The Token Vegan

Yoga and a new project

2011-07-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

This morning, I joined my friend Kate for some yoga in Forest Park. My friend Wendy came with me. While Kate is fairly experienced at yoga (should I be capitalizing that word?), Wendy and I are total novices. We attended one session together about eight years ago, but we goofed off the whole time and probably didn't get a good sense of it. So, when Kate told me about this pay-what-you-can outdoor class, I thought it would be a fun time. It was definitely interesting and certainly a challenge. I'm not sure it's for me, but I'd like to try at least one more time to feel like I'm giving it a fair shake.

Anyway, the point I'm leading up to was that I tried something new today and felt really good about that, in itself. So, on the drive home, I decided I should try something new every day. Large or small, awesome or mundane, I'm going to try one new thing every day. I'd like to start immediately, so tonight I'm going to create a list of ideas. I'm excited about it.

If you're still reading this, please consider this your official invitation to join me. It's going to be awesome!

What? You think you're better than me?

2011-04-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

Hey, here's an idea: Let's stop projecting our own discomfort onto other people.*

Recently, a friend of mine--who I'll refer to as Lynn--told me she got rid of her Facebook page. Instead of being sincerely curious about her reasons, I immediately--without meaning to--jumped to thoughts like "What? You think you're better than me?" I use Facebook. I like it. She doesn't use it. She doesn't like it. Why would that immediately bring me to negative thoughts? Apparently, my brain decided that one of us had to be right and one of us had to be wrong. And if Lynn thought she was right, clearly what she was implying was that I was wrong.

Oftentimes, when we encounter someone with different beliefs or opinions than ours, we automatically--without meaning to--jump to conclusions about what their words or actions imply.

I find this every once in a while with people who find out I don't eat animal products. They become defensive about the subject, because they perceive me to be saying I'm right and they're wrong, or that I'm better or more ethical than they are.

I also see this in myself more often than I'd like to. When someone tells me about their vacation home or fancy clothes, I jump to thoughts like "Oh, she just thinks she's so much cooler than I am. I bet she thinks I'm gross because I buy things at Goodwill." Or, if someone composts and I don't. Or, if someone walks to work and I don't. Or, if someone gives to charity more than I do. And the list goes on. I make judgments, not only about that person, but also about how that person judges me. How ridiculous!

Just because a person has a different opinion, belief, interest, pay level, or lifestyle than you, it doesn't mean yours is wrong. It doesn't even mean they think yours is wrong. (Although, so what if they do?)

If you see yourself making these automatic leaps to negative judgments, step back and examine why you might be doing so. For example, I probably became defensive about Facebook because I waste a lot of time using it. I probably shouldn't. I know I could be doing more productive things (like blogging - hehe) than chatting with friends and playing Word Chaos. If you're not comfortable in your own beliefs and actions, then they need to be examined. And spending time with people who are different than you is a great way to explore new ideas and determine if you want to hold true to yours or embrace new ones. So, instead of judging each other, let's all focus on more productive activities--like learning from each other (or blogging - hehe).

*I say that to you and as a reminder to myself.

I love cheese!

2011-04-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Every time I hear a vegetarian say they could never give up dairy because they love cheese, I can't help but smile knowingly. Because that's exactly what I used to say. Before I became a vegan. :)

Give it a try

2011-04-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think people need to convince themselves that things are difficult, so they can justify not doing them.

Vegetarianism/veganism
Living without the latest and greatest in technology and toys
Giving time or money to charity
Bringing reusable bags when shopping
Biking to work
Saving money
Exercising
Making time for things

If you care about something, give it a try. You'll never know if it's hard to do until you've actually given it a fair shake.

Which is why I'm going to wake up early (er, on time) and be at work by 8 am. That's right.

Really Weird Analogy

2011-03-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

If I told you that I pay people to kill pigs because I find the cries they make to be enjoyable, would you think I was crazy?

If I told you that I pay people to kill pigs because I find the ham/bacon they make to be enjoyable, would you think I was crazy?

What is the difference? Do you see one? Why or why not?

My way or the highway? I don't think so.

2010-12-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, I think everyone should be a vegan. It's healthier for humans and the planet, and it harms way fewer animals. But it's not going to happen overnight.

