blog post. I have decided that I will try to not "produce" any posts in order to avoid a diluted message. I will allow them to come to me and hope that my passion is felt through my written words. That's the plan anyway... haha.
Your third point was quite coherent and, in my opinion, brilliant! You should copy and paste it to your own blog. ;) It made me stop to think, consider and contemplate. I'm sure MANY discussions will breed from that theory. Kudos!
Thanks again for your support. It is MUCH appreciated. :)
From a non-vegetarian-living-with-a-vegan perspective, I must say it takes a dedication that is hard to have for most of us. This explicit display of dedication is not only hard to ignore but it is also a powerful demonstration of compassion over pleasure.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are a Minority and that sucks. -Not just because we're dismissed as weirdos or extremists or radicals, but because saving Humanity will take ALL OF US, not just a small (but awesome) Minority. That reality is the hardest part; knowing that no matter how much we care and how hard we work, we can't fix this ourselves. We need to work together. As long as people choose not to care about their survival or the survival of others, we're fucked. Oh, but we don't even have the luxury of getting depressed and giving up. The situation is so bad, that we HAVE to HOPE, because the consequences of not hoping and not trying are too severe. And let's be honest, those of us who do care about our planet can't stop even if we wanted to. We're hardwired to try. We don't have a choice. Someone programmed us this way. We'll care and try until we take our last breath. And if it's up to me, I'll haunt the shit out of the bad guys when I'm dead, lol! So giving up eating cow, pig, chicken, turkey and fish is not that hard. Living responsibly and learning new ways I can improve is not hard. What's hard is knowing that Humanity's survival is dependent on all of us living more responsibly. But that's not happening. In fact, meat consumption is increasing and so is consumerism and pollution. That it hard. I am in mourning every day. That sucks.
ReplyDelete