I'm sorry, but I need to say this....

[pinenut]

I'm not one who normally needs to vent or rant in public, but I fell that I need to express this: I live in what most would think of as a "3rd world country" even though, we enjoy a high standard of living compared to other Caribbean countries. But, due to a lot of ignorance, misinformation and lack of education here, most people that I live and work with believe that my vegan/raw diet is purely a "Hollywood" syndrome.

Everyone here believes that if you do not eat a rich "Caribbean" diet, ie: goat meat, tons of milk, cheeses, heavily processed/packaged foods, chicken, pork, etc., etc. that you are trying to following a "trendy Hollywood" diet.

It just really stinks that if I try to be healthy and do something positive for my life and future that everyone here thinks I'm trying to be "trendy" and follow some unhealthy American Hollywood diet.

It's just a shame that so many people are so ignorant to what is truely healthy. And that even my family...in their love and concern for me...think that what I am doing is harmful to my body.

It's just sort of frustrating and sad that I can find no personal support for how I choose to live my life as a healthy, raw "foodist".

That's alll I've got...thank you for hearing me out.

[rawpriestess]

Thank goodness you have this board and all of us here to support you 24 hours a day.

this board is the main reason I can even think of being raw.

[sport]

You are not the first leader to suffer scorn for their beliefs. I am sure that you have the courage to stick with what you know is right. It is too bad that they will nt be around to see the healthy vibrant you after thay have all passed on as a result of their diet.

[JMD]

Stict to your convictions..who knows someday YOU may be the one they come to for advice. We are here 24-7....come here for the support you need..and remember you have all you need inside!! of you..

Blessings,
JMD

[pinenut]

Thank you so much for the support guys! I really needed it. Reading your comments today really made my day :) .

[Shivananda]

Take heart Pinenut,

The only choices for you to be concerned with are the ones you make for yourself. Others will naturally criticize you for your choices because they are justifying their own choices to themselves. It's just human nature to self justify.

Get a haircut that is "different", they'll tell you why theirs is better. Get a motor vehicle that is "different", they'll tell you why theirs is better. Try a "different" career path, they'll tell you why theirs is better. But they aren't really talking about you, they're talking about them.

And I've found, as a lifelong "trendsetter", that resisting their criticism is largely a waste of energy. Better to just let it roll off your back, or to turn it around with humor. If you can poke a little fun at yourself, rather than getting upset at what they say, you won't be such a target.

[pinenut]

Good advice, Shivananda. I have no trouble in poking fun at myself. And usually once you turn a situation around like that, the person criticizing you won't be able to continue countering your humor.

I guess I just find it depressing on a broad scale that I am so surrounded by completely unhealthy people. And I don't just mean because they eat cooked foods---they eat horrible foods. We only have 4 fast food restraunts on the island (and no McDonalds!! :eek: ) but they are the biggest money makers here (and there are over 100 different restraunts on an island that is only 76 square miles). And it's not just fast food, I ride a bike 8 mi. back and forth to work everyday and in those 8 miles into work, I pass nine liquor stores. There are 2 of them within my visual range of my apartment alone!!

It's just annoying to see so many people with such blind eyes to their own health.

[Queenie]

Pinenut, I hope you don't give in to the pressure. Sometimes people resist strongly and are converted in the end. When I was teaching, the student who gave me the most problems about poetry and how "boring" it was actually ended up being the best poet in the class!

My brother's girlfriend is from Trinidad, and she is extremely resistant to changing her diet, which includes very few vegetables at all and a lot of starch/protein combinations, which is very bad for you. She's chronically sick, too, always having some upper-respiratory thing. It's really too bad.

My schpeel is to continue to do as I see fit, smile, and continue to look better and gain a glow and watch my body improve. People do begin to take notice but it is a teach by example sort of thing! Queen