Tell Me Why?

I've been seeing a state licensed naturopathic practitioner for about 6 weeks. I love this holistic approach to health and healing. I've had blood test for nutritional deficiencies and allergies along with lab tests for parasites and candida overgrowth. I've had vitamin IV drips including mega doses of vitamin C. Ozone therapy is scheduled in the future.This is an attempt to stimulate my immune system to fight autoimmune disease. It's been wonderful.

What I don't understand is why this holistic doctor is trying to force me to eat meat. She insists that there is no way to get adequate protein without eating meat. She wants to "compromise" and have me eat fish. This is based on her own experiences where she said she would get dizzy and weak when she tried a vegan diet. I'm not having that problem regarding my diet. I've been getting weak and dizzy for years even when I was a meat eater. I've explained this more than once, but at each weekly appointment she continues to bring it up. I told her to stop discussing the idea of me adding dead animals to my diet because it will not happen and it feels harassing and stressful. I told her I would search for another healthcare practitioner if my choice isn't respected. Well, she apologized.

It's frustrating when other's do not respect another person's choice. I can't believe that I had to go through this.

The photo was uploaded to flickr by Sakurako Kitsa.

Living Cruelty Free In a Cruel, Cruel World

While reading Youngbon's essay at Baby Boomer Vegan I could identify with the path her journey is taking. Youngbon said she first became vegetarian for health reasons and along the way something inside her changed. The same thing has happened with me - I've changed. I care more about living creatures, both human and non-human. I care about our planet; my vocabulary has changed (carbon footprint, greenhouse gases, living green, sustainability, eco friendly). This has been my path to veganism.

I have come to realize that being vegan is MORE than eating no animal products. It involves not wearing, buying, using, animal products and products tested on animals. Cruelty Free is the path I have meandered my way onto.

Veganism is life affirming and it connects me to the power that is greater than I am. This in turn helps in my spiritual formation. I've heard and read carnivores who opinioned that vegans think more highly of themselves than they do of others and that vegans make their lifestyle seem better than those who misuse animals. But I wonder if vegans feel more connected spiritually to the universe, to the creator and it comes across as arrogance. I'm sure there are some who try to force others to live by their philosophies, belief system, and spiritual truth, but I hope this is the exception and not the rule.

This is the life that has chosen me and I freely embrace it. To otherwise is to live as an apostate. Truth has made me free - cruelty free.