As i became more educated and aware, i seriously wondered: "How am I ever going to live with "normal" people?" Also, really, i wanted to know "What is 'wrong' with PeTA?" And though the World Peace Diet really explains WHY people are so agitated by MY choice to be vegan, I  wish i had somebody to discuss with me how to handle the attacks/questions/disinterest of family and friends....

I believe i could have benefitted by mentorship with somebody savvy to vivisection--though i did manage also to go "vegan" in my bathroom, maybe within a few months; it just so happened to be that at that time in my life I had a chance to do lots of reading and pursuing the subject on my own. If I had been in more of a "regular" and "busy" period in my life, I imagine it could have taken me years to adopt the entire lifestyle....

I really appreciate what Linda said : "People talked too often and too much about the problems, but in my experience the lightness of being I've achieved by becoming vegan more than makes up for the problems." Hopefully, I can share some of the JOY and FREEDOM of being vegan. Having heard Will Tuttle numerous presentations, one of my very favorite things he says goes !something! like this:

Let us remember that behind all these "no"s we say--"No, no i don't eat chicken, no, i don't drink cow's milk, no, I don't go to the zoo, no, i don't go fishing, no, I don't wear silk, no, i don't .... There is one REALLY big "YES!" We are saying "Yes!" to Life.

We can call it love, peace, any name we want, xxx. But i think it is important for new vegans to feel the truth and power in the statement: "I say 'Yes! to xxx.'"

I agree with you, Grace. I think it's incredibly important to stay positive on a personal level, and I think there are very few people who can be more inspiring and encouraging than Dr. Tuttle. 

Just a quick note to urge new mentors or group members to add their comments.