It is very common to become a “Vegangelist” (Vegan Evangelist) when you first make the transition to a vegetarian/vegan/live food lifestyle. When you have discovered the power of a vegan or living food lifestyle and seen the changes in your life and the lives of others you want to spread the good news to all of your friends and family. Unfortunately many if not all of them will NOT be interested in hearing about your new discovery.
This can be especially hard if someone you care about is sick or suffering and could potentially be helped by making lifestyle changes. You watch them suffer, or deteriorate, or maybe even pass away, all the while ignoring or disbelieving that making diet and lifestyle changes could help them.
As hard as it is, it is important to refrain from becoming the Vegan Police or Vegan Evangelist. Otherwise you may find your friends and family begin to shun you. You may find yourself uninvited to gatherings and meals. The very people you care so much about may shut you out.
I found when I first became vegan and then raw vegan my family was curious about what I was doing and why. I took this and an indication that they were open to considering veganism and the Vegangelism began. BUT no, they were mostly just interested in something that was peculiar. They didn’t really want to hear all that much about it.
Do not to talk about how and why you are eating the way you do over a meal, which was usually when I found it would come up as the difference between my plate and theirs was apparent. Respond to questions with the response, “I prefer not to talk about it while we are eating. Ask me later and I’ll be happy to answer your questions.” Chances are they won’t come back.
So what can you do?
Be a shining example of health and vitality. People will notice the difference between you and those living the SAD (Standard American Diet) lifestyle. They will notice the changes in you. Don’t be smug about it or act “better than thow.” Remember you weren’t always living this way. There may have even been a time when you were against vegetarianism. Each person will have to come to this decision (or not) on their own.
Always be willing to share your healthy dishes. Bring your kale salad, your smoothies or whatever with you to gatherings and meals and share the goodness with others. Or order a veggie appetizer to share at a restaurant. This way people will have chance to try things in a non-threatening way. Even if they don’t make a complete switch you may find that they begin to add more healthy dishes to their meals.
Be available for those who are truly interested. If someone earnestly comes to you wanting to learn more, you can slowly begin to share what you know. Do not go too fast. Don’t deluge them with information. Maybe recommend a few books such as these or websites like this one. Share more only as they are ready and ask more questions.
Accept each person as they are. Love them and be there for them even if they have chosen a different path. If a loved one is taking a more conventional approach to a health issue do not pass judgment and push for a different approach. You might briefly share a resource that may be helpful but then step back and let it be. If and when they are ready to move in a more natural direction they will have somewhere to start. They will know you are a potential resource and may ask for help. If they never come to that point, that’s ok too. In the meantime, just be there and support them in what ever way they need.
Don’t take this as a rejection of you. There are powerful forces pushing people to stay on the path of the SAD lifestyle and conventional medicine. Most people are not ready or able to see beyond the “hype.” Be grateful that you have found a healthier alternative and leave it at that. Once people find out that you will accept them as they are, they will likely be more accepting of you.
Have you ever found yourself becoming a Vegangelist? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Keeping it to ourself is easy to address when speaking to people who do it for their own betterment – as a diet, for their health – as you have here. For those who refrain from all animal products in every area of their life because we are horrified by what is happening to animals, being asked to stay quiet in order to not bother people becomes a moral dilemma. Yes we may be isolated but as in religion or as in the abolition of slavery people took that risk to be hated for what they knew was right and we’re committed to an in-yo-face methodology. Martin Luther King Jr. was asked all the time to drop talking about war and stick to civil rights. He said he couldn’t while all those people in Vietnam were being killed. A billion animals a year have no voice without people sharing their unknown stories.
The kind of vegan I am loves everyone not eating meat and all who do eat meat. I have no expectations of that in return.
I love your blog. I’m just seeing it for the first time today and I know I’ll be learning a lot here. BLESSINGS to you and yours and thank you for all you do.
Thanks deon! It is indeed important to speak up about injustice. That said you can cause people to close their ears completely by being too in their face. It is a balancing act for sure.
When I look at the US industry I’m often horrified but I’m not nearly as so by what goes under EU jurisdiction certainly not my local ones. Some of us are aware and visit the places like abattoirs and farms and have lived around them for a long time. We don’t need some enlightenment that others appear to seem to want to give us. You will also not be able to reach people if you are deaf to their own struggle if they have one. As someone who has been active in chronic illness circles if all you say is ‘you can go vegan’ and offer no practical information when you don’t understand the life and struggle of the individual you’ve shown you care more about the lives of non-human animals over human animals so morally the same level. People who struggle to find something to eat day to day that doesn’t make them feel bad will have no sympathy for your message. Life is hard. Nature is harsh. We just feel guilty when we are the ones causing. I’ve had better conversations with those vegans who understand I have only found eggs and fish to not make me have problems than with any one of them basking in their self righteous platform
Very good article. The subject needs to be discussed and understood from a caring yet selfless perspective. Natural curiously can led to enlightenment quicker than self righteous proselytizing.
Well written and thoughtful.
Thank you Calvin.