11/6 A Mammoth Amount of Wool
Last weekend I finished putting away our summer clothes and begrudgingly organized our fall and winter clothes. It was just in time because the first snow flakes fell last night. I hung up my sweaters and lined up my winter shoes while bagging up my beloved flip flops and sandals.
As I brought out my winter warmies, I noticed a pattern emerging, I own more wool clothes than a researcher living at the South Pole. This situation was unfolding like the suede and leather sandal realization from a few months ago (8/28 Outgrowing My Shoes). I was somewhat shocked but the truth is, as a 13 year vegetarian I never gave wool or silk a second thought. I dont know why, I just didnt. It was part of the forgetting. I have always been vehemently opposed to wearing leather, yet I had a closet full of suede sandals. I would never, ever advocate for animals suffering to produce goods, yet I have been wearing my wool warmies every winter.
I am sharing this with you because I am certainly not the first person to come to this realization about themselves through the process of transitioning to a more compassionate lifestyle. It is creating some grief and sadness because now that I feel this way, I cant unfeel it or turn it off. I want everything I already have to be veganized and in line with my beliefs. That thinking just isn’t realistic. I cant get rid of my winter coats and all of my sweaters before I have more to replace them with. It would be setting unrealistic expectations for myself, my budget and my wardrobe.
I want to continue to be inspired and excited to make compassionate and responsible choices moving forward. Choices that I know are changing the world one meal, sweater and shoe at a time. Every animal friendly and compassionate choice we make snowballs into movements and advancements that we would have never thought possible. Had you asked me five years ago if my local grocery store would sell soy milk or vegetarian ribs I would have said no way.
My point is that it does not have to be all or nothing…. just because I still have some wool sweaters does not equal that I am now going to eat a chicken. We make the rules for our own lives. We decide what fits and how its going to fit. Make the best choices for yourself and your family everyday without looking back or feeling negatively about past choices. Lets move forward in joy and excitement for all the things we can do to positively effect the lives of animals and ourselves.
Have a delicious weekend.
*Photo Courtesy of Paul Kipping
Tags: compassionate choices, going veg, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan lifestyle, vegan transition, vegan wannabe, vegans and wool, vegetarian transition, vegetarians and wool, wearing wool
November 6th, 2010 at 11:25 am
i agree with “We make the rules for our own lives. We decide what fits and how its going to fit. Make the best choices for yourself and your family everyday without looking back or feeling negatively about past choices. Lets move forward in joy and excitement for all the things we can do to positively effect the lives of animals and ourselves.” whole heartedly.
November 7th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
I so identify with your feelings. I just put another pair of boots curbside. Gratefully I am allergic to wooly scratchy thing so transitoning out of sweaters was not an issue.
November 8th, 2010 at 10:29 am
One meal, shoe and article of clothing at a time. just continue to make good decisions and share with others along the way. Vegans Rule!! I have had a difficult time finding appropriate vegan shoes for my new job. They need to keep my feet warm and be as comfy as a running shoe. Any recommendations oh vegan Yoda?
November 13th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Yes! Sherry, I like the Earth Vegan brand for comfortable work shoes. I don’t know if they count as warm or not but I did wear mine through all weather. And wore them out three years later. Let me know what you find because I need some good all day in the kitchen shoes.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:15 am
Nicole, thank you so much for the tip. I will check out their site. I also found some really cute vegan shoes at the Keen website. They look like little sleeping bags. If I order them I will let you know how they fare. They have memory foam insides which sounds yummy for my feet.