Adult Bullies

In the recent months or years or somewhere in between (I suck at remembering time), the internet (and probably TV too, but I don't have one so I wouldn't know) has been filled with people, videos and messages asking to make bullying stop and to encourage kids who get bullied that one day it'll get better.  I think this is a wonderful thing, obviously, but an experience recently got me thinking about how often childhood bullies never grow out of their hate.

The other day I went out to dinner with my husband and our friends Tyler and Travis.

Here we are!

Tyler

Yours Truly

Travis

Macy, my awesome husband

As we were walking toward the restaurant on a pretty busy intersection right next to us a truck full of men screamed "You fucking emo f*ggots, go kill yourself."   I think I flipped them off, but more or less I was just amused because I had no idea people really did that.  Macy has had his fair share of people picking at him because he's pretty feminine. He wears tight jeans, used to wear eyeshadow, always has wild clothes on... but I've never really experienced that to myself or anyone around me.  We all laughed it off. First, we all love life, so the whole emo thing is ridiculous. But we didn't dwell on it. We enjoyed our dinner and then moved on.  

Well, yesterday it popped back into my head again.  And I got to thinking... What the hell would happen if each of us weren't a strong, happy person?  Just a few years ago, I was not in a good place.  And coming out honestly about my past (although hard) I think really needs to happen in order to make this blog matter-- I have tried to kill myself in the past. I used to be a cutter.  And even though I'm happy and I don't cut now, how incredibly awful is it that someone would suggest to ANYONE ever that they should kill themselves? Especially someone you don't even know?  Getting past the pain I held onto was difficult and in that time in my life if someone had expressed that much hatred toward me on top of the hatred I already had toward myself, I know for a fact I would have cut myself over it. I'm stronger now, but not everyone is.  

I started to get angry about this, but not because it had hurt me... but because it COULD HAVE hurt someone else.  I don't know how old those guys were, but they were adults.  They should have known better and yet they literally HATED the way my group of friends looked enough to yell at them that it would be better for them to end their life.  SERIOUSLY?   

Simply saying people need to learn to think before they act is an understatement.  As children we're insecure. We have pressure from society and friends to think and behave a certain way.  We act out based off situations happening around us. We're more easily influenced by other people, television shows, video games, etc. These are absolutely NOT excuses for children to become bullies, these are things we eventually should grow out of.  So why do adult bullies exist? Why would a grown man think it's okay to yell at someone he doesn't know to kill themselves? Why do adults commit hate crimes? What can we do to not just encourage bullied children that it will get better, but to encourage behavioral changes to those who choose to bully so they will grow out of it?  What can we do to teach young people love, acceptance and to just shut their mouths if they absolutely can't accept/love someone?

On that note, I want to leave you with a film that a facebook friend of mine created.  It's not about adult bullies, but is about anti-gay bullying in schools and definitely worth a watch.  Grab some tissues though, because I cried a little (I cry at everything though, so you might not need them).

 

Raw Foods & Brooke Shaden

It's FINALLY warm outside!!! I've been craving summer throughout the entire winter.  The strange part about this winter, however, was that it was pretty mild. Not a lot of snow and not even that cold.  I think the reasoning behind my disdain for this winter is that it was ugly and just cold enough for it to be completely uninspiring.  Now everything is turning green again and I am spending the nights with my windows open-- totally overyjoyed!   For the past few days I've been eating primarily raw foods, an apetite that I've noticed also tends to come with warm weather.  Here are a few pictures of my some of my recent meals:

Triple Berry Smoothie

(Blueberry, Raspberry & Blackberries + water)

Avocado & Banana Purée

(3 bananas + 3 avocados)

Chia Seed Pudding 

(chia seeds + almond milk + mango juice)

Aside from eating those delicious meals, I made some VERY exciting plans for this weekend. On Saturday night I'm heading out to Chicago with Macy and our friends Travis and Tyler so I can go to a workshop by the incredibly talented Brook Shaden. It was sort of a spontaneous decision, but not really because I've been wanting to go to one of her workshops for ages, but they were never close enough.  The guys are going to explore the city while I am learning at the workshop... can't wait to tell you about how amazing I know it'll be!

March Awesome Vegan of the Month!

• Everyone! Meet Linh La! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  She's a self proclaimed full-blown optimist and truly believes that we can change this world for the better. She's my awesome Vegan of the Month for March-- 
  who happens to be the creative director for all the Loving Hut's in the USA... which I am so excited about, because Loving Hut is one of my favorite places :) She also owns Linh La Design and Consultation (www.linhla.com) and a vegan clothing store line-- which you can find by clicking here.
  
  
  Her mom met Supreme Master Ching Hai when she was 7. Her mother followed her and taught about the Quan Yin Method, meditation, and a Veg Diet. Without her mom's pressure, but more of her inspiring Linh, she decided to follow in her mom's foot steps. She said the weirdest thing was, right before she made her decision, she had the worst pain in her life inside my stomach. She had to go to the hospital for several days and they could not find out what it was. After that, she could not eat meat anymore. 
  
  

   She has been a vegetarian since she was 7. Then about at the age of 26, she realized the horrible truths of the dairy industry and I became Vegan. 

  
  

  When being asked why she has remained vegan, she responded, "It is something so natural like saying my hair is black. I am Asian. It is one of the most natural things for me. Mostly, it is all about compassion."

  
  
  "Every day, I wake up and I can make some sort of impact to help Mother Earth, my fellow species, and ALL BEINGS that reside with me on this planet. As long as each day, I can lay down a perfect brick, I will build the most beautiful structure to help everyone," she added.
  
  
  Linh lists her top achievements in life as, being vegan, forgiving herself, being part of Loving Hut, her vegan clothing line and finding enlightenment.  In addition to her passions of being vegan, she also enjoys listening to TedTalks, laughing & creating smile wrinkles as well as seeking enlightenment, love and knowledge.
  
  
  Her favorite animal rights quote is:
  “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” - Edward Everett Hale
  
  She says that if she won the lottery, she would spend the money on creating more Loving Hut restaurants as well as providing really awesome education for everyone. She said she believes that the correct guidance can build strong and might foundations that will sustain all of us.