Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum. Santorum for President

I’m participating in a google bomb. That’s what this is for. It’s not because I’m a supporter.

This is a new version of my site, and a work in progress, with new content being added throughout November and December. I’ve brought over all my old blog posts, but photos and formatting still need adjustments. Thanks for visiting, and thanks for your understanding if something doesn’t look 100% right.

Are you concerned about the environment, water pollution, soil loss, rainforest cutting, worker rights, antibiotic overuse, world hunger, obesity and diabetes, bird flu and drug-resistant super-bugs? Are you against violence without reason? Do you want a sustainable future for your children? Do you want to avoid high cholesterol and heart disease? Do you think Michael Vick was wrong, and do you love your cat or dog? Will you cry when s/he dies? Then in your heart, you know what it is to be vegan. Now, it is actually a simple matter to align your actions with your beliefs.

Try eating a vegan breakfast for a few weeks. Then try eating vegan for lunch a few days a week, then maybe every day. Then slowly start having vegan evening meals. Eat fruit for snacks. Try vegan desserts — there are a lot of options these days. Without trying very hard, you could be 80% vegan or more in a matter of weeks. The other 20% will come in it’s own time or it won’t, but for whatever changes you do implement, your soul will be lighter and your health will be better. Your heart will be more open. Eventually you’ll wonder why you ever thought it would be hard.

I watched the last Oprah show today. Did you? And I took notes, because she is a teacher.

My notes from the last Oprah show:

Ask yourself:

• Is this where I am supposed to be? If not, where should I be, what situation should I be in to support my growth? And how can my growth serve the greater good?
• What am I called to do? Everybody has a calling.
• What situation allows me to shine best?
• How can I be of service?

More advice:

• Show people exactly who you are. Don’t hide. (Show up, and bring yourself.)
• Determine your mission and carry your mission forward.
• Put a sign up: “Please take responsibility for the energy you bring to this space.”
• If we don’t feel worthy enough, we can’t accept or recognize success / praise / love. But simply being alive makes you worthy.*
• Everybody wants to be heard. And validated. I see you. I hear you. I value you as I wish to be valued.
• You are never alone. The energy of the universe surrounds you and supports you. You can feel it if you listen.
• Life speaks in a whisper, then a shout. Practice listening to the whisper.

Edit 5-26-11:
Something else I learned over many seasons: The world is a giant classroom. We are here to learn and grow. Every experience, good and bad, has a lesson to teach you, if you are open and let it. Always try to ask yourself: what lesson can I take from this?

* this speaks to me as an ethical vegan too. All living things deserve respect — not just other humans.

It was pretty gross. As I approached, I didn’t know it was there — I thought it was a dust storm on the horizon, so I closed my vents. As I approached, I started to see the cattle. It went on for over a mile. What struck me most was the smell, despite my SUV being on “recirculate”, the smell was powerful. It was not the smell of manure. It smelled like decaying flesh, like death. Acrid, sour, foul, penetrating. It also made me think of the proposed law in FL that would make photographing a feedlot from the road a felony. Agribusiness doesn’t want you to know where your food comes from. My camera wasn’t handy or I’d have taken a shot, since it’s still legal to do so for the time being. 

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