Q&A #2: Should animals be used in the military and police force?

It's time for another Q&A!  Don't forget to leave your own questions in the comments below :)

Watch it on YouTube HERE!

QUESTIONS...

ONE Is it enough to eat properly to be vegan, or do you also have to forgo leather, wool, silk, etc.?  (0:14)

TWO What are your thoughts on the “If Meat Eaters Talked Like Vegans” video?  (1:44)

THREE What is your workout routine?  (3:24)

FOUR What do you eat before and after your morning workout?  (4:27)

FIVE Was are your thoughts on service dogs and police dogs?  (5:37)

SIX How do you keep and organize recipes?  (9:21)

SEVEN Favourite vegan handbag brands?  (10:18)

EIGHT Tips for a college student trying to be vegan?  (11:51)

LINKS TO THINGS I TALKED ABOUT...

Thoughts on leather: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/should-you-get-rid-of-all-your-leather-now-that-youre-vegan

Thoughts on silk: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/no-silk-please

WOG Love Yourself Program: http://wayofgray.com/

Breakfast Smoothie Bowl on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFxBwSpOgzl/?taken-by=elizabethturn

My thoughts on zoos: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/top-ten-problems-with-zoos

My thoughts on SeaWorld: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/seaworld

My pinterest (where I save recipes!): https://www.pinterest.com/elizabethgturn

My matt and nat wallet and purse review: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/matt-nat-handbag-and-wallet-reveal

Matt and Nat: https://mattandnat.com/

Gunas New York: http://shrsl.com/?~clon

How to go vegan: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/go-vegan

Tips for going dairy free: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/go-dairy-free

Music: http://www.bensound.com/

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What do you want answered in my next Q&A video?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Review: Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation (Vegan & Cruelty-Free)

Since switching over to vegan and cruelty-free makeup I have been in search of a great foundation for my wedding day.  I have tried products from Cover Fx, Too Faced, and more to no avail.  After having tried various Kat Von D products, I couldn't help but hope that her foundation would be up to the task.  After using it for over a month I think I'm ready to give it an honest review!

What Kat Von D has to say about it:

Lock-It Foundation rocks so hard! Creamy and pigmented, it’s the only long-wear liquid formula we can count on to create a perfect canvas.

One little pump is all it takes to even out discoloration, stop shine and hide blemishes! The coverage is AMAZING, whether you apply with a brush or a sponge. And it’s so long-wear, we can go a full 24 hours without touching up or re-applying (Kat herself has put this to the test). That velvety matte finish will stay flawless through hell or high water!

Science nerds, pay attention! Formulated with 21% pigment, our powerful potion is loaded with proprietary pigments plus an exclusive blend of siliconic elastomers and siliconic esters which bind the formula, so your foundation stays fade-free and transfer- proof! Lock-It, you always have us looking and feeling like a total goddess.

The bottle features an innovative airless chamber design that prevents contamination and maintains Lock-It’s rich consistency. That means you get a fresh, precisely measured dose with every pump!

Rule the Lock-It look! Share your pretty face on Instagram with #kvdlook.

#VeganAlert!

100% Cruelty Free Forever!

Mix a dab of Lock-It Featherweight Primer into your Lock-It Foundation to completely customize your amount of coverage. Can you say #GameChanger?!

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Cost: $35 US / $42 CAD

Amount: 1 oz

Is it vegan? Yes!

Is it cruelty-free? Yes!

Shade: Light 46

Ingredients:

• Optical Diffusers: Treated pigments visually minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while increasing luminosity on the skin.
• Emollients: Impart excellent slip and playtime; ensure softness. 
• Glycerin: Extremely hydrating. 
• Siliconic Elastomers: Long-lasting esters with emollient properties; provide dry, semi-matte finish. 
• Mattifying Powders: Texturing agent; increase powder effect and absorption properties. 
• Siliconic Ester: Provides no-transfer properties.  

Water, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Isododecane, Sodium Chloride, Methicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Calcium Carbonate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trihydroxystearin, Potassium Sorbate, Methylpropanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium Edta, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone. May Contain (+/-):CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide).

