Are vegans, vegetarians, or gluten-free-ers better than the rest of us?

A colleague of mine, Alexa Bradley Hulsey who is an acupuncturist and has a newsletter here on Substack, recently wrote a wonderful article about health not being a moral virtue. (She’s taking a summer break right now but you can check out her newsletter and subscribe.)

Her comment really hit home for me because this is one of my pet peeves: people who verbally and emotionally beat up others because they are not vegan or vegetarian; they come down with a cold; they are not slender and refuse to starve themselves; they don’t work out at a gym; they have cancer……I think you get my point.

Much as I loved Louise Hay and her work, I also think she started a trend in the conscious community that doesn’t serve us well. Her little handbook that related physical issues to specific thought patterns can be really helpful. I’ve used it myself on many occasions. However, that book has also been used to be judgmental and cruel to others.

“If only you stopped thinking this way or that, you could heal your cancer.” Maybe, maybe not. This sort of statement can be helpful and supportive in some situations. In others, it is an emotional battering ram that can only hurt other people.

We’re all different with different life experiences to be had. And as Alexa points out, there is no moral virtue in being healthy or lack of moral virtue in having some sort of physical ailment.

I like to remind folks that sometimes people who have health challenges are there to teach the rest of us compassion. Instead of making the person feel guilty, we are meant to rise to the occasion and offer support, understanding, and acceptance.

Being vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free does not make someone better than anyone else. In fact, sometimes these folks cause hurt feelings, discomfort, and frustration to family and friends who turn themselves into pretzels trying to meet the various diet requirements required.

With everything else going on in the world today let’s not add to anyone’s challenges or suffering. Let’s accept each other as we are and do our best to be loving and supportive. This isn’t always easy, but it’s always rewarding when we hit the mark.

Living with grace and ease,

Krysta

Health is Not a Moral Virtue