Influence. It is a daunting task and a heavy responsibility that we each need to embrace. Whether that means being a person of integrity in a world that disregards everything honorable, or choosing to live according to our convictions despite ridicule and discouragement from others, our lives can positively influence those around us if we are courageous enough to embrace the challenge.
It has been two short years since we made the decision to embrace a vegan lifestyle. The initial zeal and passion which prompted us to launch our blog and actively participate in vigils with a local Save Movement organization has given way to other pursuits, yet we remain committed to living a lifestyle of peace and compassion with every bite we take, every product we purchase, and every garment we put on our bodies. We have become more aware of environmental issues and the impact of our choices on the planet we call home. We have successfully raised awareness of the abuse and cruelty suffered by animals through factory farming and experienced for ourselves greatly improved health and vigor as a result of a dietary shift to plant-based foods. Family and friends have shown increased interest in plant-based eating and made efforts to accommodate our lifestyle choice by making vegan food available at gatherings.
To be on the leading edge of a movement that is taking hold and producing positive change worldwide is a thrill! To sit down and eat a meal without fear of food-borne illnesses, and with the joy of knowing that no animal suffered so that we could eat, gives us great joy! We are ecstatic every time we discover new vegan products on store shelves or vegan menu options in restaurants!
Want to get in on this exciting adventure and make a BIG difference that will have a significant influence on the world and those around you? Try a whole-food plant-based diet, buy cruelty-free products, and shop with reusable bags. Collectively our small efforts will accomplish GREAT things and make our world a healthier and happier place to live!
Cheers!
Dee Dee and Joy
Copyright 2018 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Friday, June 1, 2018
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Seeing Things Differently
It has been nearly a year since Joy and I made the decision to go vegan and she would agree that it is one of the best decisions we have ever made. Nothing gives us greater joy than sitting down to a healthy meal knowing that no animals were harmed to nourish our bodies and satisfy our appetites.
Before going vegan we really didn't give much thought to how our choices affected animals. Besides the obvious consumption of animal products at mealtime, I often wore their leather on my feet or enjoyed the comfort of their fur and wool on a cold winter's day. I lived for zoo outings and circuses because of my love for and curiosity with animals, never considering the abuse they might suffer behind the scenes. I just didn't know. Neither of us did.
Walking through the pet department at Walmart recently I happened to glance at the fish tanks on the back wall and noticed the beautiful colors of the tropical fish in them. Before going vegan I wouldn't have given them a second thought, yet I found myself sad and thinking that they belong in the ocean, not in a sterile, man-made habitat with no vegetation or natural environmental stimulation. The odds that these fish will eventually find their way to an aquarium are slim. Most will die in their confinement or be disposed of because no one chose to take them home. How is that fair, humane, or right?
I remember the very first trip Joy and I made to Virginia. On her spring break we made the long drive from Tennessee to visit Steve, who had moved here a few months before the end of the school year. We stopped at a rest area that backed up to a beautiful cow pasture where several adult cows and their babies were grazing. Joy wanted to go pet the cows that were near the fence. Recently, on our way home from Tennessee we stopped at a similar rest area, only this time we saw the cows a little differently than before. Though they looked peaceful and happy we knew from their ear tags that they are being raised as commodities to be sold at auction and eventually be slaughtered. The wonder we had felt on that first trip to Virginia was replaced with sorrow that their lives don't really matter -- they were born to die and will eventually suffer the same horrific fate as any factory-farmed livestock.
For us, being vegan is not just about eating a whole food plant-based diet in order to maximize our health, though that certainly is a great benefit. It is about so much more. It is about preserving our environment and fighting for the rights of animals by not consuming them or spending our money in support of activities that result in their harm. It is about doing all we can to educate others and encourage a more compassionate lifestyle for the good of all -- our fellow humans, our planet, and the animals who inhabit it with us.
Most people think they could never make the switch to a plant-based diet, giving up cheese, eggs, and the meats they have eaten their entire lives. I totally get that. After all, I was raised on the standard American diet (SAD) myself, living a lifetime on hamburgers, grilled meat, turkey at Thanksgiving, and ham at Easter -- oh, and bacon with everything! Then I met some four-legged friends and some two-legged humans who became my heroes and inspiration. Pictured below are just a few of them.
Joy and I are doing what we can, in our own small way, to raise awareness and to encourage others to think and choose differently when it comes to the foods we eat, the products we consume, and the clothes we wear. If we can encourage you or help you in any way, please let us know.
Peace and compassion for all,
Dee Dee
Copyright 2016-2017 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
Before going vegan we really didn't give much thought to how our choices affected animals. Besides the obvious consumption of animal products at mealtime, I often wore their leather on my feet or enjoyed the comfort of their fur and wool on a cold winter's day. I lived for zoo outings and circuses because of my love for and curiosity with animals, never considering the abuse they might suffer behind the scenes. I just didn't know. Neither of us did.