What I think…

The Good

• Extremely full coverage - covers blemishes and discoloration well on its own;
• Great selection of 20 shades;
• Not drying or oil producing;
• No parabens or synthetic fragrances;
• Beautiful smooth and matte finish;
• Long lasting (all day and night.  Really!);
• The pump is great for dispensing product.

The Bad

• The cost - $42 for foundation is steep;
• Starts at full coverage and can only build up from there - admittedly mixing with primer may solve this problem and I did find that mixing it with my moisturizer sheered it out a bit;
• It dries very quickly making it slightly difficult to work with (I apply as quickly as possible using my fingers).  I've heard this can be solved by mixing it with a drop or two of oil (though I haven't tried it) but do find that when I have mixed with my moisturizer it takes more time to dry and therefore becomes a bit easier to apply;
• It can look slightly cakey if too much is applied over uneven skin.

The Ugly

• There is no way to close the foundation after taking it out of the initial packaging so traveling with it is messy.

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Rating: 4/5

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Final Verdict: I love this foundation.  It isn't perfect, but it is pretty amazing!  I wish the pump could be closed for travelling, as wasting a $42 foundation in my makeup bag is no fun.  However, this foundation has the best finish of any vegan foundation I have yet to try!  If I can find a foundation as beautiful as this one wth medium rather than full coverage (to let my freckles shine through) I'll be golden.  If not, this one is the winner for me!

Would I recommend? Yes, to anyone with normal to oily skin.  For those with dry skin I would avoid it due to the matte finish and heavier coverage.

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Have you tried Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Foundation?  What are your thoughts?

Do you have another favourite vegan foundation to recommend?

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Looking for more vegan and cruelty-free reviews?  

Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Mascara Review

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara Review

e.l.f. Mad For Matte Palette Review

How To Get A Better Sleep in Ten Easy Steps

Did you know that one third of the world's adult population suffers from insomnia?  And that 62% of Canadians suffer from some type of sleep problem?  Over a quarter of Canadians have called in sick to catch up on sleep, and I know that I have first hand experience with the way a lack of quality sleep can turn us into slower, more stressed, underperforming zombies with a far less creativity.

Have you ever felt like you, but worse, when you haven’t had a good night’s sleep?  That’s because the parts of your brain responsible for decision making, social interaction, morality, and thought lose as much as 14% of their fuel after even mild sleep deprivation.

When you sleep, your brain is able to discard toxins and other waste by way of the glymphatic system.  What happens when your brain isn’t able to dispose of the waste?  Contemporary science believes this is one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

I know that I feel so much better after a good night’s sleep.  Let’s collect some strategies and some quality Zzzs along the way.  It’s time to sleep better, starting tonight!

STEP ONE // GET ON A SCHEDULE

One of the most important strategies for a good night’s sleep is to fall asleep and wake up at the same time everyday.  Your body craves this type of routine, and you’ll begin to crave the energy boost it brings!

Shawn Stevenson, sleep expert extraordinaire, recommends sleeping during what he likes to call ‘money time’ - the hours between 10pm and 2am during which time we humans secrete the most beneficial hormones for growth, repair, and wellbeing and experience the most recovery.

Of course, many of us have lives that don’t allow for sleeping during this entire period.  If you regularly finish work at 11, don’t fret!  Just aim to get to sleep as soon as possible when you arrive home and stick to that schedule as regularly as possible.

But I’m never tired at 10pm.  I’m a night-owl!

I know how you feel.  I have always considered myself a night owl.  But this is an artificial phenomenon born of our dependance on electricity to stimulate our senses far past the setting sun.  It may take time, but training yourself to get sleepy around 10pm and wake naturally around 7am each day will allow you to be far more productive than you ever were during an all-nighter!

So, how many hours should I sleep?

That’s a great question.  Many recommend the standard 8 hours, which I have never felt to be sufficient in my personal experience.  Considering that a full healthy sleep cycle takes 90 minutes to complete, it makes the most logical sense to aim for 7.5 or 9 hours of sleep, depending on your life and needs. If you’ve ever experienced awaking in the middle of a sleep cycle, you know that it leaves you feeling groggy and less than fully rested.  Aim to sleep in multiples of 90 minutes for your most restful sleep and energetic day!

