I didn't ask or research if that beer was made without isinglass (from fish bladder). 
I didn't get my waiter to check if these sweet potato fries were made with any dairy or egg ingredients in their coating. 
While watching a movie, I had a bite of my partner's KitKat Chunky chocolate bar just to remember how it tasted.
I bought second hand shoes that, I'm pretty sure, have a small piece of leather in the lining.
I 'let' my almost two-year-old son eat a local market egg (from the Mennonite family).
I still have honey in my tea.
And worst of all, I got a coffee from Tim Hortons with MILK in it! (bows head in shame)

I can hardly call myself a vegan. 

But yet, I do. I call myself a vegan. And I mainly keep these little secrets to myself, but today I feel like sharing them. I can tell you now that I have made fully conscious choices to not stay true to my values and ethics which veganism stands for. I have cheated. And I'm not talking cheese pizza, an ice-cream cone, or consuming flesh. I'm talking about 1 oz of milk in my coffee 2 time in the last year. 

What do you think of me now? 

When I first became vegan there was nothing that could weaken me. I was building myself up, I was learning and socializing and cooking and certainly obsessed with the positive implications of veganism on the planet, our health and the animals. And to be honest, I still am! But time has passed, I share a life with a non-vegan, and we have a son, who at 22 months, has yet to decide whether he'll use this food and diet label as a symbol of his ethical choices and social responsibility. 

But I admit, I have 'unfollowed' and 'unfriended' people who went public with their transition to an omnivorous diet from a vegan diet. I had no respect for that. I have even spoken aggressively with people who said they're vegan but then reached out for a non-vegan cookie being offered. They have a responsibility to be a model of what it truly means to be vegan, I said. 

But I have been humbled- humbled simply by time and life. I now see the value in not trying to be perfect. My eating and lifestyle follow the definition of veganism 99%, and just because I can tell you exactly when those 1% time-to-burry-my-head-in-the-sand moments occurred doesn't mean that I am not still vegan. And if it does, I guess I don't really care. Knowing when the right time is to be kind and gentle to myself, and finding peace between the loneliness of veganism and the many spectrums and styles of diets and lifestyles out there, now holds some value for me. 

Being vegan is such an incredibly selfless act, and I commend and respect anyone who has made this decisions. But I just need you to know... when I was pregnant, I ate sour cherry blasters.

Amen. 

It's time to share! I've been working long and hard, between naps of my little guy, and free evenings, and sneaking out to a coffee shop now and then- it's a new world, trying to carve out time for yourself with a toddler around. But I've managed to complete my project! I've done it and I'm feeling better and stronger having accomplished something so tangible. Shortcut to Vegan has arrived! 

To quote from the website, "Shortcut to Vegan is a 7 day program designed for individuals, and individuals supporting family members. Take a shortcut to vegan, learning the key elements including the whys of veganism, vegan nutrition, preparing healthy meals, and putting it into practice. This one week program includes daily lessons, group discussions and optional assignments." 

Shortcut to Vegan had a soft launch a few weeks ago, and I'm thrilled to have gone through the first session with a few eager participants. I had great feedback on the program and am feeling even more confident now about what Shortcut to Vegan can offer, and how it can motivate people to embark on a new way to live, and eat! 

Check out the new website created just for this program. Sessions bi monthly, and when registered, participants get to create their own login and have access to daily lessons. Lessons are put forward starting on Monday, and finish on Sunday. Participants then get one more week to view the materials and finish up their work online. It's an excellent system to be held accountable and have a somewhat flexible, but firm timeline. I'm truly proud of this program and I think it has the potential to help a lot of people become clear about how they want to live- with intention and responsibility. 

So there you have it, my own little labour of love. I want this program to make the rounds. I want people to know about it, see it, hear buzz about it, and join in! If you're excited about the possibility of more people learning about the ins and outs of veganism, and how it truly can change one's life and the world, then I do hope you'll help me spread the word. Better yet, see what it's all about and join me in an upcoming session! 

Happy Holidays to all,
Andréa 

Interested in what someone who took the course thinks? Here's my first testimonial! (I love receiving testimonials!)

Miso. We all know it's a popular ingredient in Japan. And if you've browsed enough vegan food or health blogs, you have probably come across it in a recipe or two. But what is miso, how should you use it, and what kind should you buy at the grocery store? As it turns out, there is a vast and mysterious world of miso out there, of which many people have yet to understand.

