A Bridge to Compassion

Image Credit: Infinity Masculine

My boyfriend brought home some steaks the other day, and that's okay. I'm not saying I didn't have to squash down the impulse to defend the poor dead cows in the fridge, but I am saying I squashed it down quite successfully.

This squashing down is not something I do out of frustration. It's something I do because I'm starting to accept the views of others. This--accepting the views of others--has never been a problem on any other matter. But with meat--it was harder.

I would say it was because, with other things, it's not hurting anyone. It doesn't hurt anyone if you think the Easter Bunny is real. It does hurt someone if you eat the Easter Bunny (psst, it's the bunny).

Who I forgot to include in this equation was you.

There's a great saying I saw once on a meme: "If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete." Actual credit goes to Jack Kornfield.

So while I was applying this argument that everyone should be compassionate to all animals by not eating them, I forgot that everyone needs to take care of themselves too.

My boyfriend swiftly adopted plant-based eating when I came into the picture. We've been eating lots of whole vegetables as well as sampling all the new meatless meats in the store. These Field Burgers are amazing. He's still had the occasional meal containing real meat, but this recent steak stock-up was more than usual. When I dramatically and jokingly yelled, "What's with all these steaks!" (There were two.) He said it's because he's been feeling a bit lethargic lately, so he wanted to see if going back to some of his old diet would help.

How could I argue with that?

After all, plant-based eating or eating in general should be about total health and wellness. If he needs to play around a bit more with his animal protein to plant protein ratio, I support him. When I saw the image of this bridge, supported by hands, I thought it was the perfect metaphor.

So often we're quick to say all or nothing. We're quick to condemn those who don't see it exactly our way. We're so quick about it we sometimes don't realize the hypocrisy.

Next time someone challenges a heartfelt belief remember to ask yourself: Are you extending your compassion? Are you holding up the bridge?

The Birth of Middle Child

I decided to write this blog about a topic very near and dear to my heart--plant-based eating AKA meat-free eating AKA vegetarianism. To be frank, plant-based is just a euphemism we herbivores like to use to lure in all the flesh-tearing folks. It doesn't have quite the sting that the v-words (veganism, vegetarianism) do, perhaps for good reason. Plant-based does imply more openness and flexibility.

Openness and flexibility are what this blog is all about.

While advocates of plant-based eating (especially those vegans) have garnered quite the reputation for extremist views and lifestyle choices, I hope to bring a little balance to the table.

This is where the Buddha comes in. The name Middle Child, while I am the middle child in my family, is actually a reference to the Buddhist concept of the Middle Way.

The Middle Way is about finding balance between the extremes.

The Buddha also contributes the concept of mindfulness. My favorite description of mindfulness so far is to observe yourself without judgment.

These two concepts of balance and observation without judgment can be key to practicing a plant-based diet.

Everyone is on their own individual journey with food (not to mention everything else).

I know I for one, when I was a kid showing meat lambs in 4-H, I never thought the day would come when I would stop eating meat altogether. But from learning more about animal brains and emotional systems and from reading one emotional story about a sheep mourning the death of a friend, that day finally came.

image credit: unsplash.com

I hope to share in this blog, through a Buddhist lens, the benefits of a plant-based diet in our changing world.

Are you already plant-based or interested? Please leave me a comment below and let me know!