Remember when you became a vegan? It was a process, wasn't it? For me, I was first a vegetarian that would, by her own words, "never become a vegan." Then I learned more about food and more about animals, and I started reducing my intake of animal products. Then, after a long time, I became a vegan.

And guess what? I'm still not perfect. I drive a car with leather seats and animal products in the tires. I use glue for crafts projects. I walk and drive over insects. I have a house on land that probably used to belong to wildlife. But the point is that I do my best.

My best is my best. It might not be your best. So who are you to judge what someone else's best is? If they're trying, they're trying. And that should be enough. Actually, that's more than some people do, so you should be thrilled about it.

I'm getting tired of the nitpicking I've been hearing about how so-and-so still eats cheese so she's a terrible person, or how you are more vegan than that guy, or how that vegan activist is horrible for "the movement."

Respect for other people is a vegan idea. So stop disrespecting people. Learn that support and caring and compassion (the qualities you claim to live by) will open minds to your ideas. Learn that your bad attitude isn't going to convert people. Learn that you can't convert people. Everyone makes his/her own decisions.

Be supportive. Be inspirational.

Don't be a jerk.

I was a terrible vegan

2010-12-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's nice to hear from experts that they were once beginners.

I was at an improv class yesterday, and the teachers were awesome. I admired them for being so great at improvising. I wondered if I am any good. They told us how they got started in improv, and they told us about how nervous they were the first time they did certain activities. It was really empowering to hear about how they used to be beginners, like me.

I read a blog post today about exercising. The writer is very much into fitness and she's really awesome at it. Her blog post was about where she started, which was at a point at which she couldn't even do a sit-up, couldn't even run on a treadmill. She was a beginner, like me.

Most of us don't like being beginners. We would prefer to be experts right away. But when we hear from experts that they were once beginners, it makes real the possibility that we'll one day be experts.

So, to make you feel empowered in your journey to veganism (heh, I like to pretend everyone is on a journey - some just longer than others), I want to tell you about the terrible vegan I was in the beginning.

I first tried to be a vegan as a 30-day challenge. I think I lasted a week. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know where to shop, where to eat, what products/brands to look for or to avoid. I was clueless. The first night, I decided to make something super easy: spaghetti with marinara sauce. I went to the store and picked up a box of spaghetti noodles. Eggs? What the what? I didn't know there were eggs in noodles. I was irritated. Here I thought this would be easy, but then I learned I would have to read ingredients. That didn't sound like any fun. I looked at a couple other brands and found some noodles without eggs (Barilla is good; not Barilla Plus).

The next item I needed was marinara sauce. I went down the aisle to grab some Ragu, which is what I grew up eating. I thought to myself, "I guess I'd better read this label too." Milk. What is milk doing in spaghetti sauce?! I was officially annoyed. What I thought would be an easy dinner was turning into a label-reading session. If spaghetti was so complicated, what was I supposed to eat for dinner the next night!? (FYI: Many of the higher-quality sauces are also the ones without milk/cheese).

When I became a vegan a few months later (for real this time), I knew a little more, but I still didn't know everything. Sometimes when you try to take on something that's new to you, you assume there are rules you have to follow. So, you learn the "rules," and, when you mess up on one, you beat yourself up and think "I just can't do this." Well, that's not true. The point of being a vegan is to do what you can to avoid harming animals. That's it. No more, no less.

Beginner or expert, you're doing what you can. And that's a beautiful thing. So, keep trying. Start slow. Start eliminating certain animal products until you're comfortable eliminating more. Keep learning about the variety of foods you can eat instead. Ask questions. Google. Keep trying.

Surround yourself with people you view as experts, people you admire, people who inspire you.

Keep "messing up." Keep falling off the wagon. And then remember how terrible a vegan I was when I first started trying.

And get up, dust off your knees, and push ahead.

If you're right, I'm wrong

2010-12-08T13:00:00.001-08:00

If Idea A is correct,
and Idea B conflicts with Idea A,
then Idea B is incorrect.

People want to believe that they are smart, moral, and caring individuals. So, when I tell new people I am a vegan, there's a process that almost always takes place. The person thinks (most likely subconsciously), "Lisa thinks eating animal products is wrong. My opinion (that eating animal products is okay) conflicts with that. So, either she's wrong or I'm wrong. And I am a smart, moral, and caring individual. There's gotta be something wrong with her view.