Without getting into the history of miso and its importance and revered status in Japan, we can jump right to the facts. Miso is fermented grain and/or soy paste. At the grocery store you will see varieties such as soy miso, soy and rice miso, barley miso, barley and soy miso, and so on. The variety of miso you choose will determine the taste, and for your gluten-free friends, if it's gluten free or not. Miso also varies in the length of time is has been aged, like wine. Generally, the lighter misoes, aged for a shorter period, are lighter tasting and somewhat sweeter, while the darker, aged for much longer, have a stronger and bolder taste.  As for texture, the lighter kinds are generally softer and spreadable with the darker misos being thick and more sticky. Both misoes may have a bit of texture to them with small, soft pieces of grain or soy visible. When you buy your miso and get it home, grab a spoon for a small sampling of what you'll be working with. Right away you'll get a sense of the flavour, saltiness and texture.

Miso is used in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. The deep flavour it can offer to food is a primary reason for its use, but it is also considered to be extremely healthy. There are many claims being offered as to its healing properties, its vitamin, mineral and protein content, its ability to lower cholesterol and combat effects of radiation, as well as the fact of it being a living food with a high healthful or 'friendly' bacteria content. 

Here are some tips for using miso:

• Use miso raw as often as possible in order not to kill the healthy, living bacteria within. If you're using miso for flavouring in a cooked dish, try adding it at the end, away from high heat. 
  
  

• Try to taste and sample many kinds of miso to figure out which one you like best for different uses.  For dressings or light marinades it might be best to work with a softer, more easily whisked miso. In hearty marinades a dark earthy flavouring from dark miso may be desired.  Japanese cookbook author Elisabeth Andoh recommends for novice users to start with light, sweeter misos.
  

• Miso can last in your fridge for quite a long time since it is fermented. However, watch out for mold after a year or so.
  

• Miso is very salty so it usually takes the place of salt when you're cooking. If you're not careful you could end up with a very salty meal!
  

• Scan the internet or cookbooks to find great recipes that include miso. You can use it in dips, sauces, marinades, glazes, spreads, dressings, flavouring for soups and pasta sauces and many other ways. I regularly spread miso on toast and top it with tahini and nutritional yeast. I also add it to pasta sauces, or mix up a quick tahini-lemon-miso sauce for rice and greens. You can find it it many of my recipes. Once your mind and pallet are turned on to miso, the options are endless.
  
  

Information for this article was collected online from the following sites.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6190769
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/336578
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miso

Socializing. We all do it, and it often centers around the wonderful world of food. Pot lucks, open houses, parties, family dinners, brunches, lunch dates, work functions, cookie swaps – I could go on.

For someone following a vegan, vegetarian, or a raw food diet, as well someone with celiac disease, food allergies, or food intolerances, attending events like these can lead to confusion or stress. For both you and your host.

As a vegan I deal with the potlucks where the conceptually challenged meat eater insists there is no meat in their dish, yet bits of chicken are visible. The friend who thought they were doing you a favor by making a vegetable soup only to find out they used chicken stock. Or the restaurant menu that’s lacking even one good vegan option besides straight up greens salad {not a good vegan option}.

Whether you’re a newcomer to your new diet or an old pro, here are some things to think about before exiting your home to socialize. I’ll use my own experience with veganism as an example, but any other dietary restriction can be substituted for vegan.

GIVE YOUR HOST A HEADS UP. Provided your invitation to this occasion involving food has come with some notice, you also will have plenty of time to talk with your host. Depending on your situation people may or may not know your dietary preferences. If a meal is being provided take some time to acknowledge your eating style with your host and be very specific with what you do and do not eat.

Instead of expecting your host to change the menu, why not offer to bring a dish that would suit your needs. This will take the pressure off the host to provide you with a special meal and it will leave you feeling comfortable that you wont spend the night hungry.

You could say: “I’m really excited about {event}, but I want to let you know that I don’t eat anything derived from an animal. So that’s meat, fish, dairy, eggs and no butter. I’d be so excited if I could cook something though. Shall I bring a main dish or a side0?”

CHOOSE RESTAURANTS WISELY. If you’re like me, you know which restaurants in your neighborhood have items available for you and which don’t. If you have yet to compile your list, start now!

