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The Holiday Dilemma

The Holiday Dilemma

“I’m vegan…. mostly.”

In a world of extremes and polar opposites — you're either this or that — some people find themselves as being “mostly” vegan. Sometimes we plant-based eaters get caught between two worlds - the one where being vegan is convenient and fun and the one in which being vegan is not so fun.

In the first world, you feel the joy of discovering new vegan foods, and in realizing that going vegan doesn’t mean depriving yourself of delicious food. Here, you love how smart you feel for understanding how much of a difference it makes for your health, animals, and the world. You’re proud to be vegan — you tell people you’ve never felt better and that they don’t know what they’re missing.

Then there’s the other world where veganism isn’t so easy. This reality often rears its head when it comes time to get together and celebrate the holidays with family. If it’s Easter, you know you’re not eating the ham, but… those mashed potatoes look so good. You think, “well, I can’t see if there’s any butter in there…” We know the feeling. No one is watching. After all, picking up the spoon and plopping a modest serving of potatoes on your plate isn’t going to make a huge difference, you justify to yourself. Surely animals won’t be relieved of their suffering one day later because you cheated just a little.

Unfortunately, that way of thinking isn’t going to help you in the long run, because veganism, if taken seriously, is healing for both the body and soul. It can help with binge eating, sharpen the mind, and give you more energy. Making food choices becomes a conscious act and with every choice you make with integrity, you grow stronger. You learn to separate yourself from that part of you that’s saying, “Damn it, I need that Hershey’s Kiss! I’m hungry, my blood sugar is dropping, I think I’m feeling faint! Quickly, save me convenient non-vegan thing that looks really good!”

Is what your brain is saying just objectively true? Is that piece of chocolate so important that it’s worth cluttering your conscience and diminishing your confidence? When you just say no, you might find yourself feeling way better than you expected. Not in a self-righteous way. Rather, it’s in a fulfilling way, one which helps you remember your innate goodness and love.

Every time you make the choice to abstain from animal products, you make it easier the next time. But veganism isn’t about having perfect self-control. It’s about getting up again when you fall down and setting the best example you can.

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