And so, they have two choices: 1) Commit to spending time to consider both opinions, and come to a logical conclusion, or 2) Rationalize their opinion or break down mine.

Unfortunately, human nature makes us want to choose the latter. And so, people usually cling to myths about protein or nonsense about being at the top of the food chain. They tell me how hard it would be, how they knew someone who died from eating spinach, how animals don't suffer, how animals are supposed to suffer, or how they only eat free-range animals. These are all rationalizations.

It's human nature to rationalize our opinions and behaviors. It makes us feel correct. It allows us to maintain our view that we're smart, moral, and caring individuals. It helps us feel good.

But it doesn't help us grow.

Most brilliant blog post ever

2010-11-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about this one. I'm talking about a post I just read on Seth's Blog. His blog is about marketing. It has nothing to do with being a vegan.

Or does it?

In the post, Seth writes about how we're less likely to trust others' opinions once they've challenged ours. It's without a doubt one of the most simple yet brilliant posts I've ever read. Go read it! It's three very short paragraphs. And well worth the ten seconds it takes to read.

The Vegan Spectrum

2010-11-29T12:22:00.001-08:00

Token Thanksgiving Post

2010-11-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

Every good vegan blogger has a Thanksgiving post, right? This is mine. In an effort to remain positive despite one glaringly negative aspect of Thanksgiving, this post will contain no awful photos, no facts about turkeys, and no reasons not to eat them. (Okay, that was probably cheating)

Below are a few tips I've compiled at random:

If you eat a turkey, acknowledge how he got to your plate and, if that makes you feel uncomfortable, allow yourself to examine those emotions.
If you're a vegan going to a turkey-centered Thanksgiving meal, be proud of your beliefs. Be honest (but not bratty) about why you didn't take any of the turkey.
If a conversation arises at the table, state as quickly and concisely as possible why you don't eat turkeys, and then if people want more information, tell them you'll be glad to talk with them later. It's not good to talk about meat-eating while people eat meat. It's also likely that you'll be the only one on your side of the discussion, which automatically makes you wrong.
If you don't feel comfortable celebrating with people while they eat a turkey, don't do it.
If you do feel comfortable going to a turkey-centered feast, bring a delicious vegan meal for yourself to eat and others to taste. See below for ideas!

And here are some non-turkey Thanksgiving dishes:

Nut roasts are awesome. And healthy. And make great, filling main course dishes.

ThisDishIsVeg Nut Roast recipe with photo
AllRecipes.com recipe with great reviews (no photo)
VeganEasy recipe that looks both easy and delicious (w/photo)
MeatoutMondays recipe w/photo

Also a favorite of mine is (anything made with) potatoes.

MyVeganCookbook's potatoes au gratin (photo made me lick screen)
C'est La Vegan mashed potatoes
VegWeb twice-baked potatoes
VegWeb cheesy potato casserole

Green bean casserole anyone?

FatFreeVegan green bean casserole

Stuffing can be made vegan.
Any dessert can be made vegan.
Google "vegan Thanksgiving recipes" or "vegan side dishes" or "vegan (insert-what-you're-looking-for-here)." You'll be amazed at the results. And if you need any help (like "What the heck is nutritional yeast?" don't hesitate to ask).

Anything you can do, I can do vegan.*

*Stolen from a Facebook post by Jasmin Singer of Our Hen House.

I am thankful

2010-11-18T09:25:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for...

plant-based foods for giving me all the nutrients I need to be healthy.
everyone who has recognized, is recognizing, or will recognize that killing animals for food is unnecessary.
companies, even the evil ones, that make great-tasting meat alternatives.
all the role models (like Kate Green and Stephanie Ernst) who led me to stop consuming animals.
those who have allowed me to be a role model to them.
Carol Adams' book "Living Among Meat Eaters," which answered a lot of my "why would they say that to me?" type of questions.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and her lovely podcast, which again-and-again (because I need reminders) teaches me to be proud, joyful, and honest about what I believe.
vegan meetups in St. Louis.
Eric Pueblo for calling the dog "him" and not "it."
companion animal rescuers who have realized that harming a pig or cow or chicken is morally equivalent to harming a dog or cat, and who have/do/will serve vegan food at their events (like Gateway Pet Guardians will do tonight - can't wait!).
people who realize it's not "all or nothing," and choose to stop eating/using the animal products they feel ready to give up.
ethnic restaurants. Nuff said.

