After a meatless two years, I am willing to consider that a 100% vegetarian lifestyle is not for me. A fresh attitude spawned after finally paying heed to the fact that my cravings for animal products have yet to subside. What I really have to thank for this change is that, lately, it’s transformed from a mere craving to feeling almost apathetic toward any other food. I am willing to consider that there may be something my body needs nutritionally that could be obtained from a source other than meat, but until I discover what that is, I give myself permission to indulge (responsibly, of course). Hallelujah. As I reflect back on my intention for forgoing meat in the first place, it’s clear that I didn’t make the decision for the best of reasons. I’m aware of the environmental costs of meat consumption (especially beef!), but that wasn’t “it” for me. Some taut the health benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, and my veggie intake certainly improved, but that wasn’t the impetus either. Nor was I taking a stand for animal rights.
Usually, when people ask what prompted me, I say “it just felt better.” Have I felt physically better? Not really. I cannot say I notice much of a difference aside from initially not enjoying the same level of satiety (over time I did learn what I needed to keep those hunger pangs at bay). It was a choice that came about as a result of something nagging at the back of my mind. Knowing that others were refraining led me to feel like that must be the right thing to do, the ethical decision. Here I was on a self-described mission to “live in truth,” so I wanted to be sure my actions were in accord with my behavior. What I see now is that the choices I make absolutely must be as an answer to my own body and soul. We shouldn’t follow any crowd or idea, even if said crowd is the “moral” bunch.
I’m not sure if I can imagine living a non-vegetarian lifestyle for an extended period of time because, as I move forward in this journey, the killing of animals tugs more and more at my heart strings. For now, I’m okay with the sacrificing of those lives in order to discover deep in my core if that’s the course I need to take...
A reminder to the premise of this extended piece:
I’m stumbling upon limitations of my mind and the identity it’s wrapped around. If the connection to running and vegetarianism aren’t clear, no worries, I’m getting there…promise!
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2 comments:
annie- i noticed your goal for this week and was wondering if you could write something about this type of medicine...it's one i'm interested in and i'm not sure the best source to use to understand it better. or let me know of a good book :) thank you.
Hey Carms,
I've been researching up a storm about Ayurveda, so I have a fairly good understanding of it but have hesitated to write much about it because I lack the credentials.
My top pick to go to is David Frawley. While he's written many books, "Ayurvedic Healing: A Comprehensive Guide" is the one I'm most familiar with, and it's great for general knowledge. Also, Vasant Lad is prestigious the the Ayurvedic world as well. Hope this helps. :)
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