I remember the very first trip Joy and I made to Virginia. On her spring break we made the long drive from Tennessee to visit Steve, who had moved here a few months before the end of the school year. We stopped at a rest area that backed up to a beautiful cow pasture where several adult cows and their babies were grazing. Joy wanted to go pet the cows that were near the fence. Recently, on our way home from Tennessee we stopped at a similar rest area, only this time we saw the cows a little differently than before. Though they looked peaceful and happy we knew from their ear tags that they are being raised as commodities to be sold at auction and eventually be slaughtered. The wonder we had felt on that first trip to Virginia was replaced with sorrow that their lives don't really matter -- they were born to die and will eventually suffer the same horrific fate as any factory-farmed livestock.
Most people think they could never make the switch to a plant-based diet, giving up cheese, eggs, and the meats they have eaten their entire lives. I totally get that. After all, I was raised on the standard American diet (SAD) myself, living a lifetime on hamburgers, grilled meat, turkey at Thanksgiving, and ham at Easter -- oh, and bacon with everything! Then I met some four-legged friends and some two-legged humans who became my heroes and inspiration. Pictured below are just a few of them.
 |
| Sweetheart and Joy |
 |
| Ziggy Hartness and Dee Dee |
 |
| All the animals at Ziggy's Refuge and founders Kristin Hartness and Jay Yontz |
Peace and compassion for all,
Dee Dee
Copyright 2016-2017 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
Friday, December 30, 2016
The Best is Yet to Come
2016 was a year like no other. Although life was fairly normal in terms of work, family, and our activities, in an unexpected twist Joy and I became vegans, launched our website, and began advocating for animal rights. We met Ziggy the Traveling Piggy, volunteered at the animal sanctuary that bears his name, and made new friends who share our interest in better health, a cleaner environment, and ending animal abuse and suffering.
So many things have weighed heavy on my heart this year...the ignorance most of us have regarding the abuse animals are subjected to in order that our appetites can be satisfied, the realization that we are destroying our planet and our health because of our food choices, and the desire to see my loved ones embrace a healthier lifestyle and experience the sense of well-being and happiness that a whole food plant-based diet provides. So many of my friends and family suffer from chronic conditions or serious illnesses that could be helped simply by changing the way they eat, yet they remain unconvinced that such a change would be possible or beneficial, even though I am living proof that a plant-based diet works.
In 2016, God gave me a new purpose and set my feet on a journey I never thought I would take. He opened my eyes to injustice and the need for greater compassion toward all His creatures, human and non-human alike. I find myself praying for open doors to fulfill the purpose of educating others and sharing my experience as a new vegan and opportunities each day to positively impact and make a difference in the lives of the people and animals He has placed in my life. Perhaps for the first time in my life, I feel driven to live for a cause much larger than myself and to take as many people with me as will come.
2017 is just around the corner. I believe that God is working and has exciting things in store for those of us who will heed His call and step into the great unknown with Him. My plan for the New Year is to do what I have done for the past several years -- wake up each morning, spend time in His Word and in prayer, and give Him permission to have His way in my life, knowing that each day will be an adventure as I do what I can to fulfill His purpose.
What will you do with the clean slate God is handing you? Will you continue living in your comfort zone or will you take a leap of faith and embrace the journey He has prepared for you?
I pray that 2017 will be a year of new beginnings, better health, and great adventure as you fulfill the purpose for which you were created.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year,
Dee Dee
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
So many things have weighed heavy on my heart this year...the ignorance most of us have regarding the abuse animals are subjected to in order that our appetites can be satisfied, the realization that we are destroying our planet and our health because of our food choices, and the desire to see my loved ones embrace a healthier lifestyle and experience the sense of well-being and happiness that a whole food plant-based diet provides. So many of my friends and family suffer from chronic conditions or serious illnesses that could be helped simply by changing the way they eat, yet they remain unconvinced that such a change would be possible or beneficial, even though I am living proof that a plant-based diet works.
In 2016, God gave me a new purpose and set my feet on a journey I never thought I would take. He opened my eyes to injustice and the need for greater compassion toward all His creatures, human and non-human alike. I find myself praying for open doors to fulfill the purpose of educating others and sharing my experience as a new vegan and opportunities each day to positively impact and make a difference in the lives of the people and animals He has placed in my life. Perhaps for the first time in my life, I feel driven to live for a cause much larger than myself and to take as many people with me as will come.
2017 is just around the corner. I believe that God is working and has exciting things in store for those of us who will heed His call and step into the great unknown with Him. My plan for the New Year is to do what I have done for the past several years -- wake up each morning, spend time in His Word and in prayer, and give Him permission to have His way in my life, knowing that each day will be an adventure as I do what I can to fulfill His purpose.
