Welcome to Small Bites, Sound Bites, a midweek segment of food for thought podcast where I share short, succinct, thoughtful responses to typical questions, myths, and misconceptions related to plant-based eating, veganism, and animal protection.

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Those of us who are desperate to end animal suffering think that if we provide enough information, post enough social media photos, and say the right thing, people will become vegan just like we did.

I hear a lot of vegans say, I saw that film, I heard that talk, I read that book, and I became vegan overnight.

How can someone see the same thing and not become vegan?

I think we forget the dozens of other seeds planted along the way on our own journey leading up to the moment when we saw that movie or read that book and made the change.

So when we present information to someone else and they don't become vegan, it isn't because we failed or because they're unfeeling.

It may be because it's only the second seed planted for them.

There's no way to know, but that is not reason to despair. It's reason to keep planting seeds.

Even as someone who advocates for animals and compassion, my mission isn't to make the world vegan or to change people's minds.

If those were my goals, I would fail every time. And I would be pretty miserable at that because I can't make anyone do anything.

All I can do is speak the truth and trust that the truth will inspire others to act on their own values.

Maybe not everyone, but enough to keep me going.

And that's why I'm clear about my mission, which is to empower people to make informed food choices, to raise awareness about violence against animals, and to give people the tools and resources they need to live according to their own values of compassion and wellness.

I'm very clear about those goals and those are goals I can control and I can unequivocally say that I attain those goals every single day.

I believe we are here to be teachers to one another and I'm grateful for my role as a conduit, but that's all any of us are.

I don't take credit for people becoming vegan because of my work, just as I don't take the blame for people who don't become vegan despite my work.

One of my favorite passages in the Dow Daging is do your work then step back the only path to serenity.

For the animals, this is Colleen Petrickadro, you can find more at joyfulvegan.com.