Here’s what you can do – Stop. Just stop. Do some research – it’s all out there on the internet. Start with the resources page on my site if you like, but if not, there are so many more sites and resources. Find what works for you – Read books and articles, watch films, go to a restaurant and try a vegan dish or learn to cook a few simple things in your own kitchen. Plan a romantic vegan meal for you and your love and see how you both feel afterward. Repeat as necessary.

Yes, I’m calling you out right now! If you consider yourself an animal lover or an advocate for those less fortunate than you, you can choose to stop contributing to the extreme suffering of animals and humans.

Vegans aren’t perfect. I don’t know a single one who claims to be. What I’m saying is that you have the ability to get in line with your beliefs. If something doesn’t feel right to you, you have the power to stop and take another path.

Love, love, love.

*************************************

Do you know I haven’t done an episode of The Traveling Vegetarian since 2007? All my shows were self-funded and well, the money ran out. I would love to do more. I would love to document more vegan adventures around the world, but it all takes cash and opportunity. I’m sure it’s out there, but if you’re wondering why I’m not doing shows or writing as many travel blogs, that’s why…

I don’t do that. But I feel compelled to say that while I can laugh at myself as much as the next person, when you joke to me about how much you love bacon or foie gras, it really does tear me up a little inside. What I don’t think most people realize is that for many vegans like me, killing a pig for your taste buds is not much, if at all, different than killing and eating a dog, or even a human being. I try not to put myself above animals. I don’t believe that they are here for us to use and abuse.

Every once in a while I post something on my Facebook page about animal abuse. I don’t do it all the time, but sometimes a video or article will really grab me and I feel it’s worth sharing. I will always be indebted to PETA for sending me that magazine with photographs of animal abuse that caused me to go vegetarian many years ago, so you never know when a message will touch someone.

What’s interesting is how few people comment on these links, or even bother to watch them. I have thousands of friends on Facebook and when I post certain things, I get tons of views and comments. Not so with the animal videos.

If you are unable to watch what really goes on in factory farms and slaughterhouses, shouldn’t you at least reconsider what you put in your body?

I know lots of people who tell me they only eat animals from “humane” farms, yet they order meat in restaurants all the time. And really, what is a humane farm anyway? Most of these animals, even if they may have actually eaten things nature intended them to eat and their feet have actually touched grass, end up in the same slaughterhouses as the factory farmed animals. Really, don’t kid yourself. If you order meat, dairy, etc., you are paying someone to abuse an animal. Period.

I really, truly believe that so much of the violence in our society starts with how we treat our animals. If we continue to ignore the way our fellow earthlings are treated and what that does to those who torture and consume these wonderful creatures, we are doing ourselves and our world a disservice.

Veganism is pure joy to me. I am so thankful for the way I look and feel and to know that with the things I eat, wear, etc., I am voting for a more compassionate world. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. I do realize though, that everyone is on their own path, and that’s why I don’t judge others for making different decisions than the ones I make.

I love you just the way you are and I love to laugh and be happy, just as you do. I’m not asking you to change for me. I really can endure a lot. But please consider my feelings when you make jokes about killing my friends.