What will you do with the clean slate God is handing you? Will you continue living in your comfort zone or will you take a leap of faith and embrace the journey He has prepared for you?
I pray that 2017 will be a year of new beginnings, better health, and great adventure as you fulfill the purpose for which you were created.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year,
Dee Dee
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
Thursday, November 24, 2016
My First Vegan Thanksgiving (Making the Connection)
This year I am celebrating my first Thanksgiving as a vegan. Today, as in years past, I will gather with family to visit and celebrate our blessings. There will be turkey on the menu but not on my plate. Instead I will be taking a meatless version of the classic turkey and dressing to share with the curious in my family, as well as vegan green beans, sweet potato casserole, and chocolate cake. Being vegan will not hinder my enjoyment of the traditional Thanksgiving feast. On the contrary, for the first time ever I will enjoy my dinner knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of my meal and that the food on my plate is not only delicious but actually good for me.
As I count my blessings this year I am perhaps most thankful for "making the connection." I am thankful for the documentaries my daughter shared with me that opened my eyes to the horrific animal abuse, environmental destruction, and health issues resulting from factory farming and animal agriculture.
Making the connection between the meat on our plate and the animals -- sentient, intelligent creatures who feel pain and desire to live free, just as we do -- is what separates vegans from non-vegans. Most people claim to love animals, however very few understand that abusing and slaughtering farmed animals for meat is just as unethical as torturing and eating their beloved pet cat. They would never tolerate animal abuse when it comes to their pets, yet they fail to understand that animals raised for meat are as capable of feeling pain and fear as their dear Fluffy or Fido.
Making the connection is necessary not only to fully understand the benefits of a vegan lifestyle -- better health, a cleaner environment, and a greater compassion toward all God's creatures -- but to remain motivated and committed when others around us criticize or fail to understand our choice to leave meat off our plate.
More than anything I desire to be a vegan who can help others make the connection by demonstrating with my own life a greater compassion toward ALL creatures -- human and non-human -- and by sharing my experience with grace and patience, knowing that not everyone sees things the way I do or reaches that connecting point the same way. I want to be an activist who leads assertively but gently, without criticizing or browbeating others. Never do I want my love for animals and my conviction that we can survive and fare better without consuming them to overshadow my love and compassion for humanity.
I realize that the message of veganism, much like the message of Christianity, will be offensive to those not ready to receive it. But just as I am committed to living my life as a witness to all Christ has done for me, I will purpose to show my fellow man that veganism is a compassionate lifestyle with many benefits and that animal cruelty and abuse and the resulting destruction to our health and environment were never God's design.
I am thankful for so many things this year -- improved health, a heightened awareness of our world and those who inhabit it, and a greater sense of compassion toward all living creatures -- human and non-human alike. I am thankful for those who read our blog and share our passion. But even more, I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference by helping others make the connection.
Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving,
Dee Dee
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
As I count my blessings this year I am perhaps most thankful for "making the connection." I am thankful for the documentaries my daughter shared with me that opened my eyes to the horrific animal abuse, environmental destruction, and health issues resulting from factory farming and animal agriculture.
Making the connection between the meat on our plate and the animals -- sentient, intelligent creatures who feel pain and desire to live free, just as we do -- is what separates vegans from non-vegans. Most people claim to love animals, however very few understand that abusing and slaughtering farmed animals for meat is just as unethical as torturing and eating their beloved pet cat. They would never tolerate animal abuse when it comes to their pets, yet they fail to understand that animals raised for meat are as capable of feeling pain and fear as their dear Fluffy or Fido.
Making the connection is necessary not only to fully understand the benefits of a vegan lifestyle -- better health, a cleaner environment, and a greater compassion toward all God's creatures -- but to remain motivated and committed when others around us criticize or fail to understand our choice to leave meat off our plate.
More than anything I desire to be a vegan who can help others make the connection by demonstrating with my own life a greater compassion toward ALL creatures -- human and non-human -- and by sharing my experience with grace and patience, knowing that not everyone sees things the way I do or reaches that connecting point the same way. I want to be an activist who leads assertively but gently, without criticizing or browbeating others. Never do I want my love for animals and my conviction that we can survive and fare better without consuming them to overshadow my love and compassion for humanity.
I realize that the message of veganism, much like the message of Christianity, will be offensive to those not ready to receive it. But just as I am committed to living my life as a witness to all Christ has done for me, I will purpose to show my fellow man that veganism is a compassionate lifestyle with many benefits and that animal cruelty and abuse and the resulting destruction to our health and environment were never God's design.
I am thankful for so many things this year -- improved health, a heightened awareness of our world and those who inhabit it, and a greater sense of compassion toward all living creatures -- human and non-human alike. I am thankful for those who read our blog and share our passion. But even more, I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference by helping others make the connection.
Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving,
Dee Dee
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
Monday, August 29, 2016
Doing Right in a World Gone Wrong
So much in my life has changed in the five months since I stopped eating meat. I have lost twenty pounds, seen a dramatic improvement in my cholesterol numbers, and experienced the virtual elimination of acid reflux for which I was taking medication twice daily. I have met new friends, embraced new challenges, and discovered a happiness and sense of well-being I never knew existed. Most importantly, though, I have discovered that it is possible to do right in a world gone terribly wrong.
With all the social injustice in the world, not to mention our own personal struggles, many of us just float along on the river of life hoping that someone will throw us a rope and pull us out of our whirlpool of woe. Guess what? That's not how life works. It is up to us to take a stand and fight for what is right in order to effect positive change. Change doesn't just happen.
As Joy and I have partnered to educate others regarding the health, environmental, and ethical aspects of a vegan lifestyle it has occurred to us that this is how we will do right in a world gone wrong. We can't end sex trafficking or win the war on drugs. But we can show others -- by education and example -- that veganism is a better and more compassionate way of living which will have the positive results of alleviating needless suffering of abused farm animals, increasing physical health, and helping the environment. In my mind, that's reason enough to be vegan.
What are you doing to make this world a better place? Whatever your passion -- your cause -- go after it with everything in you! Dare to live out loud, make a difference, and be a game changer. You will never find a better reason to get up in the morning than knowing you have the power to effect positive change!
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
With all the social injustice in the world, not to mention our own personal struggles, many of us just float along on the river of life hoping that someone will throw us a rope and pull us out of our whirlpool of woe. Guess what? That's not how life works. It is up to us to take a stand and fight for what is right in order to effect positive change. Change doesn't just happen.
As Joy and I have partnered to educate others regarding the health, environmental, and ethical aspects of a vegan lifestyle it has occurred to us that this is how we will do right in a world gone wrong. We can't end sex trafficking or win the war on drugs. But we can show others -- by education and example -- that veganism is a better and more compassionate way of living which will have the positive results of alleviating needless suffering of abused farm animals, increasing physical health, and helping the environment. In my mind, that's reason enough to be vegan.
What are you doing to make this world a better place? Whatever your passion -- your cause -- go after it with everything in you! Dare to live out loud, make a difference, and be a game changer. You will never find a better reason to get up in the morning than knowing you have the power to effect positive change!
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
Sunday, July 17, 2016
There Are No Words
Very few things in life have affected me as much as my journey these past few months. The joy and inner peace I feel knowing that I am treating my body and God's creation the way he intended are indescribable.
There are no words to adequately describe how I feel at this moment. I am astonished by the atrocities animals are made to suffer and my own ignorance of how our food is processed. Each day I am learning things that jar my conscience and discovering better alternatives for eating and living that don't carry the high price of animal suffering. In the few months that I have been vegetarian/vegan I have experienced better health and become more environmentally conscious. I have learned so much on this journey and benefited personally in so many ways. It is my hope that others will see the positive effects of veganism and consider the possibilities for themselves.
Daily I am becoming more aware of injustice, not only in the animal world but among our own human race. How is it that we humans -- created in the image of God -- can live such ungodly lives and perpetrate such violence against others?
As a Christian, my greatest desire is to live my life in such a way that people see my good works and glorify my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). I want to be an instrument of God's encouragement and a vessel he can use to bring salvation to those who are lost.
But for me, it no longer stops there. As surely as I will continue living for God and encouraging others with the truths of his Word, I will also be an advocate for compassionate living and the animals God created -- human and non-human alike.
We can all be better stewards of God's love, provision, and resources in our world. Why aren't we?
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
There are no words to adequately describe how I feel at this moment. I am astonished by the atrocities animals are made to suffer and my own ignorance of how our food is processed. Each day I am learning things that jar my conscience and discovering better alternatives for eating and living that don't carry the high price of animal suffering. In the few months that I have been vegetarian/vegan I have experienced better health and become more environmentally conscious. I have learned so much on this journey and benefited personally in so many ways. It is my hope that others will see the positive effects of veganism and consider the possibilities for themselves.
Daily I am becoming more aware of injustice, not only in the animal world but among our own human race. How is it that we humans -- created in the image of God -- can live such ungodly lives and perpetrate such violence against others?
As a Christian, my greatest desire is to live my life in such a way that people see my good works and glorify my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). I want to be an instrument of God's encouragement and a vessel he can use to bring salvation to those who are lost.
But for me, it no longer stops there. As surely as I will continue living for God and encouraging others with the truths of his Word, I will also be an advocate for compassionate living and the animals God created -- human and non-human alike.
We can all be better stewards of God's love, provision, and resources in our world. Why aren't we?
Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com
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