Butterflies Katz has posted on her thevegantruth.blogspot.com a “compilation of long term vegans.” She recently asked long term vegans to send her their stories, and this blog post is the wonderful, inspiring, loving, full-of-hope result. Among the long-termers, we find our own Will Tuttle, vegan for 33 years, along with Michael Klaper, James Gorman (vegan for 50 years), Fiona Oakes, Virginia Messina, Butterflies herself (vegan 34 years), and many more.

These stories help us in so many ways. They tell us: We are not alone. There are many of us, and our numbers are growing as we continue to spread the message of love and compassion for all living beings. They tell us: You can be a healthy vegan for 50 years—no problem. Human beings can live long, healthy lives without harming animals. They tell us: There is hope for the animals of earth—that one bright day they will find that they no longer have to live in fear of us. They tell us: There are gentle, compassionate people in this world, including all of you, working to bring tenderness and love and freedom to all those who are hurting.

With every prayer you pray, every loving thought you think, every sweet word you write or speak or sing, you bring more love into the energy field that encircles and blesses all. That love becomes a permanent part of the energy field and can never be taken away.

Whether you are a new vegan or long-term, thank you for being an essential part of bringing ahimsa, freedom, love and compassion to all beings everywhere.

With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy, and Will, Madeleine, and the Circle of Compassion team.

PS - We now have a Facebook Group for the Prayer Circle For Animals where we can share, discuss, visualize, and send our prayers together - https://www.facebook.com/groups/prayercircleforanimals