STEP TWO // GET MOVING FIRST THING

Whether it’s a full workout or a quick walk around the neighbourhood, moving your body shortly after waking has incredible benefits for our sleep and general health.  When you move in the morning, you encourage a spike of the hormone cortisol which will gradually lower over the course of the day as melatonin increases.  By the time you are getting ready to sleep your melatonin will be at it’s peak, helping you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep!

I love to start my day with yoga or HIIT training, and find it boosts my energy and productivity all day long!

If you’re really a star player, try working out in the great outdoors to combine this step with the next one!  (Who doesn’t love a good two in one?)

STEP THREE // GET SUNLIGHT ON YOUR SKIN

Humans love sunlight, and for good reason.  You may have heard of circadian rhythm, which is based on the Earth’s natural cycle of light and dark.  We evolved at the mercy of this rhythm, sleeping in the dark and waking with the light.  Our bodies developed a schedule of hormonal release based on this natural sun cycle, which we are still subject to today.

Unfortunately, despite our technological advances, we cannot escape our evolution.

Our own circadian timing system and the hormones it controls are responsible for all sorts of vital functions in the body, including our digestion, blood pressure, appetite, immune system, mental energy, and more. 

When you are exposed to sunlight your hypothalamus orders the release of day-specific hormones which regulate your inner clock.  When you don’t get exposure to the sun during the day, and have excessive exposure to artificial light at night, you are throwing your circadian rhythm out of whack (and negatively impacting your sleep). 

So when should you be getting sunlight, and how much?

You are most responsive to sunlight between the hours of 6am and 8:30am, around the time you should be waking up!  Direct sunlight on skin WITHOUT sunscreen for at least 30 minutes is a good guideline for regulating your hormone production and getting a deeper, more restorative sleep.

As an added bonus, try going without sunglasses during your morning sun-worshipping.  Your eyes are another essential organ for absorbing sunlight, and even on a cloudy day they will allow you to receive the benefits of your time outdoors.

STEP FOUR // COMMIT TO A CAFFEINE CUT-OFF

We have become addicted to caffeine.  And to be honest, I am right there along with the majority of the population in my love for the dark, warm drink.  But while caffeine has health benefits that cannot be ignored, it can also have a negative impact on sleep.  The best way to have your coffee and drink it too is to set a caffeine curfew, and stick to it.

When should you finish your last cup of joe?  Likely before 2pm.  If you’re more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, even earlier!

If you’re looking to harness the power of caffeine to your benefit, try drinking it first thing in the morning to help boost that morning cortisol release you’re already stimulating with your morning exercise!  This will add fuel to the fire of your natural hormonal rhythm, helping you to be ready for sleep when that time comes around.

STEP FIVE // EAT SLEEP-PROMOTING FOODS

As we all know, the better your diet the healthier your body.  Your sleep is no exception.

Our gut bacteria is responsible for much more than digestion, and feeding it the right foods can have a wonderful impact on our sleep quality.

What foods should we be eating more of?

• foods high in selenium (such as brazil nuts);
• foods high in vitamin C (such as green leafy vegetables and a variety of fruits such as papaya kiwi, citrus fruits, and strawberries);
• foods containing tryptophan (such as sweet potatoes, chia, hemp and pumpkin seeds, almonds, bananas, and leafy greens);
• foods high in potassium (such as leafy greens, potatoes, cremini mushrooms, broccoli, and avocados);
• foods high in calcium (such as kale, collards, mustard greens, sea veggies, and sesame seeds);
• a vitamin D supplement (or that daily sunlight exposure we covered in step three!);
• plant-based sources of omega-3 (such as chia, pumpkin, flax, or hemp seeds, walnuts, and micro-algae supplements);
• foods containing melatonin (such as tart cherries, ginger root, asparagus, and walnuts) and foods that boost your body’s production of this essential sleep hormone (such as pineapples, bananas, oranges, and tomatoes);
• foods containing vitamin B6 (such as bananas, cashews, peanut butter, almonds, avocados, tomatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes, and sea vegetables);
• pro- and pre-biotics (found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, miso, non-dairy yogurt, and kombucha and non-fermented foods like Jerusalem artichokes, raw garlic, raw and cooked onions, dandelion greens, and asparagus);
• and last, but definitely not least, magnesium (found in green leafy vegetables, pumpkin and sesame seeds, spirulina, and brazil nuts).

