AU Struggling with vystopia

[JMcG]

Hi there,
I’m new to the site. Just reaching out for support because I’m aware I’m beginning to isolate myself and struggling to cope. I’ve been vegetarian for 32 years and vegan for the last 4 years. The violence, cruelty and death all around me is becoming impossible to bear. Worst of all is the indifference. I’ve ordered the Vystopia book.

 

[PTree15]

Hi there,
I’m new to the site. Just reaching out for support because I’m aware I’m beginning to isolate myself and struggling to cope. I’ve been vegetarian for 32 years and vegan for the last 4 years. The violence, cruelty and death all around me is becoming impossible to bear. Worst of all is the indifference. I’ve ordered the Vystopia book.

It can be overwhelming swimming against the tide. I find that if I think too big-picture, I get down. So I try to do what I can where I live and among the people I know, doing my best to set a good example to everyone around me. Yes, I'm only one person, but I then think, I'm one of millions around the world who feel the same as I do.

I also try to read news about the efforts of activists around the world who work tirelessly for animal rights. Those stories lift my spirits.

 

[JMcG]

It can be overwhelming swimming against the tide. I find that if I think too big-picture, I get down. So I try to do what I can where I live and among the people I know, doing my best to set a good example to everyone around me. Yes, I'm only one person, but I then think, I'm one of millions around the world who feel the same as I do.

I also try to read news about the efforts of activists around the world who work tirelessly for animal rights. Those stories lift my spirits.

Thank you

 

[Emma JC]

welcome to the forum and I hope you find it comforting to be here with us

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[JMcG]

welcome to the forum and I hope you find it comforting to be here with us

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[alleycat]

Hi and welcome,

 

[JMcG]

Hi and welcome,

Thank you

 

[Tom L.]

Welcome, @JMcG . I don't know that an internet message board can completely replace offline, face-to-face interactions with kindred souls, but it lifts my spirits to know it's here. As @PTree15 mentioned above, it's good to know you're not alone!

I don't know what to say about vystopia (I had to google it). Most of my relatives, friends, and former co-workers (I'm retired) have not been vegan, vegetarian, or even pescatarian. I've kept my ties with them, but I still wish they felt and acted more like I do toward animals.

 

[Sherry Marcini]

I’m sorry you are feeling this way. I hope and pray you find some peace and comfort here. I often remind myself that I can only control me and that helps get me through discouraging moments. Sending you hugs and love!

 

[Ruthie]

Hi there,
I’m new to the site. Just reaching out for support because I’m aware I’m beginning to isolate myself and struggling to cope. I’ve been vegetarian for 32 years and vegan for the last 4 years. The violence, cruelty and death all around me is becoming impossible to bear. Worst of all is the indifference. I’ve ordered the Vystopia book.

Hi JMcG ,
I became a vegetarian at 15 ( 50 years ago ) and a vegan at 17 . I've been swimming against the tide most of my life .. We see the world differently to the average person - when l look at a paddock of sheep or cows , l see slaves .. When l look at any animals anywhere that aren't free to just be , l see slavery .
I see slavery and cruelty everywhere ..

So - l get you .. I know .. But - you absolutely have to develop strategies to cope .. Sometimes we have to look away , if possible .. I live on 30 acres of private paradise with my vegan partner .. It is natural habitat with lots of wildlife .. We are often asked if we "keep" animals - er , NO ..We're not into slavery.. We just enjoy watching the free wild animals that live and visit our property ..
I guess what l'm saying is - if you can , live somewhere away from all of that visible cruelty .. Live a life true to your core ethics , and put blinkers on .
For your own sanity , it is necessary .. If you can't do anything about what you are seeing , then you just have to get on with your life in the kindest way to yourself .. I know exactly how hard it is .. I drove myself bonkers when l was younger , reading about cruelty , joining animal liberation groups , etc.. l was immersing myself in it , thinking that l should not turn my back on it and l needed to know everything to be useful ..
But instead , l ended up severely depressed and unable to work or function .. And what good is that to anyone or any being ?

If there is something productive you can do to help a certain situation - or a certain animal - then okay , do it .. Otherwise , look after your mental wellbeing and just try to live a peaceful life .. There is so much human-induced suffering on this Earth , sometimes the best we can do is to get ourselves into a state where we can emanate loving peacefulness ..
I'm writing to you now from that space - l'm giving of myself from that space ... If l were still immersed in all of the cruelty , l could not reach back to you in a giving way like this , because l was too depressed and disturbed ..
Be the one who helps others like you ..
It is a beautiful feeling to be able to do this .. It is a gift to both people ..
Unless you are rich and can begin your own animal shelter / refuge , then this might be the best way forward for you ..
I hope this helps a bit ..
In empathy ,
sending hugs ,
Ruthie .. xx

 

[JMcG]

Welcome, @JMcG . I don't know that an internet message board can completely replace offline, face-to-face interactions with kindred souls, but it lifts my spirits to know it's here. As @PTree15 mentioned above, it's good to know you're not alone!

