Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Tuesday morning’s post began the discussion about consuming honey. I shared that over the past year of this vegan journey I had decided to no longer purchase or consume honey.  As I wrote about it, I realized that it really felt important to me. I was happy to share, begin a dialogue and anxious to see how all of  you felt about it.

As Tuesday came to a close and Wednesday dawned, it became abundantly clear to me what I had to do about a bee issue at my very own home.  A colony of bees had taken up residence in the side of our house. It is the corner that we have to pass every time we come in or out of the house from the backyard with the dogs. The corner is unavoidable.

As it happens,  Sandy is allergic to bee stings, yet we tried to peacefully coexist fir several weeks. There was no need to run them off and we quietly and gingerly walked by that corner until….the bees stung my Sandy as she walked innocently by. We were able to medicate her right away but her hand and arm puffed up like a floating balloon in a parade.

Then, they got my Sparky dog. Because Sparky is a mature (old) lady, the sting made a round patch of her fur fall right out, she got a horrific bruise and a skin reaction that required a trip to the vet and a new handful of medication.  I felt like I had no choice, these bees had to go.

So, two nights ago,  I sprayed them and ended their journey. After all the soul searching, research, pomp and circumstance about why I am no longer willing to consume honey, I killed an entire colony of bees in three minutes.

I am sharing this with you because I think it is such a profound reminder that being vegan or omnivorous or human requires us to make choices every single day. Our lives continue to unfold every minute of every day regardless of what we label ourselves or our food habits. The very best we can do for ourselves and the planet is to make compassionate choices when we are able. Living compassionately is  not an all or nothing choice, but a series of choices that we are able to make over and over again.   Those individual choices add up everyday to create great change for all of us.

Because I made a choice for my family that was not in line with how I hope to live my life does not mean that I am any less vegan or less committed to making kind and compassionate decisions.

Every time someone says to me, “I would be vegan if I didn’t have to give up cheese,” I think to myself…then don’t give it up. If you can’t live without cheese then make all of your other choices animal  product-free.

To me, being vegan means committing to vigilance in my decision-making to try and choose with compassion every single time I am faced with a new decision and am able. Sometimes, it is not clear which road to travel, but I will always make the  effort to choose the most honest one I can and most compassionate one possible. Today and every day I will have limitless opportunities to change the world one meal or one decision at a time and so do you.

So lets do it. Lets make the most kind, healthful and compassionate decisions we can every single time we have the opportunity. As we continue to  share, learn and grow, many of these decisions will become second nature and before we know it…we will have changed the world one meal at a time together.

Have a delicious day.

Tags: compassionate choices, compassionate living, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan wannabe