CALL TO ACTION!

I am so blessed to know a few of the amazing human beings over at Mercy For Animals. Their recent protest in Iowa makes me love them even more. Why is this animal protection organization protesting? Well, Iowa is outlawing the use of videos inside of slaughterhouses. My question is, what do they have to hide?  
Please take a moment to call Iowa's governor Terry Branstad today at (515) 281-5211 and urge him to veto the Ag-Gag bill. I just did it - it literally takes a minute, and make sure to say your name too before you get off the phone! 
Read below to learn more about how harmful the Ag-Gag Bill will be for millions of animals.
http://www.mfablog.org/2012/03/blindfolded-mfa-advocates-protest-iowas-ag-gag-bill-call-for-veto.html
THANK YOU FOR BEING SUPERHEROES FOR THE ANIMALS TODAY! 

I love old school vegetarians.

Thank you for being veg, Henry!
This dude is awesome. I mean, on top of the whole scholarly, nature lovin' thing. Who doesn't love that quote, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined"? This guy clearly rocks. And then add in the whole vegetarian thing. Thank you, Henry, for being one cool veggie man.

"One farmer says to me, 'You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make the bones with;' and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying himself with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle."  - Henry David Thoreau

Who is YOUR favorite famous vegan? 
 

A Reason to Smile Today.

With Winny the goose at Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres.


Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
Anatole France 

What are YOUR reasons to smile today?

Happy Valentine's Day from Ahimsa Life Coaching!

Happy Valentine's Day, KMIV-ers! Below, enjoy a guest post from my vegan valentine, hubby and wellness coach Steven Todd Smith. Steve is feeling the love this month and is offering not only his wisdom and guidance, but some majorly kiss-worthy coaching discounts to boot! How will you be spending your Valentine's Day? Hopefully with a yummy vegan meal, someone you love, and with the knowledge that you are a gift to this world. I love you, I celebrate you, and I am so thankful to have your readership and support. Alrighty - here's Steve!
 

Ahimsa. Life Coaching. Health Coaching. Thrive.  Vegan.  Live with compassion.
Greetings!

Happy V-Day!  Love is in the air, isn't it?  Oh, it certainly is.  I send best wishes for a Vegetable Love! beautiful day for you to share your love with another (don't get dirty with me...too dirty, that is) - be it a friend, a family member, or your significant other.  Or maybe someone you just met!  While love is in the air to connect you with others, you should also take time to focus on the #1 person in your life: you.  Take a moment, or many, this V-Day and make sure you love yourself.  You deserve it!  All the hard work you do, all the love to give - while you'll most likely receive it from others, it can't hurt to give to and receive from yourself, right? 

The letter "V" plays a large role in my life and is the beginning of so many essential words to include in your life: Veganism - a compassionate, ethical, and rewarding lifestyle, founded on the tenet of Ahimsa; Valentine - that special someone, with whom you can celebrate love, connection, passion, intimacy, happiness on this special day!; Vitality - exuberance, the energy and strength, both inner and outer, that propels you forward toward achievement, fulfillment, and life in general: the spark for living!

Well, today, I would like to be your Vital Vegan Valentine (yes, that's right, your VVV) and offer you a gift to show my love and appreciation for you and all that you do!

In addition to the Leap Year Month Special! that's running through February, now you can be my double Valentine with a 2-for-1 Valentine's Day Special for any coaching program you choose.  Yep, you heard right.  You and someone of your choosing - could be your Valentine...could be your favorite food vendor - can each receive a coaching program for the price of one!  But act soon!  My love for all of you will never be extinguished, but
this "2-4-1 VDay" Special comes to an end on Sunday, February 19th at 7:00 pm PST.  That means you could be in for a double DOUBLE gift if you are one of the first five to sign up for a coaching program in the next five days: a Leap Year Month 2-4-1 VDay X-traSpecial! 

Contact me about how to take the next step toward your Valentine Vitality.

Wishing you lots of love on this special day.  Remember: make sure to share some with yourself. 

All the best and yummiest,
Steve 

Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADP
Life Nutrition Coach
Ahimsa Life Coaching


"Everybody's looking for happiness.  Everybody's looking for love.  And hardly anybody finds it.  Because we're looking for it in the world, and you can't find it there...it's inside of you." ~Larry Crane 
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Pomegranates!
Red: The Color of Love and... 
Apples
Beets
Cherries
Cranberries
Kidney Beans
Peppers - Bell and Chile
Pomegranates
Radishes
Raspberries
Red Guava
Red Onions
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Watermelons

Why are these red foods so loveable?
- Excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals: lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, manganese, potassium, fiber

Eat at least one red food listed above this Valentine's Day to combine great passion with excellent health! 
2012 LogoQuestions!Not enough being given away?  Jump into discovering the greatest meaning in your life by participating in ALC's Facebook LogoQuestions.  All you have to do is answer a question, which is posted on ALC's Facebook Wall, each day of a month.  Simple as that.  Anyone who answers all of the month's questions is entered into a random drawing for some more awesome prizes.  There will be a question a day, meaning 366 chances to draw greater meaning and purpose from who are you, and at least 12 chances to win prizes!

Check out more about what LogoQuestions are all about and the amazing prizes (always adding new ones!) that you can win from just creating meaning for yourself.
Two
  4
One!

