“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Dr. Jane Goodall reminds us to take responsibility for our daily actions; we know we can and do make a difference with every mindful meal, every choice to try something different, to act with a caring heart and open eyes!
So many activities that I loved as a child and passed on to my children are based on a way of thinking and acting that is thankfully starting to change. So many people are becoming informed, thanks to information that is now available to the masses; we are, or should be, aware of the harsh realities behind the commodification of animals for human pleasure. I spent so much of my life unaware, doing things that seemed “normal”, kept from the ugly truths. It wasn’t that I didn’t care…starting young, I supported Greenpeace when it first began, (and still do!) was a member of an organization to ban trapping, marched for peace through the streets of Vancouver, promised at 14 years old, becoming a lifetime member of the B.C.S.P.C.A., to “always speak for those who cannot speak for themselves”, and thanks to caring parents, enjoyed having a wide variety and a large number of pets to connect me to the natural world. My heart knew that all animals have personalities and want to live.
It took me far too long to fully grasp that there was something more I could do, that I should have been doing: change the story! Just because it was traditional, didn’t mean it was right. I struggled with escaping from “acceptable” consumer patterns and eating habits; we were taught that it was completely normal and basically essential to eat and use animals because that was what we had always done. I am so grateful that my daughters recognize that they don’t have to be part of the cruelty, that they can create their own traditions. It was my eldest daughter who pushed me to learn more about the egg industry and make the necessary change, and I am so very grateful.
With a little creativity, we can find wonderful alternatives for all the things we ate and did; kinder, more mindful ways to enjoy making special memories that don’t involve animal products. For many, traditional activities are an important part of the celebration, activities that are hard to “give up”. Fortunately, we don’t have to give up anything. Instead, we are enriched by knowing that we are contributing to a brighter, more caring future and that the choices we make are not supporting or contributing to an industry of horrendous cruelty and environmental destructiveness. We are made healthier by consuming plant-based food and we can enjoy lots of amazing vegan treats! I hope to help people find great alternatives and create their own traditions.
Try decorating some of these “eggs”, using Grandma’s Brown Sugar Cookies or Crispy Sugar Cookies. Once the egg-shaped cookies are cool, glaze them with a thin layer of white glaze made by mixing some fresh lemon juice with icing sugar. Let the glaze dry. Using a little water or vodka (it evaporates quickly), thin out some food colourings and pass out the paint brushes! Enjoy!
“Basically we should stop doing those things that are destructive to the environment, other creatures, and ourselves and figure out new ways of existing.” -Moby