Offering up a few suggestions of places to eat and having the other half of the party make the final cut ensures that you will all be satisfied. It can be stressful, especially on an empty stomach, scanning a menu and seeing extremely limited choices.

You could say: “There are about 4 restaurants in this neighborhood that I really love. Any one of them would be a great choice for {meal}.”

SCAN RESTAURANT MENUS BEFORE THE BIG DAY. If you didn't have a choice of which restaurant you are attending, as is the case with large groups, birthdays or work events, see if you can find a website for the restaurant online. This way, you’ll be able to scan the menu for options before the big event.

If you don’t see many choices, maybe you’ll eat something ahead of time and chose a salad for dinner. But in most cases, even with minimal choice on a menu, it’s likely that the kitchen would be accommodating and adapt some of the dishes to suit you.

Any pasta can turn into a vegan feast and salads, pizzas or stir fries are all easy to put together without much fuss. Be gentle yet specific with your server and if the restaurant steps up to the challenge, chances are you’ll end up with a meal that the other guests will covet.

You could say: “It’s often difficult for me to find something to eat on menus. I don’t eat any meat or fish, dairy or eggs, also butter. I noticed the pastas looks delicious. Could you ask your chef to prepare this one in a vegan style?”

BRING A STASH. We all know that life can surprise us, even with the best of planning. The wedding dinner didn’t have enough vegetarian options, the finger food potluck was nothing but fried pepperoni and crab dip, or your new date insisted on a surprise dinner at the local steakhouse {does he listen?}. For this, I say, bring a stash.

In my purse at all times I have raw almonds and some sort of vegan energy bar. You could throw in half a sandwich, some dried fruit and nuts, an apple or some carrots. A little something to tide you over can make a big difference to your stomach, and brain, keeping you calm and happy.

Being social and eating out isn’t something you want to pass on. Don’t let the traditional and typical food world threaten you. Voice your wants and needs and you may just see some changes to your local menu, grocery stores and friends’ houses sooner than you think.

1. Some of the earliest mentions of vegetarianism are in that of the life of Thomas Parr, a vegetarian during the middle ages who is thought to have lived to a great age only to die while eating meat to appease his king.

2. The Vegetarian Society was founded in 1847 with 150 members, while The Vegan Society was founded in 1944.

3. India leads the world in highest rates of vegetarianism with an estimates of 40% of the population eating a meat-free diet. Italy, Taiwan, Germany and Brazil follow with 10%, 10%, 9% and 9% respectively. 

4. Between 2009 and 2012, the number of Americans identifying themselves as vegan rose from 1%  to 2.5% of the population. That's about 7.5 million vegans!

5. The average vegetarian will save approximately 40 fish, 26 chickens, one turkey, nearly half a pig, and a little more than a tenth of a cow per year. 

6. Vegetarian and vegan diets contribute to much higher levels of 'friendly' gut bacteria, which influences our hormones and plays an important role in our immune system, and general health, among other vital functions. 

7. Some of the most influential people throughout history were vegetarian. Included are Socrates, Buddha, Leonardo Da Vinci, Plato, Pythagoras, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Albert Einstein and Gandhi! 

8. The official position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada states: " Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence...[and] offer a number of nutritional benefits."

9.  "If all Americans were vegetarians, the resulting annual Medicare savings could be estimated at $7.1 to $12.4 billion for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, gallstones, kidney stones, and appendicitis."*
*Nicholson A, Barnard ND. The Medicare savings attributable to vegetarian dietary practices. Am J Clin Nutr, in press.

And....

10. Vegans and meat-eaters can coexist.  :)

It's a beautiful morning. I'm sitting at my desk in front of my street-facing window, watching people take themselves to their daily obligations on foot, bike and car. Today, like other days, I'm seeing the bikes more than the others- especially the woman who just rode by carrying a plastic cake container in one hand and biking through the traffic with the other. I commend those who use their bikes to get around. Every time I see another cyclist there's a twinge inside me, like a small voice asking me why I don't bike more and leave my car at home. I feel the truth growing inside me and know that with time (and a warmer season) the small seeds of knowing will grow into action, and one day I shall be the one riding my bike, instead of simply watching.

