Back to basics. Back to cooking. Backing to actually making food instead of just heating it up or eating it out of the can. I think I used to enjoy cooking.

Now, what to make…

So a possible item on my “not for new years but it my goal is around that time” list is to find balance. Learn to stop before I have to quit completely. That shouldn’t be too hard, right?

(taken from wiki)

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the diagnostic classification system used in the United States, as “a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.”^[1]

The narcissist is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, and prestige.^[2] Narcissistic personality disorder is closely linked to self-centeredness. It is also colloquially referred to as the god complex.

[...]

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
6. is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7. lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

[...] /end

But I do not seek out pain. I don’t have a tattoo (yet) because I hate needles. I tend to walk slower to keep from tripping and falling. I’m generally a careful person so as to avoid pain.

I also hate to hurt other people, and I will usually take on the pain to avoid causing another person pain. I try not to put myself in situations when I have to do this, but when I have to, I do. And I don’t usually think twice about it.

The animal industry is pain, from start to finish. Ignoring it doesn’t make this untrue. Choosing to believe the lies on TV about happy cows and free-range chickens doesn’t make it true. It’s a lie. I’ve seen behind the curtain and there is no going back. And I don’t want to, no matter how much pain I feel knowing about, I would rather know and avoid it than NOT know and be responsible for that pain.

Choosing to not consume animals was a very personal choice. I understand why people would want to ignore it. I understand why people look the other way and cover their ears when they hear about the conditions of the animals. If I eat beef, chicken, eggs, fish, milk, cheese or any other animal product, I am supporting an industry that thinks it is ok to lie and hurt and manipulate for money. So I CHOOSE not to support it.

Consuming animals is like ingesting their pain. It is completely unnecessary (humans are not carnivores) and completely avoidable. This is a pain I will never accept.

(why is “vegan” listed as misspelled?)