Compassion in Action - Living with Ahimsa

​My hope in writing this blog is that it doesn’t come off as though I’m trying to preach at anyone and simply a reflection for myself that I feel compelled to share. I’m sharing it here instead of social media for the exact reason that I don’t want to preach at anyone. 

Today, I’m going to talk about animal cruelty and abuse and diet. 

Before I begin, let me tell you a little of my background. I have been a meat eater for most of my life, but since I was a teen, I have off and on practiced vegetarianism, and for a year or so, I was vegan. Last week, I ate meat and then I was hit by a deer while driving and that deer died. Each day that I drove by that deer on my way to Yoga, I cried and apologized. In this same week, I saw a horrible post on Facebook where someone had killed a litter of puppies and left them on the side of the road. I was deeply moved by both of these events. 

Then one day, a thought came to me: “Why do you put more value on certain animals than others?” 

Truth be told, I love cows. They have the most beautiful, expressive eyes and they are sweet animals, truly. If you ever see a mother cow with her baby, you know she loves that calf as fiercely as I love my children. They mourn when the babies are taken away. I know this and yet I was still happily and eagerly going to various restaurants to consumer hamburgers, steaks, and the like. The only difference is that I didn’t kill the cows that involuntarily provided the meat I was consuming. I, like so many of us, are separated from the conditions in which cows, chickens, pigs, and other animals live and die in on factory farms. 

The deer and those puppies weighed on me to the upon that I told my husband about it and how I wanted to eat less meat and possibly go back to being vegetarian. He agreed, so long as I’d cook. 

I haven’t eaten meat since then and while I am not going to say that I’ll never eat meat again, I feel better inside knowing that I am at least making an effort to minimize it. I do still consume local eggs and I consume dairy as well. I may also eat fish, because I know (at least at this time in my life) I could catch a fish, prepare it and eat it myself. I don’t feel good about eating animals I wouldn’t feel comfortable killing and preparing myself. It just feels hypocritical to me. Maybe one day I’ll eliminate fish and such as well, but for now I am okay with where I am. 

Yesterday we went to our favorite burger joint and I got a grilled cheese loaded with all the veggies, as I would have a meat burger. It was delicious. I didn’t feel deprived and I was surprised that after I ate, I also didn’t feel tired and lethargic as I often do when we eat there. As a matter of fact, I came home, changed the bedding I had washed and even vacuumed the bedroom rug. I had plenty of energy to do that, even so late in the evening. 

Today, as I was driving home from Yoga, I saw several mares in a field with their foals and I smiled and thought, “Awww! It’s foal season.” Then I thought, “Wait, they all had their babies at the same time? How did that happen?” Then I realized it happened because the mares are artificially indicated by a human being, while confined in a space. They have no choice in the matter. Soon, their babies will be taken away from them and sold for an exorbitant amount of money. 

You’d think as a woman who was born and raised in Kentucky that I’d know more about horses and be enthusiastic about horse racing, but I am not. I have never supported a sport that I consider outright animal abuse and the realization I had today solidified that for me even more. I don’t care how much money is made. I don’t care how cute the hats are, or how many mint juleps are raised by the so-called elite groups, or how many of my friends run off to Keenland in Lexington for the opening day, or whatever they call it. Horse racing is animal abuse. Period. 

It’s interesting to me that horse racing - the gambling of the super wealthy is the only gambling allowed in Kentucky. Talk about classism. 

I digress. 

Let’s just say that this week Yoga has re-opened my eyes to how I live my life and I am grateful for it. I realize I cannot value the puppies and horses, deer and cats of the world, while supporting the torture, abuse, maltreatment, and killing of other animals simply because I have been programmed to do so. 

Pigs are smarter than dogs. 

It’s something I can’t get out of my mind….and how they are killed in factory farms is heart-wrenching. 

I had to make a change in my lifestyle to support the nudge I was receiving from my Yoga practice. 

Again, I am not preaching. I feel the same way with this as I do my choice to not drink. It’s my choice and I have no judgment toward others for how they live. Live and let live. That’s my motto. 

Namaste & Blessings, 

T

If you are interested in educating yourself about factory farming, click here: https://youtu.be/6VOqNVt_cmM?si=FiF2CeMiHulJRwll