ClassicJBC

For those about to… Buddha(?), I suggest not getting too intimidated or hung up on all the different kinds of Buddhism. The fact is you can start seeing the benefits of a Buddhist lifestyle this very day.

Learn the basics. Learn and practice mindfulness. Learn to let go of attachment. Start to notice attachment in your daily life and begin letting go. See your connectedness with everyone around you. These things alone can change your life in ways you may have never imagined.

The Atlanta Marathon is about two weeks away, and I’m a little apprehensive about it. I’m not so much worried about the physical nature of the run, but rather all the pre-race preparation. I don’t know what the weather will be like, how much I should eat the night before, etc.

That being said, I’m ready to put it behind me. I ran the longest single session I’ve ever done last week (17.5 miles), and while I felt fine about it, it was so dreadfully boring! Two hours and forty five minutes of running at dusk down long, deserted roads can wear on you after a while. I imagine I’ll be more excited on race day to be around my fellow runners, but I honestly can’t wait to get back to doing shorter sessions of six miles or so. My attention span can’t take it! Anyone else experience that kind of psychological training fatigue?

First of all, congratulations to all who are trying this. For better or worse, I wish you the best of luck! I think few other choices in life can save so much suffering from ever entering the world, even if it’s the suffering of the ‘least’ among us.

One thing that’s driven me from being vegetarian to going vegan is a realization about the way I used to justify my diet to myself. I personally believe that a lot of people know it’s immoral to kill animals for food, but we tell ourselves a lot of little lies to keep from facing that truth.

After being vegetarian for several years on moral grounds, I realized that I could no longer shy away from veganism only because I thought it would be “too hard.” When you realize the decision that’s moral for you, you realize that no amount of white lies or justifications can solve that dilemma. No amount of flirting with vegetarianism is going to give you a conscience free of guilt. It’s that commitment to a moral choice that will bring a smile to your face and give you the knowledge that you’re doing something good, not just for yourself, but for the world.

Animals will never be able to thank you, but you’ll rest much easier knowing you made the right choice.