I Can't Hear Your Opinion Over All This Screaming

My co-workers seriously melt my heart sometimes. You would think working at a seafood restaurant and eating a plant based diet would equal in a lot of ridicule…or at least I did. But as I slowly let it be known that I didn’t eat dairy or meat, they began asking really intelligent questions and were open to my responses. We have ongoing, respectful conversations and it’s pretty cool being able to have an ‘adult’ conversation from two opposing view points.

These conversations are meaningful to me for two reasons: 1) it helps me to review in my own mind the importance of healthy eating and 2) I get the privilege of planting a seed in their own mind to develop a curiosity of healthy eating.

Maybe it’s just an act of getting older, but it seems that, especially through social media, there’s a lot of ‘screaming’ going on these days to try to get other people to listen to a differing point of view – or even a straight up fact. On the other hand, I see a lot of ‘over loyalty’ going on, where some people are more insistent in sticking to ‘their kind’ and ridicule everyone else that isn’t following the same trend they’re on.

I love that I have such an awesome range of friends that support me, challenge me, question me, have different opinions than me, have the same opinions as me, and most of all respect me.

 

Butternut Squash, Kale and Olive Stew