Caring for animals means caring for the environment they live in, and vice versa.

I am all too human, I don't always do the right thing, so how can I expect others to perform perfectly on the issues that are my top priority?

I met my first turkey at an animal sanctuary in 2000. The sanctuary owner brought out a turkey named Olivia who had been rescued from a factory farm. As I sat on the grass and reached out to pet her, she climbed into my lap and fell asleep. I was flabbergasted and charmed.

Come for the body, stay for the soul.

Remember that veganism is a compassionate lifestyle not a punitive religion. Enjoy it! And if the going gets rough, it's better to relax the rules occasionally than to give up the game entirely.

Mostly, I make sure to stay keenly aware of my own shortcomings so that I am more patient with others.

Some of us seem to be born with a drive to try to make the world kinder.