Maybe cycling isn't your thing. But perhaps there's a hobby or sport, a religion or spiritual practice, a way of consciously eating, living, teaching or learning, a creative outlet. Whatever it may be, there's no denying that we're a species that is easily influenced. What others around us do, we observe, and small signals of intuition let us know if this is close to or far from our truth. Imagine a world with no influence- how stagnant and limiting that may be, knowing only what you know and living only as you've always lived.

In being myself, I feel an obligation to share myself. I don't get caught up in perfection- being enough of one thing or the other. Even a single attempt at something new will surely be heard by those closest to me. As a vegan, an advocate for conscious eating and its effects on the planet, our health and the animals, I don't strive to change people. As a believer in meditation, and living in the present, I don't judge people for living unconsciously. What other people do with their life is none of my business. But I DO have an obligation to share myself, to speak my truth and be open about who I am. If you tell me that being vegan is hard, I'll share my experience of how easy it's been for me. And if you tell me your pain, I'll remind you of the power of living in the present. 

My job is to be me. And your job is to be you. And in doing so, we'll release our seeds of our truth into the wind and they will land, and they will grow. We may not see where they grow- as they blow away from us their are no longer ours, but we can have faith that they will settle, take time, and eventually blossom. It's your obligation to speak your truth- not your truth from your head, they way we think people should be, but your truth from your heart- the way we know we are. For not speaking up for yourself and not sharing who you are is doing a great disservice to those around you. Your actions affect others, and by playing down who you really are, you're limiting the potential for growth in others. Who are you to decide that I may not like what you have to say? Who are you to limit me from feeling those small signals of intuition? It's our job to put our truth out there for all to see- you never know who's been waiting to hear exactly what you have to say, who's been waiting for your inspiration and influence, who's on the cusp of a dramatic change.

So I'll leave you with this: Don't be shy. Don't make yourself small. Don't worry about other people. Don't try to change people. Just be you, search for your truth, live your truth and share yourself with the world. Today.

It's hard to be anywhere but where you are. You can think yourself away, but your energy shows the truth, here and now. When life gets painful and hard, we can begin to feel stuck. How long will this last? Maybe this is my true nature. Life will always be difficult for me.

But like the clouds and the seasons, life is constantly changing- nothing stays the same for long. Energy and feelings that have been lingering can shift when you least expect them. Something positive and joyful can crumble in the blink of an eye. Something beautifully unexpected can come into your life and change it in an instant. The truth is, we have no idea what's in store for us. But you can bet that things will change. Learning to accept what life has put in our path will be our greatest challenge and our greatest gift.

When life gets tough, when we feel stuck, when there's an aching in our chest... just wait. Be patient and kind with yourself. Accept where you are at this moment, with these feelings, and go ahead and feel them. Giving in to our feelings and acknowledging them will bring on a shift sooner than ignoring them or distracting yourself. But sometimes it doesn't seem so easy.

So what does it mean to be stuck? To be stuck means you're not accepting reality. You're denying what life has given you. You're rejecting the truth. You're holding on to an idea of the way you think things should be.  How is being stuck serving you? Perhaps it's easier to not take responsibility for your life and assume that something else is making you feel this way. You're right- pain can come from many places and sometimes it's not our fault. Pain is not a choice, but suffering is. Being stuck is a choice. 

I love the picture above of the flower growing out of a rock. It reminds me that even in situations that lead to obvious conclusions, there's always an element of the unknown. Such is life when we feel stuck- the conclusions seem obvious- we're sad, lonely, frustrated, regretful. But when we accept what life has given us, we can find a way to grow and thrive. Like the flower, we may not be in a beautiful plot of rich soil as expected, but if we accept the cold hard rock which we've been placed on, our beauty will shine and life will flourish in a way we never could have expected.

So accept what you have and where you are. Make a choice today to stop being stuck, stop suffering. Have faith that all the good and all the bad are part of your journey, and stop longing for things to be different. The life which is in front of you is preparing you to shine if you work with it, not against it. 

The sooner we accept what is, the sooner we can shine brighter than ever before. 

Dear Kitty, Sweetie, Cleo, Stella,

You've gone through many names since I found you on Thursday afternoon at the lake. I was simply hiking out to get some space from the city, from people and myself. I sat cross legged on my blanket on the rocks when I heard your meow. You were in front of me asking me for help and I could see it right away. You weren't shy about your intentions. You wanted me to see you. You wanted me to fall in love with you and care for you. Luckily you asked. And luckily I did.

