One thing I know for sure.


Between the job hunting, the creative brainstorming for ways to make money, and random last minute wedding planning, I am completely spent. I'm sure all of you can relate to what I'm about to say - when life gets this hectic, when I have such little control over the future of things, it gets hard to want to keep going with it all. I find I'm so desperate that I'd be willing to take a toddler's time out if it meant I could just sit and breathe all the chaos out of my system.


Being a positive person means that when life happens, I try to adapt and find the "silver lining". Basically, I try to trust in something that I cannot control or understand at times.  But it also means that for me, when life completely overhauls all of my intended plans, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain my positivity.  Whether it's the universe's way of testing me or not, it doesn't change the fact that my life is not where I expected (or even wanted) it to be.


But being the positive person that I am means that eventually, I begin to come around.  I begin to think of reasons to wake up thankful each morning. I try to remember to breathe, and to know that just breathing is a basic privilege in and of itself. 


And then I think about the animals. 


I think of the billions of cows, chickens, turkeys, geese, and pigs who are forced to live a daily hell in factory farms twenty-four hours a day. I think about the baby cows who are ripped from their mothers shortly after birth so that they can both become a part of what John Robbins so appropriately calls "The Food Machine".   I think of animals that do not possess the voice or physical power to stop what is being done to them. I think about their unending pain, their fear, their loneliness and desolation. And then I think about the factory workers who have no other choice than to be a part of such an abusive system.


And when I think about all of that, it hits me. These animals need me to wake up each morning. They need my help. They need my voice. They need me. They don't need my selfishness. They don't need me to throw a pity party for myself, when they don't even so much as receive a moment to enjoy themselves.


So, now, I have a reason to wake up. I have a reason to be thankful that I am a human being with the free will to choose to live a vegan lifestyle. I feel empowered knowing that just my being alive offers me the chance to help a cause so much larger than myself. And that gives me hope. And that makes everything else - every little problem and inconvenience- seem so small in comparison.


I made some cupcakes yesterday and was planning to blog about that today. After this post, I fondly realize now that plans should always be subject to change. But it would be wrong of me to even bring up the word cupcakes without sharing proof of them, so enjoy. 





Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Sprinkles





Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cinnamon Clove Icing


Thanks for reading my words today. I hope they help you find reason and purpose in your own lives if you're feeling lost. Enjoy a beautiful rest of the weekend, and expect a post from me tomorrow about my trip to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Comments

Kelly said…
What a thoughtful and inspiring post... next time I start having a pity party, I'm going to step back think about the things you touched on here. Thanks.
Lindsay Wolf said…
Thanks so much Kelly!
Grace said…
please - take a toddler's time out! rest is SUCH in important part of creation!

love
Grace
Lindsay Wolf said…
Thanks Grace - you are so right. I'm definitely trying! :)
veganf said…
Always love a post about cupcakes.
Myra Wolf said…
when I first saw the cupcake photo, without my glasses I thought they were cinnamin buns with icing. I even think I spelled cinnamin wrong but I'm not sure and don't really care :)
I'm hungry for dessert and it isn't even four am yet. Love you, xoxo
HANNAH said…
recipes RECIPES Lindsay. You tease.
Lindsay Wolf said…
Haha hopefully I will find some time to actually post the recipes, cause they were delish! :)
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