What foods should we be avoiding?

• chemicals such as pesticides;
• processed foods;
• foods treated with antibiotics (such as meat); and
• food additives and preservatives of a chemical nature.

With these foods in mind, you are sure to keep your gut bacteria full and happy!

STEP SIX // TURN OFF YOUR IPHONE

Many of us are attached to our mobile devices at the hip (or the ear).  I am definitely guilty.  But the blue light emitted from those screens has an incredibly detrimental effect on our sleep.  Turn off your devices at least an hour before bed (if not earlier!) and keep them out of the bedroom!  (If that means spending $10 on an old school alarm clock, do it.  It’s worth it.)

STEP SEVEN // TURN DOWN THE THERMOSTAT

I don’t know about you, but I can never sleep if I’m hot.  And I am happy to report that it isn’t just me!  The human body sleeps best in a cooler environment of between 15-20 degrees celsius.  So turn down that thermostat, and enjoy getting a better sleep (and a more affordable heating bill!)

If it’s summer time and you don’t want to overdo it on air-conditioning, consider wearing less (or no) clothing while you sleep, using lighter weight blankets, or investing in a cooling pad for your mattress.

STEP EIGHT // SAY BYE-BYE TO ALCOHOL

At least right before bed!

Waking up with a hangover is never fun.  (But I don't have to tell you that!)  Reducing your alcohol consumption is the easiest way to avoid the tell-tale headache and weak stomach, and being sure to wrap up the fun more than 3 hours before bed time ensures a better quality sleep.  If you don’t give your body time to rid itself of the alcohol before hitting the sack you will be more likely to wake frequently in the night, drastically reducing the recovery benefits of sleep!

So limit your alcohol intake to a couple of drinks at most, and give yourself lime to digest (if only so that you can hit the bathroom before you hit the hay!)

STEP NINE // BLACK IT OUT

This one is common sense, but as we all know too well, common sense isn’t too common.  The darker our sleep environment, the better our sleep.  So be sure to remove any blinking lights, invest in blackout curtains, and turn off that pesky hall light that leaks under your door.

Amazingly enough, not only do we sense light through our eyelids, but our bodies actually have photoreceptors all over the surface of our skin - so using an eye mask while your husband/wife/partner/roommate works late into the night on their laptop isn’t a grade A idea.

Turn the lights off, all the way, and enjoy that pitch-black sleepy time.

STEP TEN // GET COMFY

We all know that the more comfortable we are, the better we sleep.  So how come so many of us sleep on lumpy mattresses in positions that make us feel sore and stiff?

• invest in a new mattress with high resiliency made with non-toxic materials;
• talk openly with your partner about what positions are most comfortable for you and for them, and;
• find the position that feels best for you AND keeps your body in its ideal alignment. 

I suggest picking up a copy of Sleep Smarter for tips on finding your perfect position - it really can make a whole world of difference!

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You may be overwhelmed by this list, so let me suggest that you begin by implementing just one of these ten steps and keep at it until it’s a habit.  Once you feel comfortable, add another one!  Before you know it you will be falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, and waking up more refreshed.

Do you have a tip for better sleep that I missed?  Let me know in the comment below!  If you liked this post, please check out Shawn’s book Sleep Smarter!  It is such a fascinating read and was the inspiration for this post.

Also, feel free to pin this graphic I put together for you to remember these ten tips and spread the word!

Oh, and there's going vegan.  That definitely helped me sleep at night!

Until next time,

Not Vegan Enough

I’m not perfect.  Shocking, I know.  There are likely many who would call me ‘not vegan enough’.  And I understand their perspective. But I can’t help but wonder, are we doing the vegan movement a disservice by criticizing each other and expecting perfection?  By demanding more from omnivores and vegans alike?  By focusing solely on the negative, on what still needs to be accomplished, rather than how far we have already come?

You may well call me not vegan enough.  

But the good thing is, I don’t need your approval.  

We’re on the same team, we’re routing for the animals, for our planet, for our health.  We are on the side of compassion.  So while we may not always see eye to eye, we are far more similar than we are different.

And that’s good enough for me.