I wanted to take you home and keep you in the bathroom and feed you until the animal shelters would open the next day. I bought you food and litter, and set up a bed for you, but I couldn't stay away from you for long. I allowed you in my room and even let you sleep on my bed. You were so loving, warm and gentle. And oh so thankful. 

The next day after scanning you for a microchip, calling every shelter, foster owners, reporting you to the city, sharing your photo on Twitter and Facebook, browsing kijiji and posting an ad, I had not a single hint at whose cat you were or where you belonged. I also didn't know what do you with you and I couldn't keep you.

Enter Vet: Your verdict wasn't good. You were 5lbs, had a tick and fleas, you were senior, some of your teeth were rotten, and worst of all you were coming close to kidney failure with enlarged kidneys and severe dehydration.  In dollars that's well over $1000 plus ongoing care. The other option was $100 for euthanasia- what the shelters would likely have automatically done. I choked up as I agreed to an appointment for the following day, on the 3rd day of having you, when you, by law, would become my responsibility.

I wasn't feeling good about my decision so I let the people following your story know what was going to happen. Many people supported my choice which I appreciated. There were also a couple people who vocally rejected it. I am grateful for both views. You were a lovely being who asked for my help. And life inside you was still shining. You purred and meowed to greet me. You followed me around and jumped up on my bed to cuddle. You were alive. And I hadn't worked hard enough to save you yet. 

I cancelled your appointment for death and you lived another day. You came out for Thanksgiving at my parents' house with me and got some R&R, sleeping in the basement away from the dogs, kids and commotion. You purred and cuddled but were still sick and low in energy. I still didn't know what I would do with you. You needed the perfect home- an adult to nurture and care for you as you become sicker and older. Someone who can shelter you and keep you safe as you live out your days. Someone to give you hospice care like you deserved. 

I mulled your situation over many times through my days with you but there were no options that felt right. I waited for the answer. I knew it would come but I had no idea how. I had done everything possible that I could do, and I could only step back and let time reveal the best answer.

And it came. It came in the form of a neighbour's son's girlfriend visiting their home on Thanksgiving weekend. The compassionate woman/once vet-tech/lover and helper of older cats was a few doors down from my house- someone I had never met or knew anything about. When my mom shared with me the girlfriend's interest in cats we arranged that she should come over to giver her professional opinion about you. She came, we chatted, you let us poke and prod you once again, and she fell in love with your nature and your vulnerability. She wanted to take you home.

Her experience with senior cats means she knows to feed you high calorie food, with wet meals multiple times a day for hydration. She knows and is ready to administer IV fluids if you have an attack, and she knows how to assess your progress and will know when your kidneys have shut down. She'll let you sleep on her bed and she'll cuddle with you as you sleep. You'll be warm, and you'll be loved by a compassionate adult who has your best interest at heart.

I thank you kitty- Sweetie, Cleo, and now Stella. I thank you for showing me what it feels like to help a life along its journey. Thank you for choosing me and showing me trust, love and openness. Thank you for being strong and forthcoming about your needs. Thank you for reminding me of my inherent compassion, and allowing me the opportunity to hear my inner voice.

I hope you live a warm and comfortable life and continue on your path the way it was meant to be. 

Love,
Me

I was rushing around today. Work, a quick lunch, a walk with a friend, emails, printing up posters, more work, making dinner in time to catch the sunset, nature time, more emails, baking a cake for a group tomorrow. I can't even say I was trying to stay present. What I was doing was trying to get things done and checking them off my list. My day was consumed by stuff- external stuff. Stuff that evokes reactions, stuff that keeps my breathing shallow, my steps quick and my head too full. 

It's the stuff of daily life, the joys and sorrows, the stresses and rewards. It's exactly this stuff that seems to keep me away from myself. Yes I engage in life and have friendships, make time for nature and work toward goals. But what about time for myself? The walk with my friend, and a quiet dinner while watching the sunset were super pleasant, calming and grounding, but I was still ignoring myself, keeping my thoughts attached to external stimulus. 

Nothing externally can provide lasting happiness. Everything will change, shift, and disappear in time. The one thing that we're left with, the one constant in our lives, is us. Ourselves. Me. I'm my secret to happiness. I'm my secret to joy. No matter where I travel, what great job I get, the fabulous boyfriend who makes me feel whole... they change, shift and disappear in time. We must look inside to find peace, awareness and love. 

