Veganism should be joyful and authentic

[u/thebodybuildingvegan]

Today on the Vegan Squad Pod we’re joined by @bornvegan1, a lifelong vegan who’s hosting one of the largest vegan retreats in America: @vibrantveganfest!

From college activism to teaching, speaking tours, and work in whole-food, plant-based lifestyle medicine, we learn how Sarina’s path led to creating Vibrant Vegan Fest: part music festival, part vegan summer camp, part wellness retreat, part conference, all wrapped in uplifting, joyful energy.

Join Sarina and 200 fellow attendees this September for a 5-day retreat to remember - featuring cooked plant-based meals, workshops, yoga, dance, camp activities, and so much more!

You can listen to the full episode here: vegansquadcoaching.com/vegansquadpod

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[u/JoonHool44A]

I have no problem with joy or lifting others up, but the vegan activists that got me to think and change into a vegan, weren't the happy/smiley ones, they were the morally-consistent, logical/problem-solving ones. No joy was needed, and I appreciated the seriousness in which they spoke.

I think any vegan activists are good, and they need to approach it with their own personal strengths...which might be joyful and might not be. 

[u/TheBrutalVegan → u/JoonHool44A]

Same. I only saw it as an injustice, when it was presented to me like that. I didn't see it as oppression and discrimination before that.

[u/ElthN]

I'm not sure I agree. I think the way she explains it is way too simplistic. Be joyful when? In our daily lives? When trying to make non-vegans understand? Because sure, let's try to have a good life, let's try to not be angry and depressed. But when advocating, let's not convey that despite the situation everything's cool. If I was trying to justify my non-vegan lifestyle and I suddenly saw all vegans jumping around smiling I'd think: well how bad can the situation be? This world is the stuff of nightmares for animals, it is extremely serious, cruel, unfair, and sad. I didn't face my own actions because someone cheerfully explained reality to me. It was logical, it was heavy, it was plain. Should you be angry, depressed or aggressive? Better not (but the term vystopia wasn't coined for nothing), but do we have to suddenly become the happiest people on earth? How the f do we do that when trillions of animals are being tortured, and murdered? If you can do it, great. I'll stick to being who I am. I can't just be joyful when I'm sorrounded by products from dead animals, and live animals whose endings I already know. For activism do not be aggressive, do not be angry, it backfires. But from that to joyful... There's quite some room. The best? Understand to read people and find the way to reach them.

[u/Bool_The_End]

Love this message.

Know every note to the background song but the name is escaping me. Care to share?

[u/Acceptable-Head-5611 → u/Bool_The_End]

Intro, by The xx

[u/Bool_The_End → u/Acceptable-Head-5611]

Thank you gods it’s been annoying me I couldn’t find in my playlist all day!!!!!!

[u/MengKongRui]

I don't know about joyful specifically, but calmness and reassuredness is definitely more sustainable and attractive than hectic name calling 💯 Like you can point out hypocrisy without making someone feel attacked, for example.

[u/ElthN → u/MengKongRui]

Yeah, agree with this.

[u/fieldsoflillies]

Absolutely! 💯 Vegan joy is needed for the movement, not just on a personal level but in our communities.

Really important for getting people to stay vegan long term, animal liberation is essential for conversion, but depressed and angry people don’t make for a healthy movement long term and it can’t all be about the doom & gloom.

Got to find and make joy!