In My Dreams

There are times when we will dream something, and when we wake up we've forgotten what it was we dreamed about.  This is not the case for what I dreamed about last night.

It was sort of a strange dream, and for once, I felt like I was in the center, or focus, of the dream. In the dream, I was vocal, very emotional, and had my struggles. And it all started when a huge (way bigger than a normal sized seal) seal washed up on a beach....

People instantly started flocking to the seal, which was alive I might add. I was stunned, but quickly started to say "no, no, no..." Next thing I know, I'm running to get to the seal. I quickly stepped up for the seal, protecting it from the crowd of onlookers. The crowd of people wanted to do something to the seal. They didn't want to help it return to the ocean, but use the seal for their own personal gain.

I believe dusk had fallen when I gave my big, emotional speech in an effort to persuade the people to save the seal. I'm a quiet person, but in my dream, while giving the speech, I was loud, vocal, emotional, and there was such a passion in my voice. I remember talking about how humans mistreat all kinds of animals for their own selfish reasons.

I think the next thing I did in the dream was start researching and looking at maps. I had to find the right channel/area of water in order to get the seal back to the ocean. I was trying so hard to figure out how to return this seal to the ocean. Eventually, my mother came to me and said that it just wasn't going to happen. It looked like there was no hope, or way, of returning the seal to the ocean. I became so sad and disappointed. Tears started to flow from my eyes.

The next thing I know, I'm on the beach at the seal's side. A look of sadness and anguish was upon the animal's face. I was trying to comfort the seal, and I was most likely crying as well. In truth, I don't know if the seal ever made it back to the ocean. But I believe I saw it swimming in the water. At the end of the dream I think I was happy and had a sense of accomplishment. This leads me to believe the seal returned to the place where it belonged, the sea.

            I think I dreamed this because yesterday I thought about a painting I want to create. One of the most emotional and heart-wrenching acts of animal cruelty I've seen on video is seal hunting. A man going after a baby seal with a club, while the mother seal chases behind the man. The mother seal sniffing the bloody carcass of her pup after it's been clubbed and it's skin has been peeled right off. I really want to create a painting of this because it's been on my mind for so long now. Hopefully one day I will.

"Human beings are great in their own eyes, but are not much in the eyes of nature.   -- Kensho Furuya"

           
          ~ Joy





Copyright 2016-2017 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

It's Not That I Can't

Slowly but surely people are beginning to understand that we have embraced veganism, and to have some idea of what that means. Most of them understand our dietary choices in terms of what we can't have versus what we can have.  (There are so many good choices!)  I suppose that is partly my fault because I have often said, "I can't have that because I am a vegan," but nothing could be further from the truth!

It's not that Joy and I can't eat a hamburger or any other food made from animals because we are vegan, but rather it's that we choose not to eat them. Yes, that's right. Veganism is a lifestyle choice -- not a diet or a bunch of restrictions, but a choice.  We often choose what outfit to wear based on the occasion, the season, or how we feel when we put it on. The same is true of what we eat.  Joy and I choose to eat a plant-based, meat-free diet because of how it makes us feel -- healthy, peaceful, and aware of the good we are doing for our planet and the animals who share it with us.

You are free to choose as well. We may not agree with your choice any more than you agree with ours, but we will respect your freedom to choose.  It is our prayer, however, that you will learn, as we have, that certain choices are worth whatever you feel you may have to sacrifice if you decide to become vegan. We pray that you will experience better health and the loss of unwanted pounds, as we have, and that you will find yourself craving plant-based food that is good, nutritious, and produced without causing harm to animals.

We continue to be amazed at the variety of foods we have discovered that have made this journey much easier -- and more fun -- than we ever thought it could be!  That we could make from scratch an easy and delicious Alfredo sauce from cashews still surprises us! Yet here we are, three months into our vegan journey and loving it more than ever.

We are here to encourage you any way we can. We don't have all the answers -- not by a long stretch -- but we are eager to share what we are learning along the way and so excited to be part of a growing movement toward healthier, more compassionate living.  If you have questions or just want to follow our journey, please visit our Facebook page or drop us an email.

Please don't arbitrarily decide that being a vegan is too difficult, too expensive, and not worth the sacrifice. Instead, dare to believe, like we did, that you -- and the animals -- are worth it and that you can make a big difference by choosing to make some positive changes. We encourage you to watch some of the documentaries linked on our Links & Resources page and to take the 30-Day Vegan Challenge to see if a vegan lifestyle is right for you. We think you'll find it can be.

Next to our faith in God, the Creator of all things and of all creatures great and small, our choice to embrace a vegan lifestyle is the most significant choice we have ever made. Please know that we are here to help in any way we can and that we will be praying for you every step of the way.

For God's glory, and for the animals --

Dee Dee and Joy




Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com