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Tuesday, 07 November 2006 16:38 |
| | Janese Johnson |
A common complaint that I have heard over the years about vegetarians is how arrogant they can be about their way of life.
I know this well because I have been a vegetarian for close to 24 years and in the beginning I, too, was an arrogant vegetarian. Through lots of compassion and awareness, I hopefully have rid myself of that malady.
When I first became a vegetarian, it was not with any real goal in mind. I certainly would not have imagined going so many years without eating meat. I quit eating meat because it did not make sense to me to kill another living being for my own pleasures when I could still survive without the loss of another life. I decided that until it made sense to me, I would refrain from eating meat.
After
a while I realized all the benefits of a vegetarian diet and my
commitment grew stronger. My children were raised for 10 years on a
healthy vegetarian diet. While eating so healthily, colds and sickness
of any kind was obsolete.
As they reached
adolescence, eating a healthy vegetarian diet was no longer "cool."
Therefore, one by one, they started eating meat and other unhealthy
foods. Perhaps they felt the need to compensate with junk food and meat
after being deprived of it throughout their childhoods. Within a very
short time, colds and other ailments became a way of life.
I am only
sharing from my experience ÇƒÓ not any proven scientific study. I have
heard people say that some vegetarians look quite sickly. I guess it
really has more to do with how and what we eat ÇƒÓ not whether we choose
to eat a vegetarian diet.
There are many
research studies that show that a diet high in vegetables and low in
animal fat can promote greater health for anyone. Additionally, it has
been found that meat can contribute to colon cancer, which is on the
rise. Some say that colon cancer is the result of humans consuming meat
that comes from cows raised on antibiotics and other drugs in
factory-farming methods. Some say colon cancer is caused by the amount
of time meat takes to digest in the colon, which allows for it to rot
and not be fully digested.
When I first
became a vegetarian, I felt so much better and wanted to share (and
yes, even evangelize) my way of life with everyone.
This, I am sure, was annoying to quite a few of my friends, and fortunately they put up with me until I came to my senses.
In retrospect,
my evangelical behavior was unattractive and at times, even alienating.
I was feeling better than others because I didnët eat meat. I was also
invalidating them and seeing them as uncompassionate beings because
they were supporting the killing of life. When I saw that it was me who
was not being compassionate with all living beings, I slowly and surely
dropped my personal bias and judgments.
Recently, my
compassion was tested when a friend invited our friends and me to
celebrate her birthday at the Outback Steakhouse. I ordered the only
two vegetarian options and had a great time. The old arrogant
vegetarian part of me would have probably made it an issue to others
and that would have prohibited me from having an otherwise good time
with my wonderful friends. I would not have even considered that this
was my friendës choice and I was there to honor her, not me.
Because I have
chosen to live my life as an unconventional consumer, I must accept the
choices of others. This realization has been liberating on so many
levels.
I can truly say that I have not been able to "convert" many people to the vegetarian diet, so I gave up trying.
I am a person
who is living the truth that works best for me at this time and I am
accepting the truth that works best for you. Compassion and acceptance
feel good.
ï
Janese Johnson
has been doing intuitive counseling nationally for more than 20 years.
She may be contacted at janesej-at-buncombe.main.nc.us.
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