What If Nobody Cares?
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Living vegan values in the midst of persons who are indifferent, apathetic, or hostile towards veganism has become a normal lifestyle for me. I am not so naive as to have imagined that people would be delighted to abandon their veal cutlets, steaks, fried chicken, or sausage. Most of us had parents and grandparents who were great cooks that specialized in their meat dishes. In my town of 120,000 people, I have never met either a vegetarian or vegan. This leaves me essentially without any one on one contact with another human being who shares my values. In time I have found that living without support from peers is okay. I cook a great deal, but my relatives all have this and that that they ‘don’t like’ so I dare not bring a covered dish to any event. It matters a lot how I react to such things.
The strength to happily continue vegan living comes from two basic aspects of my experiences. Forty years ago I built a barn on 7 acres of land and raised Welch ponies, donkeys, turkeys, ducks, bantam hens, and dairy goats. These critters were sheltered, fed, and loved. I had no interest in food or dairy products from them. They were simply given a home where they were safe and cared for. If one died, they were respectfully buried. My memory is full of images of happy mother hens with their chicks scratching the earth and clucking happily. The youthful energy of little kid goats scampering in the pasture was a sight to behold, and now remember.
The second aspect of my experience which helps me is my delight in living harmoniously with all of life. In music, one major chord consists of middle C, E, G, and then the next C. In my thinking, I start my life with C, and eventually learn to have compassion and love for mankind. This I would call E. G, the next note in this harmonious chord is choosing extend this caring to all living beings. Once this level is reached, its time to move up even higher to the next C. So, for me, living vegan is a natural progression in harmonious living.
Choosing to honor Vegan principles is a private decision on my part and I am the belief that this practice saves the lives of many living creatures who otherwise would have been slaughtered for food. I believe that any decision of worth must involve a “nobility of purpose”. Choosing to cook and eat as a vegan is a noble endeavor in my opinion and it matters not if those around me share those views. I am determined to find my happiness picturing some happy chicken somewhere clucking in a pasture thanks to me. Others may prefer hip-hop, discordant, melodies for their lives, but I find that living in harmony with all living things brings its own strength which more than overcomes any sense of isolation. Mother Teresa said, “Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”
“In my town of 120,000 people, I have never met either a vegetarian or vegan.”
Wow, I’m pretty shocked with that actually. I grew up in a small town of 50,000 in the mid-west and had tons of veg/vegan friends. Maybe put up a flyer at your local health food grocery looking for other veg*ns for a potluck event? I’m sure it’s hard being the “only veg in the village.”
i also live in a small town (not sure of the exact number)and i am the only veg*n that i know of. the closest vegan meetup is 30 miles away, and they aren’t even active. it is lonely not to be able to interact with a live person that shares the lifestyle. but like you, i try and remind myself why (and for whom) i am doing this. great post!
.-= wendy´s last blog ..Mom, Memories, and Salad Dressing =-.
Thanks Kevin and Wendy. Elaine sent me an url to http://vegan.meetup.com/ which I will look up. Regardless of what I find, I intend never to let my stewardship of vegan values be contingent in any way on other people who come and go.
.-= Harry Hebert´s last blog ..Quotes – Page 286 =-.
statistically speaking it’s damn near impossible that there isn’t another vegan in your town. about .5% of the population is vegan so there should be about 600 vegans in your town. even if your area is less vegan friendly there must be a few if you look in the right places.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..When to Hold Your Tongue =-.
When I became veg 24 years ago….I was lonely, too. At that time it was not heard of and pretty new.
But times have changed and, thru volunteering, I have met many vegans.
It is hard now but times are changing. Maybe you could take the initiative in forming a group? Maybe there are others out there you just haven’t met yet who feel the same way? You just haven’t met them yet.
Wonderful post Harry. You’re an incredible human animal! We have vegan potlucks once a month here in St. Catharines (population 130,000) and approximately 50 people (most of them vegan) attend every month. It helps when you have a university in town too. If you’re ever thinking of relocating to Canada, we’d be happy to have you! You’d just have to get used to colder weather 7 months of the year. Brrr!
.-= Daniel´s last blog ..In defense of James Cameron and Avatar (sort of) =-.
Harry,
Good for you for not only living a life that is true to yourself, but for also recognizing that other people may see things differently. I was expecting a bitter rant about those of us who are omnivorous, but you defied my expectations. I wish you luck in finding other vegans in your area.
Try to wear a vegan T-shirt and notice how many vegan citizens appears
Daniel, I love all you Canadians from afar and have for years. You’ll are so wonderfully civilized. No wonder there are so many vegans there. Thanks for the invite.
Mattia, I wear a basecap which simply says “Vegan” and did meet at least 1 vegetarian that way. I just may buy a t-shirt too.
Cam, Crystall, Krista, your gracious and caring reply to this post are a great encouragement to me. I have a great feeling of warmth for you all. You help me overcome any cosmic loneliness I might feel as a solitaire vegan. I am so grateful to Elaine for providing this media for us all. Thanks.
.-= Harry Hebert´s last blog ..….THANK YOU !!!!!!…. =-.