I have been vegetarian for over 7 years now. And I have been vegan since 2 years ago.

I grew up in a Costa Rica country farm. My father used to have a Dairy and cattle for business. I loved to help him in the farm, and to get involved in all the tasks related with it.

I was a child using "machetes", driving farm equipment and usually helping my father in his "veterinarian" tasks with the cows (even though he was not one, he usually liked to take care of the cows).

I was always surprised of his love for the animals, and I never was able to understand why if he loved them so much, then why was he having cattle for business. Usually he would tell me that he loved them very much and that's why he wanted to spend most of his time with them.

Throughout my childhood I learned to love the animals and to respect them. We would walk the cows slowly, not with horses. We would care for the road for them and we never hit them. All of this I learned it from my father.

Most of the facts why I am now a vegan come from my childhood. I remember how intelligent and noble feelings animals had, and I saw cows waiting in line to be killed (when I was 14 and older, I was allowed to see the process in a big factory where they used to buy our cattle).

Part of my father's farm was a primary forest mountain, and we always loved to take care of it. We never allowed hunters and people who wanted to take the animals away from the forest. I still remember the howling monkeys waking us up in the morning or the colorful birds flying happily.

I have a lot of stories from my farm days. May be in a next dairy I will tell you some of them.

When I was 20, several situations (which could be considered as magic ones) took me into the vegetarian lifestyle. Since then, I have been a whole new person, a person with no regrets, respect for life and with a love for all the creatures in our world; but above it all, with a great health and physical condition.

I would love to share with you more of my experiences from my childhood and about being a vegan.

Have a great day all of you, and
Thanks for reading my diary.

Samadhi