A Shiny, Happy Vegan Alphabet for Optimists

For the past four years, I have done my annual Disgruntled Alphabet and I looooove doing it because it’s a great opportunity to vent while still having fun. I was thinking this last time, though, that I really ought to make an alphabet that reflects the true spirit of veganism and all the priceless personal bonuses we reap by adopting it. It was less delicious to write - because I was born to snark, apparently – but more reflective of veganism at its best, which brings so much good into the world and into our lives. 

A is for alignment, because our values are in alignment with our actions and that is a really rare, beautiful thing. A is also for the animals because we can look at them in the eye and know that we are not harming them.

B is for the benefits of veganism, of which there are myriad, from health advantages to a very reduced ecological footprint, and many points in between.

C is for consistency and compassion and clear conscience, each of which is a renewable resource that fills our lives with meaning and depth.

D is for direct, because if you want to create a long-lasting, positive change in the world immediately, compassionate living is a direct pipeline to it.

E is for that exquisite feeling of knowing that we are laying the groundwork for a new world through our actions. 

F is for full potential: We are not making excuses for ourselves because we are truly striving to do our best.

G is for gratitude that we can live as vegans today without making any sacrifices but reaping an abundance of rewards.

H is for the hens whom we get to feed, pet and hold at animal sanctuaries without feeling guilty or ashamed.

I is for inexpensive because the least affluent people in the world are often vegan by default: whole grains, legumes, local and seasonal vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds are the most healthful way to eat (thus fewer doctor bills) and are usually much more affordable than animal products and flesh.

J is for justice, for knowing that we have integrated our convictions about fairness and equality into our lives instead of just giving lip-service to them. J is also for the joy that comes from knowing this.

K is for kicking the unnecessary habits that harm and kills others.  

L is for love: why would we kill when we could love and live with an attitude of abundance instead?

M is for more, as in more inner-peace, more consistency, more gratitude, more honesty, more passion.

N is for no more disconnect between our deepest values and our actions.

O is for our convictions, which give our lives purpose and meaning.  

P is for the peace we feel from practicing what we preach.

Q is for questioning the status quo, which gives us so much strength and confidence to create the compassionate, independent lives we want.

R is for rejecting the habits that contradict our ethics.

S is for solutions: we are living examples of people who are creating solutions to the destruction animal agriculture wreaks and it also stands for the dynamic shift we are bringing to the world.

T is for truth, because living with knowledge and self-honesty are liberating.

U is for undoing the damage and the pride that comes from that.

V is for vegan because that’s what it’s all about.

W is for wherever we are, we can always do our best in that situation.

X is for X, the mark we make on each day of the calendar until it’s our annual veganniversary day of gratitude.

Y is for yes, we can easily make a positive difference with our actions.

Z is for zealous because sometimes we can be a little overly so but everyone has his or her faults.  It’s better to err in the direction of passion over passivity, right?