The Best I Can – Is My Vegan Journey Enough?
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I sometimes wonder if I am, in fact, doing the best I can on this vegan journey.
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Like many of you, I am on a vegan journey. And sometimes I wonder if I’m enough – doing enough, acting enough, mirroring enough of what I want to see in the world.
Am I enough of a guardian for my companion animal? Do I make the right choices for her best interests? Did I do her a disservice by adopting her and not letting her have a chance to find someone better to care for her?
Am I enough of a voice for the animals who are exploited and killed each day for human use? Do I say enough? Do enough people hear me? Am I equipped with the right answers to questions and comments about protein and desert island diets?
Am I enough of a mirror of what I want to see in the world? Am I too crabby, too sarcastic, too cynical to make a difference? Do I want to mirror all of that, or do I want to mirror hope, optimism, health and joy? Can I think before I roll my eyes? Can I listen before I plan my next words?
I truly believe in the idea that veganism isn’t about being perfect. But I sometimes wonder if I am, in fact, doing the best I can.
Do you ever have doubts about your role in this movement? What do you do about them?
Photo credit: Jeremy Bishop via Flickr
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HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.
Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…
I can identify with this, Daria. I think periodic phases of this are healthy–we need to question ourselves and re-examine what we do to live out our values. Even if I go through a rough patch when I make a change to live more in accordance of how I want to live, ideally, it’s better for my long-tern well-being, and questions like the ones you raise get me there!
I don’t think that’s really the right thing to dwell on. First it’s better to be more aware of who you are, and how you feel, being more mindful and more in tune to your feelings. Your questions could be any type of questions–animal rights or something else, and the answers are found in knowing who you are better–and paying more attention to how you feel about the things you do and don’t do. If you don’t do these things, you’ll be unsure about many things in your life and not knowing whether or not you’re doing what’s best in your situation.
But, generally speaking, if a person is questioning their life’s actions, chances are they are not satisfied, feel guilty and deep down they feel they should be doing more, otherwise they would be at peace with their present actions.
That’s the way I look at things in my life.
Thanks, Lorrie – you bring up some good points. I’ve been trying to be more aware of who I am and how I feel for my entire adult life, it seems. My mantra for today will be “mindfulness” – thank you for the reminder.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ellie. One thing I’ve learned over the past almost five years – and that I need reminding of sometimes – is that we are not alone.
I often wonder if I am doing enough…if I make a mistake in my veganism that people will think I’m not serious (like when I instinctively swat at a fly if it buzzes too close to my eyes). I just try to repeat the mantra that it’s not about personal purity…it’s about making the right decision that will end overall cruelty. If I can make someone feel more comfortable with veganism by my actions, I will ultimately end more suffering by guiding them rather than coming off as offensive by trying to do everything right (like quizzing the waiter about the contents of the bun my veggie burger is served on). I think being true to the movement is the best way to feel validated in that we are doing enough :)