Namaste, I am Arati Kedia. I am a Microbiologist, Dietician, Personal Counsellor and a Dance Movement Therapy practitioner and a Psychodramatist. I work with both the mind and the body and help people lead a better life.
EMPATHY in simple words is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another living thing without going through those experiences ourselves. If we expect Humans to lead a fulfilling life, I think empathy is one of the fundamental building blocks.
As a counsellor, I have the opportunity to take sessions and speak to schools and colleges. Where I always emphasise "what goes into our mind, and our mouth is very very important." It's not either / or, we have to be careful of both. Both thoughts and good that enter our body directly effects our health and wellbeing.
As a professional I've been working with one observation and care centres for a very long time. And when I saw anger and aggression in children, I requested management to stop giving non-vegetarian food. Obviously this lead to discussions with the superintendent and managers, but following their agreement, we saw an overall positive impact. Hence I strongly believe that veganism really does help in improving our mental health.
MY VEGAN JOURNEY:
9th of January my birthday eve, my husband told me about this documentary he had seen "Cowspiracy". This was a documentary about a mother cow chasing a truck which was taking her baby away for slaughter. As a mother myself and as a simple human, that shook me and I started my research. I was further shocked to learn that male calves are separated soon after birth because we humans need to drink their mother's milk. Our milk consumption is valued over her own child's birthright.
Also, did you know cows that can no longer give milk are sent for slaughter.
Following this realisation - That was it! Being a mother myself, and having had a very very challenging pregnancy, I could not shake of the instant connect to the feeling of fear and helplessness of losing your child.
I can never forget my life's greatest joy when I was blessed by my son, my prayer was answered by god. So I turned a vegan (from being a vegetarian,) immediately. I could not be part of this cruel process, period.
So I took this decision at the blink of an eye - on the eve of my birthday.
Worst this is not the only cruel process we humans follow towards animals for our personal gain. I would like urge any and everyone to watch below documentaries and be their own judge:
- On Netflix
- 1. Cowspiracy
- 2. Seapiracy
- 3. Game changers
- 4. What the health
- 5. Dominion on Youtube
- 6. The China study by Dr. Colin Campbell on Youtube
Arati Kedia
( India )