Vegan lifestyle articles that discuss ways of living in peace with humans, animals, and the environment.
Barbara Becker, MVLCE,
Main Street Vegan
May 29, 2018
Veganism has given me greater peace of mind in my daily life but it has also blessed me with a profoundly unexpected gift: the ability to grieve gently, with more generosity of spirit.
For 10 months, my dear brother-in-law lived with terminal cancer. He went
into hospice care in early April and passed away two weeks later. He was 71.
Being vegan has not only helped me to cope with the knowledge of his
impending death, but to find a new level of patience and calm in the face of
the staggering depth of emotions this tragic situation triggered.
The two most profound experiences of one’s life – between the continuous
wonder and amazing up-and-down nature of living – are birth and death.
Bearing witness has been heartbreaking at times but, ultimately, an honor
and a privilege.
Everyone loses loved ones – from family and friends who die well before
their lives have fully blossomed, to those who pass on suddenly in mid-life,
as well as the elderly who are expected to, inevitably, move on at a certain
point. No matter who we lose or when or how it happens, the pain is
considerable.
I have always been highly emotional or “overly sensitive” (as I was
regularly told). Maturity made it a bit less excruciating to handle my
feelings, but they remained challenging to navigate with any semblance of
grace, perspective or self-control.
Seven-and-a-half years ago, when I adopted a vegan lifestyle, my
roller-coaster existence began to taper off and a more consistent balance
gradually evolved. One of the biggest changes is in the way I interact with
family members.
There are pockets of dysfunction in relationships that can rise up on any
given day – much less when tragedy strikes. Instead of screaming into the
abyss, I have been able to visit and engage with various family members –
including those I was estranged from – and be more comfortable in my skin,
more tolerant, less judgmental or defensive. This composure and ease are a
direct result of veganism: the kinder nourishment of my body, my mind, my
soul and my home have added to an ever-increasing sense of gratitude.
When we remove much of the harm we have contributed to (knowingly or
unknowingly) by no longer ingesting, using or wearing animals or their
by-products, I believe that enormous feelings of freedom and relaxation flow
through us because we have cleansed the pain and suffering of these innocent
creatures from our physical, mental and emotional selves, allowing for
greater insight, compassion, acceptance and humility, as well as a stronger
ability to be present and to listen.
Veganism opened my eyes and, in so doing, enabled me to better understand
and be supportive of my family while taking comfort in their devotion to my
brother-in-law.
Veganism has given me greater peace of mind in my daily life but it has also
blessed me with a profoundly unexpected gift: the ability to grieve gently,
with more generosity of spirit.
Barbara Becker received her VLCE [Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator] certification from Main Street Vegan Academy in November 2013 and followed up with the first Master Class VLCE in June 2017. She is also a Reiki Master, actress and musician.
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