As a journalist, you get to meet people from all walks of life. Over the years I’ve met some wonderful souls, been welcomed into people’s lives in the name of a story, learned many things and questioned much.
In the 15 years I’ve been doing this, there have been a few incredible people who have, just by their very nature, etched their message into my heart—some, albeit few, have even influenced me to change my life.
Once such interview was about five years ago: “Come along and meet this guy, he’s amazing,” the publicist promised. She was talking about Don Tolman, a guy from Utah known fondly by many as the Indiana Jones of Wholefoods. I’d never heard of him, or his message.
His message, I soon learned, is simple: live with nature, by nature and from nature. Understand what foods benefit particular body functions and eat them. Stop putting chemical pills and potions into your mouth. Drink fresh spring water. Stop brushing your teeth with fluoride. Listen to your great grandmother and use her natural remedies. Know that your body’s symptoms are your body’s cures. Eating meat causes putrification and dis-ease. Question everything.
A 30-minute meeting with the Stetson-wearing cowboy felt like five minutes. His message spoke directly to me, as if what he was saying I already knew on some deep level. I’d already been following some of his recommendations, purely on instinct, such as never taking a pill to relieve a headache or antibiotics to fix an ill, and no longer eating red meat.
If you haven’t had a chance to hear Don Tolman speak, below is an interview he did with Samantha Backman. I hope you enjoy hearing his message, as much as I always do.
Why it’s great: Packed with a gold mine of information that will change the way you look at your body and the food you put in it, forever. Tolman also talks about how every wholefood has a signature that corresponds to parts of the body, such as an avocado, which looks like a pregnant woman and takes nine months from blossom to ripened fruit. If a woman eats just one avocado per week, she is helping prevent cervical cancer.
Who’s watching it: Health care professionals, university lecturers and doctors who are realising the Western way of healing with pharmaceuticals doesn’t work. Also anyone who is interested in honest-to-goodness nutrition and how it greatly improves life through diet and exercise.
What you’ll learn: How your body actually works, why disease is not a mystery and how wholefoods, water, sunshine and clean air can prevent just about any disease.
Want to know more? See www.dontolmaninternational.com
Photo by Wheeloflife.tv
It breaks my heart to see animals suffer. But the reality is, because we humans made meat and dairy a diet staple—regardless of its countless ill effects—animal torture and murders happen every single day, on just about every country on earth.
Despite this, the reality is, every single person can be the change that can turn things around. Yet, sometimes the reality we need to see in order to “get it” is downright heart-wrenching.
As eco-consciousness is spreading, so to are the numbers of people opting to go vegan (and vegetarian). Still, more needs to be done to get the word out.
I came across this video (below), which is a collection of celebrity PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) videos—celebrities who have spoken and are speaking out, about what really goes on behind the scenes in slaughter houses and in the fur trade. Whether you love or loathe PETA, you’ve got to appreciate their ability to get attention-grabbing celebs to promote living meat and fur free (such as Khloe Kardashian pictured above).
Read More Post a comment (1)
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of Melanie Joy’s Why We Love dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows—a book that explores the human relationship with animals and why we believe it’s acceptable to eat one animal, yet not another.
Here’s an excerpt from a VegSource.com review:
The opening chapter of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows is startling and effective. We are asked to imagine a dinner party at which the guests are enjoying a delicious stew. But when one guest asks for the recipe, the host explains that it starts with a golden retriever. The disgust and revulsion that follows this announcement is examined in detail later in the book, and Dr. Joy is both succinct and smart in showing us the overlapping circles of identification, empathy and disgust that color our relationships with animals.
Take a look at this compelling, and confronting, video, compiled to demonstrate the author’s point:
I would love to hear from anyone who has read the book, or from those who are simply keen to discuss the topic of why humans eat some animals and not others.
One of the things I told myself when I transitioned from meat eater to vegan was, be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up if you happen to fall. There are bound to be hiccups along the way. It’s what you do with the hiccup that counts. Allow it to pass with ease or make a fuss trying to cover it up.
This conscious kindness has also extended to others in my life who may not have experienced the same lifestyle transition as me. Sure, I lectured my family on the health and moral issues associated with animal consumption. But I learned. This is my journey and it’s not for me to force it on others who are also on theirs — whichever path they may ultimately choose, is completely and utterly up to them.
Loving leader or persistent preacher? Results always speak louder than words. That said, we vegans (who, more often than not, have much energy to burn) can certainly channel that passionate energy into positive self-talk, as well as projects to help spread the word. Here are just a few of my favourites:
1) Start a blog that’s dedicated to helping meat eaters transition to a vegan diet. Fill it with hints and tips you’ve learned along the way. There are many out there who want to give veganism a go, but may not know where to start!
2) Throw a vegan dinner party. Invite friends and family to a three course (or more!) spread that will change the way they think of vegan, forever. For recipes, check out the myriad vegan books on Amazon or head to blogs such as Vegan Yum Yum.
3) Animal shelters are filled with animals who need love and people who want to give it. Volunteer one day a week. Share your stories with animal lovers who may well be inspired by your story.
4) Write to restaurants that don’t include vegan options on their menus. A kind letter with some good ideas, positive facts about the vegan diet and stats on how many vegans live in the area can work wonders. The promise of extra customers may well be an incentive for restaurateurs to get their vegan on.
5) Ask the question: how can I serve? Write a list of your talents and skills and then look to non-profit organisations (that resonate with the vegan in you) which could benefit greatly from your help. Check in with your local Vegan Society which may also have some great ideas. Just being you (and vegan) will help to spread a positive vegan message amongst everyone you meet.
Love this (except the curse bit)
Ex-Beatles’ Paul McCartney, who was famously quoted as saying “if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian”, now has a tune to encourage people to stop eating meat—at least on Mondays.
Check out his Meat Free Mondays website to send in your own little ditty, or just to get the lowdown on how eating animals affects the health of the planet and the people. Then, I say, let’s make every day a Monday!
“I’ve found without question that the best way to lead others to a more plant-based diet is by example – to lead with your fork, not your mouth.” —Bernie Wilke, quoted in Joanne Stepaniak’s The Vegan Sourcebook, 1998
