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From:	Just Me (24.7.175.132)
Subject:	Re: Abstinence from Overt Fats, Heidi
Date:	February 11, 2012 at 12:28 pm PST

In Reply to: Re: Abstinence from Overt Fats, Heidi posted by heidi jane on February 11, 2012 at 6:37 am:

Hi Heidi Jane,

I can really "hear" the pain you feel over the fruit festival not living up to your expectations. Seems you've been carrying this hurt and pain for quite some time now (wasn't the festival held over the past summer?). Reading your posts on this subject, I couldn't help but think how helpful Rozi's Seven Spiritual Practices might be for you. I made a resolution to practice at least one for each day of each week and it's helped me so much! So, I thought I'd pass them along to you:

1. Letting go of attachment to outcomes.

2. Letting go of the need for others to behave as I would prefer them to.

3. Letting go of the need for approval from anyone, [except God].

4. Experiencing and noticing gratitude all day long.

5. Forgiveness. All you need to do is be willing to forgive.

6. Slowing down. It heightens your awareness and enables you to respond rather than react.

7. Demonstrating loving kindness to everyone.

I thought of you in this situation particularly regarding numbers 1-3.

Anyway, not to take away from your feelings about the festival, as you are certainly entitled to whatever feelings you may have! Have you spoken/emailed directly to the Arnsteins about your displeasure with the festival? It may be more productive to go straight to the source. It is my understanding that they lost over $60,000 of their own personal money in putting on this festival and they are willing to do it all over again this year for the sake of spreading the message to those who have not yet gotten a chance to experience it. Anyway, something I read recently from Michael Arnstein regarding the festival is this:

"I believe the majority of attendees at WFF are not vegans or have been vegans for any significant period of time. There are people who are openly eating meat as part of their diet. There are some attendees who are just now trying to transition off of a SAD diet. . . . Militant vegans should consider more of the commonality that attendees of WFF have with each other, and embrace that. Love more rather than push away. If some militant vegans decide that WFF is not for them, then that is their choice, but I hope they will not make that decision. . . . The Woodstock Fruit Festival is about fruit, nature, exercise, love and spreading the message to the masses. I hope that others will support these ideals."

If this isn't for you, Heidi Jane, that is a-ok! Nothing to feel ashamed or angry about; just choose not to go again and find a place more aligned with your wants/needs/beliefs. I believe Dr. Graham has said you would not be disappointed with attending any of his events. Maybe I will get to meet you at Culinary Skills or H&F Week this year! :)

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