I don't know what to say about vystopia (I had to google it). Most of my relatives, friends, and former co-workers (I'm retired) have not been vegan, vegetarian, or even pescatarian. I've kept my ties with them, but I still wish they felt and acted more like I do toward animals.

Thank you so much!

 

[JMcG]

Hi JMcG ,
I became a vegetarian at 15 ( 50 years ago ) and a vegan at 17 . I've been swimming against the tide most of my life .. We see the world differently to the average person - when l look at a paddock of sheep or cows , l see slaves .. When l look at any animals anywhere that aren't free to just be , l see slavery .
I see slavery and cruelty everywhere ..

So - l get you .. I know .. But - you absolutely have to develop strategies to cope .. Sometimes we have to look away , if possible .. I live on 30 acres of private paradise with my vegan partner .. It is natural habitat with lots of wildlife .. We are often asked if we "keep" animals - er , NO ..We're not into slavery.. We just enjoy watching the free wild animals that live and visit our property ..
I guess what l'm saying is - if you can , live somewhere away from all of that visible cruelty .. Live a life true to your core ethics , and put blinkers on .
For your own sanity , it is necessary .. If you can't do anything about what you are seeing , then you just have to get on with your life in the kindest way to yourself .. I know exactly how hard it is .. I drove myself bonkers when l was younger , reading about cruelty , joining animal liberation groups , etc.. l was immersing myself in it , thinking that l should not turn my back on it and l needed to know everything to be useful ..
But instead , l ended up severely depressed and unable to work or function .. And what good is that to anyone or any being ?

If there is something productive you can do to help a certain situation - or a certain animal - then okay , do it .. Otherwise , look after your mental wellbeing and just try to live a peaceful life .. There is so much human-induced suffering on this Earth , sometimes the best we can do is to get ourselves into a state where we can emanate loving peacefulness ..
I'm writing to you now from that space - l'm giving of myself from that space ... If l were still immersed in all of the cruelty , l could not reach back to you in a giving way like this , because l was too depressed and disturbed ..
Be the one who helps others like you ..
It is a beautiful feeling to be able to do this .. It is a gift to both people ..
Unless you are rich and can begin your own animal shelter / refuge , then this might be the best way forward for you ..
I hope this helps a bit ..
In empathy ,
sending hugs ,
Ruthie .. xx

Thanks so much Ruthie. Yes, I am lucky enough to be on 40 acres with rescued sheep, horses, birds and a beloved goat. We also have native wildlife living here that I try to protect. My mental state is obviously not good at the moment because as soon as I see an animal hit on the road, all the good I know I’m doing disappears into the background. I guess I just have to take one step at a time to try and find some sort of peace.

 

[Ruthie]

Thanks so much Ruthie. Yes, I am lucky enough to be on 40 acres with rescued sheep, horses, birds and a beloved goat. We also have native wildlife living here that I try to protect. My mental state is obviously not good at the moment because as soon as I see an animal hit on the road, all the good I know I’m doing disappears into the background. I guess I just have to take one step at a time to try and find some sort of peace.

Which state are you in ? Just curious .. It's nice to connect with another Aussie .. I assume you are checking pouches of the ones on the road .. We would love to put in a speed-hump on our mountain road .. I comfort myself re dead wildlife on the road with the thought that they are free of the body and not in danger of suffering any more ..
Can you ask your local Council for some of those "slow down for wildlife" signs ? We have Tasmanian devils , wombats , wallabies , echidnas ,quolls bandicoots , etc, etc .. Of course , there will always be yobbos who won't slow down , but signs might make a difference to some people ..

Ruthie x

 

[JMcG]

Which state are you in ? Just curious .. It's nice to connect with another Aussie .. I assume you are checking pouches of the ones on the road .. We would love to put in a speed-hump on our mountain road .. I comfort myself re dead wildlife on the road with the thought that they are free of the body and not in danger of suffering any more ..
Can you ask your local Council for some of those "slow down for wildlife" signs ? We have Tasmanian devils , wombats , wallabies , echidnas ,quolls bandicoots , etc, etc .. Of course , there will always be yobbos who won't slow down , but signs might make a difference to some people ..

