Comments for The Joyful Vegan: Stories of Transformation

Comment on In Memory of Mustard by Travis

Travis — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:09:19 +0000

Your story has truly changed my life.

I never thought much about the animals I was eating. I didn’t want to think about what was happening to them while they waited to be slaughter, preferring that they lived happy lives on a farm somewhere until a truck came to pick them up and took them to a factory. I know that this is not the case…and even if it were, the end result still makes it unacceptable.

Thank you for helping me see the truth. I regret that I have never had the chance to interact with chickens…really any animals except for cats and dogs. This story make me want to find some to experience their lives.

Thank you!

Comment on What is “The Joyful Vegan”? by Rhonda

Rhonda — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:15:46 +0000

I too found your blog through a Vegetarian Food For Thought podcast.I loved hearing part of your story there and wanted to come to the blog to read the rest.I have been dabbling in vegetarian and vegan cooking for many years but finally made the decision to switch to this lifestyle about 2 weeks ago.I already feel better both physically and mentally because of that decision.I like so many,struggled for many years against what my heart and mind told me was the way for me…a vegan diet. Not only for the animals..but for the future of our planet as well.I think both issues are very important and I made that clear to my family when I told them my decision.Some were supportive..others not so much, but I knew that was to be expected.The way so many people eat is rooted deeply in family traditions and what their parents before them ate, but I knew I had to do things differently and make new traditions the norm for my kids.I want them to make more informed decisions about what they put into their bodies and at what cost to others, both animal and human.

Comment on What is “The Joyful Vegan”? by Petya

Petya — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:11:21 +0000

So wonderful portal. Thnx…

Comment on Christian Vegan – Not an Oxymoron! by Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:10:31 +0000

I just came across your blog and thank you for this post. I am a Christian and am high-raw vegan transitioning closer to 80/10/10 which I feel from what I have learned is the closest to what God set fourth for us in the beginning.

Gen 1:29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

This scripture alone describes 80/10/10, high fruit (“every tree with seed in it”) and veggies such as tomato, cucumbers, etc etc and even leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce varieties which all go to seed (“every seed-bearing plant.”)

Comment on Vegan in Tel Aviv by Beau Schutz

Beau Schutz — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:22:49 +0000

hi itai, i just want to say what an inspiration you are to me (and clearly to many others), and how encouraging and motivating your story is. i have been a whole foods, vegetarian for some time and, for the past year and a half or so, have been nearly totally vegan. hearing your account of how powerfully the emotional impact of that little boy’s tearful query, affected you, really drives home and highlights, for me, the quintessential issue of all the unnecessary suffering and abuse of animals that is the inevitable, unfortunate result of the consumption/use of flesh or animal products.

i am very happy to be here and able to behold and embrace the revolutionary new spiritual/ethical awareness that has now begun permeating and infusing the tel aviv area as well as israel in general. over time, many people (myself included), for whom vegetarianism was once either exclusively or at least primarily a health issue have become much more acutely conscious of, and sensitive to, the sad, painful, often horrific plight of animals in our culture.

this, for growing numbers of us, undoubtedly helps to foster a strengthened resolve, a sharper focus, and the ability to harmoniously amalgamate, integrate, and unify our health and wellness concerns with the imperative ethical/moral values that do – or at least should, constitute an integral component of being human.

so thanks again, itai, for your humanity, for your uplifting story, and for being an excellent role model to which we can all aspire.

all the best – strength, solidarity, and many blessings to you, itai, as well as to all other vegans, aspiring vegans, and perhaps vegetarian-soon-to-be vegans, and heartfelt wishes for health, happiness, prosperity, peace and a very sweet new year this time.

beau schutz
beau – israel’s pc doctor
beau1@techie.com
skype: beau909
http://www.israelpcdoctor.com
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/IsraelAnimalSupport/

Comment on A Non-Vegetarian Buddhist to Vegan Activist by Tom

Tom — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:24:03 +0000

Your journey seems similar to mine. I want from basically a meat-only diet up until my later 20’s, to a mostly vegetable-based diet in my 30’s with experimentation with being a vegetarian, to full-blown veganism.
I also try and provide friends and family with as much as information as I can, with samples of how great and diverse vegan cooking can be without forcing or being pushy. I know that if anything is forced or pushed on me, no matter who beneficial it might be, I tend to shy away…

Comment on Raised on Small Farm, Exposed to Pig Slaughter, Becomes Vegetarian by Sharyn

Sharyn — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:35:59 +0000

I find it very interesting that you worked so hard for the raspberries just after surgery. I had a very minor surgery about a year and a half ago and I can tell you that for a week after it, all I could think about was berries! It was all I wanted. I had a huge berry smoothie every day, with different types of berries, but I always wanted raspberries to be in the mix. I wanted that tart flavor. There must be something about them that helps the healing process.

In any case, I think berries are one of nature’s perfect foods!

Great post-

Comment on In Memory of Mustard by Sharyn

Sharyn — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:53:42 +0000

I am reading this blog because I got myself feeling down and out reading some negative and hateful reactions that some people have to stories of vegan issues. I am feeling more uplifted by the minute, and this story brought tears to my eyes, the good kind. You are all so amazing! It truly is the animals that teach us – thank you all for listening to them!

Comment on My eyes are no longer closed… by Sharyn

Sharyn — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:25:17 +0000

Beautiful. You ARE qualified! Good luck to you both-

Sharyn

Comment on Awakening to the ‘bliss of compassion’ by Marly McMillen

Marly McMillen — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:14:13 +0000

I used to love to watch boxing until my daughter was 4 or 5 and she asked me what was happening. It was hard to explain watching two grown men beating each other up. I see the relevance in your story too. When my daughter asked me about why we were vegetarian a few years later, I talked with her about what people eat in other countries. Some countries eat cats and dogs and we think that is completely disgusting here. Other countries think that cows are sacred. We experience a lot of conditioning in our lives.

Thank you for your post! Really made me think.
Marly