I have surely left out at least 100 people and things I'm thankful for. But at least it's a start.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Prodding Questions

2010-11-08T13:46:00.001-08:00

Almost every time a new person learns that I am a vegan, they ask questions. While sometimes the questions are sincere, there are times when the questioner is just prodding. Just trying to be offensive. Just trying to build walls, find an error in my thought processes, find a reason that their food choices are superior to mine (or a reason that food choices don't exist - i.e., "humans can't live without meat).

I love and appreciate sincere questions about my lifestyle, and I think I answer those politely. The times I have trouble answering with tact are when people come at me with prodding questions.

Below are some funny yet infuriating questions I've been asked. Yes, they're all real.

"Where do you get your vitamin C?"
"You worry about her, don't you? Because of her diet?" -To my mom from a coworker, upon meeting her for the first time.
"You're not one of those people who thinks milking a cow is wrong, are you?" -From an elderly family member.
"Is your hair falling out yet?"
"What do you eat when you go to McDonald's??"

Please ask questions when you sincerely want to hear the answers. And if you just want an excuse to think I'm stupid or wrong or dying, please keep it to yourself.

Sterotyping by liberals is still stereotyping

2010-11-08T11:36:00.001-08:00

Black people are all unintelligent. White people are all uptight. Mexican people are all dirty.

Stereotypes are hurtful, dangerous, and illogical. I'm a well-educated, white female who has lived a very privileged and cushy life. However, as a vegan, I am a minority of sorts. For people who don't know any other vegans, what I do and say can to them become a representation of all vegans. If I'm rude, then "vegans are rude." If I am pushy, then "vegans are pushy." If you don't know many vegans, then the characteristics and actions of the one or two you meet are probably applied to all the rest.

It's human nature to stereotype in this way, but I think it's something we should resist. Yes, even us liberals.

You know the drill. We may not stereotype against gay people, black people, or illegal immigrants, but we'll readily take a swing at a southerner, won't we? I'm guilty of this myself. Generally, I don't mean harm by it; I'm just trying to get a laugh. But it's probably hurtful, and I probably shouldn't do it.

Not all black people are unintelligent. Not all white people are uptight. Not all Mexican people are dirty. And not all southerners are unintelligent. Not all republicans are greedy. Not all rural dwellers are ignorant.

Think about yourself. You have characteristics that place you in certain groups: Irish, Latino, short, southern, rich, urban, gay, Jewish, etc. Do you want to be judged based on generalizations of the groups you belong to? Do you want people to judge those groups based on what you do and say? I sure don't. Because if I'm having a rotten day, and I'm acting like a giant turd, I don't want to ruin the reputation of every other Caucasian, blue-eyed, brown-haired, married, young(ish), Mazda-driving, female vegan.

Materialism and why my brother is awesome

2010-11-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

My brother is getting married soon, and people have begun to ask me where he and his fiance are registered. My answer is that they're not registered and they don't want presents. This results in a look (or, in most cases, text) indicating confusion, annoyance, and disbelief.

Instead of responding to me with an "oh, okay," everyone comes back with more questions. "What about money?" "Do you know what they want?" "Seriously, what should I buy them?"

It's really difficult for people to:

Believe that someone actually doesn't want presents,
Resist the idea of bringing presents, and
Feel okay about stepping foot into a reception hall empty-handed.

And I don't like it.

My brother is one of the coolest people on the planet. There are many reasons for that, and one is that he's not greedy or materialistic. In fact, he's kind of a minimalist. It's a quality that should be admired and emulated. It shouldn't cause confusion.

Unfortunately, because of the government, the free market, and the billions spent on advertising, we're all under the false impression that we need things in order to be happy. When we want to say "Happy anniversary," we do it with flowers, cards, stuffed bears, or balloons. When we want to remember a special event, we have to buy the t-shirt. We keep clothes that don't even fit us because we have an emotional attachment to them. An emotional attachment to threads sewn together. What are we thinking?

Memories are in our minds. We can keep them forever, and we don't need a t-shirt to do so.

And weddings? They are happy occasions because they allow us to come together with friends and family and celebrate the people we love. ...Not because we get free stuff.

Let's create new traditions, of which love and respect and kindness and selflessness are the themes. This is my challenge to you and to myself.

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