Ruthie x

Yes, it is lovely to connect. I’m in Victoria in an area called High Camp. Yes, I’m a pouch-checker, I always have my kit in the car. Ive recently had a big meeting with the council and local police to get more signs and patrols in our road (which was called the drunk run by locals) and that has really helped the kangaroo and wombat casualties. The bit I am finding the hardest though is that I live about half a km from the Northern Highway which is a major trucking route with a lot of death trucks (livestock carriers). When we bought the place back in Feb we didn’t realise how much the traffic noise carried to us. So there is this weird psychological feeling of I can’t escape these monsters even in my own home. I’m working on mindfulness and gratitude but I just feel so oppressed. I never used to be so judgmental that I would call people ‘monsters’ but it’s just appeared since I moved here.

 

[Ruthie]

Yes, it is lovely to connect. I’m in Victoria in an area called High Camp. Yes, I’m a pouch-checker, I always have my kit in the car. Ive recently had a big meeting with the council and local police to get more signs and patrols in our road (which was called the drunk run by locals) and that has really helped the kangaroo and wombat casualties. The bit I am finding the hardest though is that I live about half a km from the Northern Highway which is a major trucking route with a lot of death trucks (livestock carriers). When we bought the place back in Feb we didn’t realise how much the traffic noise carried to us. So there is this weird psychological feeling of I can’t escape these monsters even in my own home. I’m working on mindfulness and gratitude but I just feel so oppressed. I never used to be so judgmental that I would call people ‘monsters’ but it’s just appeared since I moved here.

I was born and raised in Melbourne and lived in various areas in Victoria before moving to Tas .. I completely empathise re those animal carriers ... luckily we are 10kms up a mountain road in Tas ,, so no trucks or truck noises up here .. do you have trees between you and the area of the Highway ? If not , can you grow a thicket of trees ( natives please ) - Wattles are fast growing .. this would help to reduce the sound a fair bit .. If l were in your position , that is what l'd be doing .. And , maybe some lovely music in headphones while you are outside sometimes .?

I know it feels like you can't get away from this stuff wherever you go ... but there are some properties that are well away from highways and farmland ..
I know it sounds radical - but , if you find you can't learn to live with it , maybe you need to find another property ? Yes - l know - expenses and huge inconvenience ... Just trying to give you a mental "safety-net" if you feel you can't adapt ..
Thank you for being on the Earth with your caring heart - hoping you can find ways to Be Peace ..
With love from Ruthie x

 

[JMcG]

I was born and raised in Melbourne and lived in various areas in Victoria before moving to Tas .. I completely empathise re those animal carriers ... luckily we are 10kms up a mountain road in Tas ,, so no trucks or truck noises up here .. do you have trees between you and the area of the Highway ? If not , can you grow a thicket of trees ( natives please ) - Wattles are fast growing .. this would help to reduce the sound a fair bit .. If l were in your position , that is what l'd be doing .. And , maybe some lovely music in headphones while you are outside sometimes .?

I know it feels like you can't get away from this stuff wherever you go ... but there are some properties that are well away from highways and farmland ..
I know it sounds radical - but , if you find you can't learn to live with it , maybe you need to find another property ? Yes - l know - expenses and huge inconvenience ... Just trying to give you a mental "safety-net" if you feel you can't adapt ..
Thank you for being on the Earth with your caring heart - hoping you can find ways to Be Peace ..
With love from Ruthie x

Thanks Ruthie, yes I’ve definitely started planting native trees. Putting this into words has reminded me to be more grateful though. I work hard but am still wildly fortunate to live on this land (which is unceded and doesn’t belong to me as a white Australian.) My rescued animal friends don’t care about the traffic noise, they are just happy to be safe. There are many people who suffer the same feelings as I do who don’t even have a roof over their heads.
Thank you for your support and kindness everyone.

 

[alleycat]

I was born and lived in Victoria until I wandered off and ended up in Qld where I have been for 31 years.

 

[Ruthie]

I was born and lived in Victoria until I wandered off and ended up in Qld where I have been for 31 ye

Hi there Alleycat , l'm about to go offline now but l hope to connect with you again ..

Ruthie

 

[alleycat]

Hi there Alleycat , l'm about to go offline now but l hope to connect with you again ..

Ruthie

Sounds good

 

[Ruthie]

Sounds good

Hi Alleycat ,
how long have you been vegan ? And have you found any vegan sites here in Aus that are active ? Which part of Queensland are you in ? We know a few people who live there . The weather up your way has sure been dramatic recently ..
We have a gorgeous baby echidna on our property at the moment .. Extremely cute .. Of course we have lots of other wildlife too .

Take care and look forward to hearing from you ..

Ruthie x