How? The answer is meditation. I wish I could say I'm an expert, but I'm not, and have a feeling I'll never be. However, on September 1st I committed to spending the month practicing meditation. I started with 5 minutes twice a day. Legs crossed, back straight, chin lowered, tongue relaxed, eyes closed and internal gaze soft. I looked for stillness and I found chaos. But slowly my mind quieted. 10 minutes twice a day. 15 minutes here and there. 30 minutes on a Wednesday evening. I was learning, my practice was helping, my mind was becoming quieter and I had glimpses of stillness and pure presence. I found comfort in my quiet time- I found a retreat, away from the noise of the day, my to-do list and moments of doubt that life breeds. I found that everything I needed was inside myself waiting to be discovered; that peace, contentedness and acceptance are found in the essence of simply being alive and still.  The answer to everything seems to be right there inside ourselves nestled within the energy of life itself.

A truth that I've learned in the past year is that whatever you give yourself, there's a good chance you'll crave more. Whether it's food, stress, a good relationship, a bad relationship, a TV series, nature, rushing around, caring for your children- good or bad, you may get hooked on the habit and familiarity. And in all the daily events that happen, it's hard to accept a gift of the complete opposite- of nothing. But I urge you to give this gift to yourself. Take time for nothing. A nothing that means 'this, now'. Take time for no thought. Take time for no identity. And in this nothingness, there's a good chance you'll find just the answer to that something you were looking for. 

So there you have it. Me, a couple weeks before becoming vegan. And me, a month after becoming vegan. Did I see a big change? No. Did I feel a big change? Enormous. 

It's not that I started loving animals on the very day that I became vegan (I always loved them), but perhaps on that very day, my perception changed. I started seeing animals as things of beauty- individuals that grow up, have a baby, have familial bonds, have friends, feel pleasure and feel fear. Not commodities. Not here for our pleasure and consumption. 

I started seeing food as a business- realizing that corporations are food pushers, leaving little space between advertising at the Olympics, on billboards and in magazines for people to even begin to think about having a choice. And within those corporations, I started seeing the dairy, egg and meat industries as some of the worst! I'd sit down to watch a movie at the cinema and find a commercial promoting milk! I didn't sign up for that! It's advertising, it's money, it's industry- they have your dollar at heart. 

I started seeing the 'green' trend, hybrid cars and climate change actions as beneficial, but kind of missing the mark. Didn't those people know that factory farming is the largest contributor to greenhouse gasses, more than all transportation combined?* That's trains, planes, boats, trucks and cars! Didn't those people realize that it takes 10 times more fossil fuel to get 1 calorie of animal protein vs 1 calorie of plant protein?

I started seeing that food is the main factor in our top causes of death and illness- heart disease, cancers, strokes, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, obesity. Researching how to 'fight' these diseases is not the same as researching how to prevent them. Why did no one tell me that excess animal protein promotes the growth of cancer?** And that any dietary cholesterol is too much!? 

It's hard to learn all of this. It's hard to learn that we've been fooled- that we think there are such things as 'happy cows', or that cage-free means freedom. It's hard learning that cows don't 'give' us their milk. It's extremely hard to know that this food is killing people, and that diseases are passed down through family lifestyle, and very rarely genes. It's hard to realize that most people don't know what's healthy and what's not, and that real food doesn't come from a box or in a package. 

The stages of being vegan? Knowledge and power. Sadness, anger, alienation and frustration. Acceptance- accepting that you can't change everyone, accepting that your loved ones may not understand, accepting that everyone is on their own path. Pride- being proud that being different creates change, that vegans are role-models for a diet and lifestyle that contributes the least harm, being proud to be a leader. 

So I ask you to imagine being told that black is white and white is black. Now I ask you to understand that we're all somewhere within that spectrum of truth. Everyone is at a different stage of life. For everyone, practicing non-judgment and acceptance will bring us all a little closer, no matter which stage of life we are at in our journey. 


*http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsID=20772&CR1=warning#.UGctsJjLRLc  
**http://www.tcolincampbell.org/courses-resources/article/animal-protein-as-a-carcinogen/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=76&cHash=71fee56850fe6ea23c64c2cf54535a38