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How a Vegan Lifestyle Lends Itself to Kindness to All
Veganuary 2023 is coming up. Are you ready to embrace veganism?
Not all vegans are kind, and kind souls aren’t all vegan.
“Primum non nocere” is the Hippocratic Oath sworn by many doctors worldwide. It translates as “first, do no harm.” Isn’t it awfully arrogant to restrict this oath to the human species? It’s time we apply this oath to the animal kingdom as well.
I have followed a vegan lifestyle for almost 10 years. Veganism captivates my spirit, yet I haven’t written about it. Do you know why? I recognize writing and talking about veganism can come across as self-righteous and judgemental. Even in face-to-face conversations, it can be challenging to break down barriers between vegans and non-vegans. And as for the blatant cognitive dissonance, well, it’s rife! We know there is cruelty involved in the meat and dairy industry. Yet we bury our heads in the sand as bacon and eggs taste good.
If I am asked why I am vegan, my reply is simple “I want to lead as kind a life as possible.” My words are often twisted, and all people hear is an accusation from my mouth, “YOU aren’t kind!” which is not what I am saying.
For me, living as kind a life as possible involves kindness to myself, animals, and the planet. For…