A tiny step

I thought that shopping with my own produce bags was as close to a walk on the wild side as I was apt to get in this life.

That said, I'm sticking just a bit of my toe into the vegan cooking/eating scene.  Not the whole toe right now, just the tip!

I have a friend who is heavy into research (on everything) that she considers undertaking.  I, on the other hand, usually go with my gut - no pun intended - and haven't ever really paid much attention to the concept of vegan eating.

I

Love

Steak

and

Chicken

and

Butter

Again, that being said, I've run into way too much information lately both from friends who eat the plant based diet (sigh:  no steak among other things) and from research documentaries on Netflix among other sites and it has forced me to put my "gut" aside and consider some cold hard facts.  I could go on and on about the information that is out there if you only take a look for it. 

Who is funding the American  Diabetes Foundation's information?  Who supports the FDA?  Why doe they keep changing our food pyramid around - up and down and back and forth.

What happens to all the antibiotics that are fed to the animals that we eventually slap on the grill and consume in enormous quantities?

When is the last time a doctor tried to address the root cause of an issue rather than just layering on more meds to address the symptoms?

Under what conditions are most of the animal products we eat actually raised and slaughtered (yeah, that's how they get to us:  they are slaughtered)?

I realize that one approach is it must be the plant lobby who would like us to think that all animal products are bad bad bad....er, on the other hand, IS there a plant lobby?  💁  Beats me.

As usual my blog post is pretty short and sometimes even sweet - come on, I must have done at least one sweet one! 

This is a new adventure for me - even just a toe tip is a sort of a commitment to what I hope will be a better, more healthy way of eating.  There are a ton of resources out there - apps and sites and organizations on Facebook - actually a somewhat overwhelming bunch once you start looking.

So I will make a few vegan meals (surprisingly easy actually) and do some taste tests and continue to eat up what "other" food I have because I'm from New England and I can't throw food away.  But I won't be replacing it unless I prove to myself that vegan eating is a crock - of vegetables and grains!  😛

 My first "stew" and I have to say it's looking pretty tasty!

You might care to try something just so you can say

You've got this!

One day it will be us

I shamelessly stole this from a Facebook post it made me sad to think it happens way too much.  The  ignoring of someone who could use a hand or the foot tapping in line behind someone struggling to make change to pay for their groceries while the rest of us prefer debit cards.

Even someone obviously confused who really needs someone to help them find something or figure out some (to us) simple thing of everyday living.

How about we notice and offer help and curb our impatience because if we are lucky enough to live to a ripe old age:

One Day It Will Be Us

Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in aisle ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go.

Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air con worked in his car so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air con kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day.

When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grand parents and your parents and how pissed you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you.

Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, they were able. Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people gave a shit about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence and geez I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me.

Be the one to offer help

Be the one to say

Don't worry, I've got this!