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Minimalism and vegetarianism as a way of life from birth
It’s great if your family shares your views. And if not? healthy-food-near-me.com tells whether it is worth attracting households to your side.
Life is fleeting and changeable. At a certain stage, we decide to try something new. Or abandon the old one. For example, vegans are strict vegetarians who refuse not only meat, but also leather and fur items, and cosmetics tested on animals. And the slogan “Less is more”, popular among minimalists, is gaining more and more supporters. It’s good if your family is at the same time with you. And if not? Should family members be converted to their “new faith”? And how to win them over to your side?
You are a minimalist. The rest too?
“Minimalism” is a popular desire of people in recent years to be content with a minimal set of things and objects in everyday life. This is the philosophy of a conscious rejection of excesses, of unconscious consumption, imposed on us by cunning marketers. On social networks, dozens of bloggers talk about “decluttering” their belongings, campaigning to take part in “year without shopping” marathons and end “toxic” relationships.
Having seen enough of such motivating relay races, I want to start living in a new way. For example, throwing away 101 of her husband’s old T-shirts, refusing to buy another Chinese toy for his child, or stop communicating with his mother-in-law. But there is one “but”. As a result of such “hostilities”, you risk being left completely alone. If you don’t understand that the decision to live by certain rules concerns only you.
Psychologists associate this moment with the awareness of boundaries. Your own and other people. The decision to throw away or give away items that you have stopped using is your right. If these are your personal belongings. And only you used them. For example, clothes. No one can forbid you to throw away your old jeans or sell a fox hat. But in the same way, you have no right to encroach on the personal belongings of your husband or children without their consent.
“Seven pairs of jeans and shirts on vacation is the norm for my husband. Yes, I wash and iron them. But he wears. And the jeans and the suitcase they are in. And I stopped arguing about this on the eve of each trip. I realized that “minimalism” is also about giving up “unnecessary” conflicts, ”Victoria shares her story.
It is more difficult with common things. Here you need to negotiate. And if the parties are in opposite positions, then it is better to leave everything as it is. At least for a while.
An adherent of minimalism, a psychotherapist, and part-time the father of two children, Alexander Nekrasov is convinced that minimalism and children are quite compatible.
“We try to show the child our life principles by our own example,” Nekrasov voiced his opinion. – As far as clothes are concerned, the minimalist approach does not even have to be introduced into her life – she uses it herself, according to her own desires. My daughter loves to participate in decluttering. She, as a rule, can clearly say what she wants to leave and what she will use, and what she is not interested in and does not need at all. “
Vegetarianism. To eat or not to eat?
The kitchen is also a common place. Therefore, if you decide to become a strict vegetarian, and for you this is not a diet, but a philosophy, the main principle of which is “Thou shalt not kill” – try to explain this to your family. And don’t forget that eating meat is their right.
“Fortunately, there was no disagreement in our family over vegetarianism. My husband was the first to switch to giving up meat. And I followed him. But we eat fish 2-3 times a week. By the way, our 7-year-old daughter doesn’t eat meat either. Not because we don’t give, but because we don’t love. From early childhood, ”Olga shares her story.
“The most difficult thing is to take a child to visit. When offered a treat, our 6-year-old Dima usually replies: “Thank you, I’m not hungry.” But as soon as someone finds out that the child is a vegetarian, reproachful glances and bewilderment immediately begin: “How so! A child needs meat, “and other” truths “that are far from science, says Tamara.
By the way, modern pediatricians believe that children may well be vegetarians. But here parents should be aware of: the deficiency of vitamin B-12, iron and some others must be replenished. The child should be regularly seen by the doctor, who, if necessary, will prescribe multivitamin complexes.
“Re-educating” adults is a thankless task. But we can raise children in the spirit of our convictions. This alone requires fortitude and patience.
Here we come to the main point: vegetarianism and minimalism are not only about observing certain rules in the kitchen or in everyday life. This is a way of life, worldview, philosophy. And it is important to pass on to children the foundations of this worldview. Teaching a child the philosophy of life, love for one’s neighbor and the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” is much more important than keeping a diet and order. In the first place – harmony in the family, in the second – order in the kitchen or in the wardrobe. Teach children to take care of themselves, organize their leisure time. Avoiding weekends in restaurants and shopping malls, but visiting museums, skating in the park with the whole family, or starting the morning in a seawater pool are great healthy alternatives. Show the children that there is always a choice in life. And the choice is theirs.