This coupon is good for two Ahimsa Life Coaching Programs for the price of one.  Eligible with any 3-month, 6-month, or "Call to Action" program.  When contacting Steve for your free consultation, please reference the code "241VDAY" to take advantage of this offer.  Please feel free to forward this offer to any other that may find this offer valuable.  Can be used in combination with the current Leap Year Month discount. 
Offer Expires: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 @ 7 PM PST

Babe Knows Best.


Cat: You know, I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm not sure if you realize how much the other animals are laughing at you for this sheep dog business.  

Babe: Why would they do that?

Cat: Well, they say that you've forgotten that you're a pig. Isn't that silly?

Babe: What do you mean?

Cat: You know, why pigs are here.  

Babe:Why are any of us here?(Babe, 1995)


The Sticking Point.

So, I'm on day 20 of the Crazy Sexy Cleanse, a 21-day culinary and well-being adventure that has completely - and lovingly - turned my world upside down. For 21 days, Kris Carr - creator of the Crazy Sexy Cleanse, as well as the acclaimed author of Crazy Sexy Diet, AND acclaimed filmmaker of Crazy Sexy Cancer - has gotten this vegan blogger to cut out all coffee, alcohol, gluten, sugar, processed crap, negative thinking, and stress, and add in tons of raw produce, green smoothies, self-love,and meditation. I've been following it as loyally as humanly possible, with one exception: making smoothies over juice (juice is a mainstay of the CSD Cleanse, but with no juicer on hand, I opted for smoothies).

And it's been life changing.

And really, really difficult. 

Here's what I've learned: change is hard. Insanely, endlessly, almost ridiculously hard. The practices that up until this point I've loyally adhered to - cozying up with a cup o' joe in the morning, settling down with a Blue Moon at the end of the day, going weeks without as much as a walk around the block, over scheduling what seems to be every single moment, and eating mindlessly at most meals - are the same practices that have been causing overwhelming distress within my body. And as much as I know these vices aren't serving me when enjoyed on a daily basis, I've been - you guessed it! - enjoying them on a daily basis. Why would a perfectly rational vegan lady choose to engage in activities that are seemingly fine, but deep down destructive? Because they provide a sense of comfiness in my life. What they don't provide, however, is much more detrimental, because by sticking with them, I've kept myself from being a completely healthy, present, whole Lindsay.

All of this cleansing has got me thinking about going vegan three years ago. For me, I didn't ever - and will never - waiver at the act of abstaining from animal products in my life. To be honest, the change of going vegan in all areas of my life wasn't difficult or annoying or painful - it was something I happily took on, because I was doing it for a cause larger than me. Fast forward to now - I'm making changes that I should be feeling over the moon about, and instead, I find myself feeling like a five-year old girl whose just lost her favorite doll. Don't get me wrong - most of the new habits I've formed are keepers. I've loved the affirmations, neti pot, and abundant amounts of produce in my diet now. But the rest? It's been a rocky road. 

But, here's the thing - it's been almost 21 days, and I haven't fallen off the Crazy Sexy wagon yet. I've been in countless situations these past few weeks where caffeine and alcohol and limited thinking have abounded, and yet, I've lovingly reminded myself of how important it is to me to finish this adventure. While it hasn't been perfect (no one said it would or should), I've remained strong. And it has taught me this simple treasure: 

I can do anything.

Seriously. I can. 

And since this epiphany, I've realized - anybody can live vegan. It just takes the realization that you can do it, even when it's hard, even when you want to go back to your old ways, even when people pressure you to conform. You can live vegan

Also, if Kris Carr has taught me anything (and BOY, has she), it's that there is a whole life to be lived if I would just stop pushing. Making the time for self-care has been hands down the HARDEST part of this whole shebang. Because I'd much rather  make lists, run errands, and "be productive" than sit my tush down on a meditation blanket and say "OM" for twenty minutes. But with Kris's help, I am slowly learning that when space is created in one's life, it opens up the door to so many gifts of abundance. As a natural born pusher, this is nearly impossible to master at first. And after 20 days, it's still tough. But I'm getting there.

So how does this apply to living vegan? Well, the minute you stop pushing to make this lifestyle feel like work is the minute it becomes blissfully easy. What if we woke up each morning, excited to make living vegan a priority in our lives rather than bogged down by the "limitations" or "inconvenience" it causes us?  What if we broke it down to the simple truth that living vegan is a joy to behold, not a burden or life sentence. All of a sudden, those "limitations" become boundary-less, and that "inconvenience" seems almost silly in comparison to the precious gift that a vegan lifestyle is for us. 

And what if I woke up excited to give myself over to a present and calm existence instead of push, push, pushing? I might just find that I am enough. And that this life is such a precious gift. And that when I make room for new, I make room for love. Because of Kris Carr, I will never look at change the same way 
again. 

Little me as Princess of Power - Halloween '86.
I will end with the affirmation from the first day of the cleanse. Please, my lovely, kiss-worthy readers - buy yourself this book. Dive deep into this cleanse. Have fun with it, challenge yourself, and see how far you can go. You just may surprise yourself in the most delicious way.  At the very least, you will learn to open your life up to a whole new you. And what could be better than that?
  
"I am capable, confident, intelligent, resilient, and in charge. Health and happiness are my birthrights and I accept with gratitude."

To learn more about Kris Carr and her amazing book, check out www.crazysexydiet.com.