Tip 11: Replace Justifications with Just Vacations

In developing this website, I’ve found that there are actually quite a few people who aren’t vegan. Weird, I know! Most of these folks are thoughtful, compassionate and great critical thinkers, so the only reason for them not to be vegan must be a lack of information. For these people, I decided to include some tips on how to be vegan, so they can get started right away. “How to Be Vegan” Tip 11: Replace Justifications with Just Vacations

Before you go vegan, you spend a lot of time justifying – to yourself and others – why you eat animals. When you eliminate animal products from your diet, you free up a lot of time to just have fun! Instead of racking your brain trying to come up with reasons for paying people to do horrible things to animals that you’d never do yourself, you can skip through parks, smell flowers, gaze at rainbows, talk to squirrels and get your vay-cay-shun on! All the free time you’ll have when you stop trying to feign confidence in your dietary choices will open up a world of opportunity for taking vacations, for taking action for animals, and maybe even for doing both at once! Yeah, do both at once! Double fun!! Double exclamation points!!

Why is this Important?
Unlike eating vegan in and of itself, actively advocating on behalf of animals actually takes time and brain power. If you’re spending it all on justifying your old habits, you won’t have any left for trips to Washington, D.C. for The Humane Society of the United States’ Taking Action for Animals conference, or to Los Angeles for the Animal Rights National Conference. Why miss out on these fun, inspiring and important events just because you’re too busy rehearsing your best “But I really like cheese” line in front of the mirror? It just doesn’t make sense!

How do we do it?
Simple! Put down the fattening dairy ice cream that doesn’t help your bones anyway, and pick up your suitcase! Put in your favorite outfits (make sure to include your “Ask me why I’m vegetarian” shirt), book your flight and be on your way! The two biggest conferences are those mentioned above (TAFA and ARNC), but if you can’t afford those* or don’t have enough time off work**, there are also vegetarian festivals and smaller conferences in multiple cities across the country. Get going!

What are the Rewards?

You’ll get to meet and network with other advocates from all over the country. And make fun of the gluten free ones!
You’ll get to learn from leaders in the animal protection movement, like the guy with the really cute suits from Mercy for Animals, and the really friendly gal from Compassion Over Killing, and the brilliant Omaha gal with the tats, the sharp wit and the vegan cookbooks!
You might get to meet Ben Stein! Did you know he’s an animal advocate?! Me neither!
You’ll get tips on how to do more for animals, and reminders (constant reminders) of why your justifications for eating animal products were du-uu-uumb!
You can feel inspired to use your unique talents (like sarcasm) to do your part to advocate for animals (like write a blog!).

What are the Challenges?