WHY MY COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS LED TO ME CHOOSING TO LIVE A PLANT-BASED LIFESTYLE

It’s a cold sunny winters day and I arrive at my second vegan festival. Just being here brings back found memories of my amazing trip in Australia and the catalyst moment that changed my whole perspective on that very day in Melbourne city, just 10 months ago.

While having a heartfelt chat with an animal activist, I vowed to spend the rest of this life eating only a plant-based diet.

I remember how heartbroken I was when I walked away after spending just 20 minutes chatting with these beautiful people, who not only spend their free time trying to raise awareness of animal cruelty but also help those like me (who, let’s face it. I was pretty much living in total ignorance), understand the torture of what these poor innocent animals must go through, just so we can consume them. To me, there is no difference between a pet dog and a cow. They both deserve the love and compassion to roam freely without fear of knowing they will be taken to slaughter houses, and ultimately to their deaths.

It was so humbling to see how dedicated these guys and girls were, as I watched them standing still in their positions all wearing their 'trademark' anonymous white masks. They were holding those slimline tv screens, with only straps around their necks to keep them in place, yet still weighty for the long periods of time they stood there for. It was four to each row making a sixteen Cube of Truth. I'm guessing to make as much impact as possible, they used the cube dynamic, which worked well.

The centre of town was so busy that day with all the shoppers out enjoying the sunshine. So, I decided to sit for a while listening to the powerful music coming from this well-formed cube. I was curious to see how effective these guys were to the general-public. It was quite amusing to see how some would just walk past as though the group was invisible, almost turning their heads in the opposite direction. Then, out of nowhere, a vision of 'muggles' popped in my head (the non-magic folk that didn't want to see beyond the veil).

I loved how the floating activists that were hanging around the cube, never tried to hassle anyone, and only approached those that stopped and became curious to what was playing on the screens. Their interactions were never harsh, just explaining in such a way that those that did stop, including myself, almost always came away tearing up. As an empath, I would normally come away from something like that depleted and my energy drained, but it was the exact opposite - I was buzzing!

Buzzing for the seed that had just been planted. And for the next part of my journey, I was about to travel on.

I returned from that trip having experienced a whole new understanding of myself, it was like I peeled another dead layer of skin away, only to keep revealing my true authenticity.

I am so thirsty for my own growth that I'll never stop learning and educating myself with what's most important to me. And in turn, I hope to contribute to the world around me by help making it a little better, while loving all that's beautiful on this planet... Including our beloved animals!

I've only ever used this phrase once before - I called that very day...

'THE GAME CHANGER!’