Non-Vegans to Vegans

I was surprised by many things after transitioning to veganism.  Attitudes I had never noticed stood out to me, foods I had once loved held no appeal, advertising I had ignored jumped from the walls and billboards, and people I had been close to (and complete strangers) began to pick fights with me.

This is unfortunately a form of criticism many vegans face everyday.  Due to insecurity, or ignorance, or any number of factors, people like to take vegans down a peg, pull them off the moral high ground.  Prove a point; that even vegans aren’t perfect.  Forgetting, I suppose, that no one is perfect.  

They call out:

• vegans who wear leather;
• vegans who eat honey;
• vegans who are pro choice;
• vegans who kill insects;

They are all ‘bad vegans’.  They are ‘not vegan enough’.  

It’s as though they fervently hope that pointing out another’s flaws cancels out their own.  It must be easier to live with the responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of animals each year for your plate when you consider that even the holier-than-thou vegan still wears a pair of leather shoes.

I wholeheartedly agree that it would be better if every vegan made sure to never kill an insect, even indirectly.

But is that really more important than the countless animals they save each year?  

Does it negate their positive impact on the environment?  

Does it reverse the benefits to their body and well-being from a healthy diet?  

I often feel that I make others uncomfortable by being vegan, as though they feel threatened or judged in my presence. And while I must admit that I have definitely judged others for their choices in my life (let’s be honest here, who among us hasn’t?) it’s not as if I meet a non-vegan, immediately put them in the ‘I dislike and judge you’ bucket in my brain and criticize their every action.  

I understand that simply by existing, by proving that another way is possible, I may give off an air of superiority.  I can understand the instinct to retaliate, to point out my flaws to level the playing field.  But I must admit, it’s tiring to argue tiny points and ignore the elephant in the room - the immeasurable suffering of countless individuals each and every day.

Perhaps a more open discussion would allow for the sharing of ides and the possibility of a better future.

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Vegans to Vegetarians and the Veg Curious

Vegans are not always very nice to vegetarians.  This is a fact I learned quickly as a vegetarian, and continued to observe for the 8 months it took me to go vegan.  In some ways being vegetarian is even harder than being a vegan.  Not only do you not fit into the status quo, but you also don’t get as much recognition for your efforts from the rest of the animal rights community as you deserve.  

Of course, as vegans we know that the egg and dairy industries should not be supported.  But there was a time that I didn’t know.  I am so thankful that I stuck to my guns and continued on the path to veganism, rather than retaliating against the criticism and giving up.

Nowadays I get excited when I meet a vegetarian - here’s someone who is doing so much good already and with a tiny push could go all the way vegan!  But many vegans only see the copious consumption of eggs and dairy, and the suffering that causes.  I see their dilemma.  The egg and dairy industries are horrible and result in intense pain and the death of countless animals each year (as well as contributing overwhelmingly to lifestyle diseases and environmental collapse).  But consider for a moment the incredible number of vegetarians on earth and the millions of animals that are spared because of their dietary choices.  They may not be doing everything in their power to make the world a better place, but they are still rebelling against the standard, taking a stand, and saving lives!

The more vegetarians in the world, the better off we are.  Period.

‘You don’t really care about animals’ is something I hear directed at vegetarians far too often.  Perhaps they are simply undereducated on the horror of the egg and dairy industries?  I definitely did not realize how many animals died because of my egg and dairy consumption for almost a full year after I went vegetarian.  Once I learned the truth, I went vegan in short order and will never go back.  Perhaps suggesting a documentary to watch, or giving a book suggestion, or offering to chat over coffee would go over better than accusation and judgement?  (You can even send them a link to my resources page!)

