Trust your eyes - benefits of a vegetarian diet - Editorial

Vegetarian Times, April, 1997 by Joseph Ulatowski

Back when I was an art student, I would have been shocked if someone told me I'd eventually become a vegetarian. At the time, I paid little attention to what I ate, and I had no interest in animal-rights issues. Even when I began working at Vegetarian Times four years ago, I still had no clue. Only after working with editors and artists producing the pages of this magazine did I begin to see the world from a vegetarian's perspective. But it wasn't until I watched a documentary that depicted the slaughter of animals for food that this perspective became my own. I began paying much closer attention to what I was actually eating and how my diet made me feel both physically and spiritually.

On a recent photo shoot with photographer David Bishop, whose work appears in "A Perfect Passover Seder," p. 64, I was introduced to four of his associates, two of them vegetarians. These days, I'm meeting more and more vegetarians -- specially in the artistic community. Sharing my experiences with them is always enlightening. One of the vegetarians I met that day told me that vegetarianism has made her feel clearer in mind and body. She also told me that her mother-in-law, an ordained minister, is convinced that the Internet is part of the process of a spiritual connection on a mass level. For the first time, we communicate with people not as male, female or even as a member of a particular race but as a spiritual entity. I truly feel that these phenomena are related. Both vegetarianism and the internet are having a profound, positive impact on our culture; both are heightening our spiritual awareness, connecting beings in ways that were never before possible.

Vegetarianism has also had a more down-to-earth effect on my life. Because I used to be self-conscious about my weight, I would hibernate in the summer with the fear of actually exposing my body in public. My attitude has changed during my three years as a vegetarian I lost 35 pounds. I shed the first 15 pounds very quickly just eliminating animal fat from my diet; eating more healthfully and starting an exercise program took care of the rest. An inspiring article featured in this issue, "Ancient Secrets for Lasting Weight Loss," p. 70, helped me fine-tune my progression even more with its insights to mind and body. Many people believe that losing a certain amount of weight will make them happy, but actually happiness is not the reward for a goal attained -- it's a state of mind. I think the author of this story, Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D., would agree with me when I say that success comes from believing in yourself and paying attention to what makes you and your body feel better. For me, a vegetarian diet is clearly the right direction.

One of the most important things I learned in art school was to trust your eyes. Take notice of elements, environment and people around you. Think about and pay close attention to what you are actually doing and eating. We experience people and situations for a reason. Everything has a meaning. Make your surroundings more beautiful and harmonious. Exercise if it makes you happy. Set realistic goals that work for you. Be around people you enjoy. Lose weight because you appreciate your body. Become aware of how we are all connected spiritually and respect each other. The good you do will come back to you. Fill yourself with a positive attitude and you will see that the world looks like a happier place. Go ahead; trust your eyes.