With the prevalence of the ‘I could never give up cheese’ excuse, it’s not surprising to hear the response ‘You’re so selfish - you’d rather eat cheese than save animals!’ Now, I must admit this thought has popped into my head before.  It can be hard when vegetarians say - oh, you’re vegan?  Good for you!  I could never give up cheese.  I want to shake them and say, of course you can!  I was the biggest cheese addict you could ever meet for as long as I can remember right up until the day I went vegan. Twenty years of grilled cheese, bowls of parmesan, a la carte, pasta smothered in melted cheese, slices of aged cheddar as a snack, cream cheese and cheese strings and blocks of cheese always at the ready.  I look back at the amount of cheese I have eaten in my life and feel slightly nauseated.  I LOVED cheese.  Ask my family and they’ll tell you they were incredulous when I gave it up.  They were shocked, and with good reason.  Cheese was my main food group.  It was my number one source of calories.  It was the one thing I would never refuse to eat (and I was a picky eater).  But guess what?  After almost two decades of daily cheese consumption, I cut it out, cold turkey.  I won’t lie and say it was easy.  I had cravings coming out the wazoo, but I ate daiya every time a craving hit for a month or so, and then, much to my surprise, I kind of forgot what cheese tasted like.  I didn’t reach for the bag of daiya nearly so often.  I smelled cheese and thought it was pleasant but didn’t salivate.  My taste buds changed, and they changed rapidly.  It ended up being much easier to give up cheese than I ever thought.  (Check out my 10 Tips For Going Dairy-Free here!)

Vegetarians are a necessary part of this movement, and are doing a world of good.  Let’s inspire them to make even more positive change rather than tearing them down, and educate them on the truth of dairy and eggs!

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Vegan to Vegan

You might think that once I went vegan I was ‘in’, one of the cool kids.  But unfortunately, especially in anonymity on the internet, some vegans seem to LOVE to point fingers at other vegans, explaining why they aren’t in fact actually a vegan.  Seem confusing and unnecessary?  That’s because it is.  

Just some of the arguments I have seen flying around the internet as of late include:

• You eat palm oil, that harms orang-utans so it isn’t vegan!
• You once took a bite out of a real burger that you thought was a veggie burger.  You aren’t vegan!
• You kiss your non-vegan partner.  You aren’t vegan!

I could go on.  What good does it do to point out each other’s flaws rather than celebrate our similarities and attempts to live compassionately?   A suggestion, if asked for, is one thing.  But throwing criticism and judgement this way and that simply turns people off of this lifestyle.

How excited would you be to go vegan if all you say of them was the way they tear each other down?  I am so glad I didn’t witness this until after making the transition, because it may have deterred me.  It’s hard enough for people to want to make a change that they see as almost impossible.  If not for each other, we need to pull together for all of the non-vegans out there, and for the animals!  Educate, don’t hate, should be everyone’s mantra.

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Vegans to Ourselves

This one can be the biggest downfall of a new vegan.  Being too hard on ourselves when we make a mistake and using that as an excuse to give up entirely is a phenomenon I have seen far too much of.  It’s even hard for long-time vegans, and it’s a difficult feeling to shake.

Just some of my own destructive and self-critical thoughts include:

• I bit into something that I didn’t know had animal products in it, I’m a bad vegan.  
• I can never take back all of the death and suffering I caused in my 19 years as an omnivore.
• I should be more outspoken at every opportunity in my day to day life, I should never sit quietly ignoring a comment born of ignorance when I can set the record straight and be the voice for animals, no matter how much I end up alienating myself from my peers.

While I know that these thoughts can’t change the past, and I understand that I am not perfect and never will be, I can’t say that they won’t continue to be a part of my inner dialogue.  

Since going vegan I have found my true purpose.  Making the world a better place for animals of all species is my number one priority, my biggest passion, and what keeps me up at night.  I am constantly thinking of ways that I can make a bigger difference.  Reach more people.  Be a better activist.  Be a better vegan.  And while these thoughts can be painful, I choose to use them as an impetus to do better, to be better, to focus on what I do right rather than what I do wrong.  To learn from my mistakes and failures to be a louder, more articulate voice for the voiceless.  To change the world.

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I don’t think that the world will ever be free from judgement or criticism, nor should it be.  Change comes from recognizing the flaws in the system and seeing a better way.  But directing this judgement and criticism at individuals, rather than society, industry, or certain worldviews leads to defensiveness, retaliation, and damaged pride.  Let’s lift each other up.  Let’s take notice when someone eats a meatless meal, or chooses to buy cotton rather than silk, or goes for agave rather than honey.  Let’s celebrate even the smallest changes, while educating and sharing our bigger vision for a peaceful, compassionate world.

Let’s change the world for animals, whether it be by a tiny step or a huge leap.

What kind of criticism have you received that has stuck with you?  How can we work to improve our interactions and foster community rather than spite?

Until next time,