Our Hen House
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Flock Bonus Content
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Blog

10 Questions Animal Advocates Should Ask Themselves

by Jasmin January 3, 2012
written by Jasmin
816

As I’ve already established and made known, I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. I do, however, believe in New Year’s revolutions, revelations, evolutions, and everything in between. That’s a roundabout way of saying that, although I think that New Year’s resolutions sometimes box people in — leaving us with unrealistic goals that wind up by the wayside once it becomes clear that they will not manifest perfectly because, oh look at that, life took over — I do nonetheless believe in ongoing goal-setting. This is not, I feel, New Year’s specific. But I do tend to set goals in relation to time markers — such as birthdays, anniversaries, and yes, brand new years.

Whether or not you’re into New Year’s resolutions per se, early January — the time when the holiday mayhem is over (and yes, that was me shouting it from the rooftop this morning) — is the perfect time to size up our pro-animal projects, and perhaps get out the drafting paper for some new ones. Or revamp the ones we’ve got. It’s time to take stock and act accordingly.

I am also a big fan of reassessing. I think an ongoing discussion we should all be having with ourselves is: “Self, what are my life goals? In what ways am I working toward them? Through my job? My volunteer work? Both? Is there anything I need to adjust in order to better work toward my life goal?”

With all of this in mind, the post-holiday season is ideal for reevaluating our animal activism, and figuring out where we can and should step it up. Tied into that is, of course, the sustainability factor — and I’m not talking about hemp socks or hybrid cars. I’m talking about our own sustainability. The animals need us to be in this for the long run. Are we positioned to stick around? While the fact that in the U.S. alone, 286 chickens are killed every second, may make this a life-threatening emergency that must be addressed RIGHT NOW, are we nevertheless fighting the good fight in a way that takes care of our own needs, too?

Below are 10 questions that might help you take stock of where your advocacy is as we start 2012. As always, check in daily with Our Hen House (and weekly with our podcast) for ideas and opportunities to change the world for animals.

10 Questions Animal Advocates Should Ask Themselves 

  1. Am I effectively doing what I can in my life to change the world for animals?
  2. Am I appropriately putting my talents and skills into use with regards to my animal activism?
  3. Am I feeling fulfilled in the process? Is there anything I can do to feel more fulfilled?
  4. Even though working in animal rights can be hideously depressing and infuriating, am I noticing the tiny victories along the way? Am I seeing the good stuff?
  5. Is my activism sustainable or am I on the fast-track to burnout? If it’s not sustainable, why not? What do I need to do to change it up? Perhaps that means temporarily shifting my focus, whether to a different animal issue, or a different tactic?
  6. Do I have a safe space around me — through my romantic relationship or my social circles, or even online — in which to express my fears and desires as they pertain to my animal activism?
  7. Is there a dream I have for promoting animal rights that I am ready to work toward?
  8. Am I taking care of myself? Do I have enough energy? Am I getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and getting enough exercise?
  9. Am I learning something new every day that will further enrich my own knowledge and insights regarding animal issues?
  10. Am I remembering that, just as I have mentors, I am probably a mentor to someone else — even if I don’t know to whom? Therefore, am I setting a good example?
Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Book Review (AND GIVEAWAY): “Super Immunity” by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
next post
2012 May Just Be the Year to Teach

You may also like

Every Vegan Wants to Go On Vacation

Squawking about Vegan Thanksgiving on TV

23,000 Dolphins Killed Annually in Taiji, and 23,000 Portraits Painted to Commemorate...

Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson to Star in Animated Feature, “Turkeys”

NYC or Bust — Cross-Country Drive Number 2

Vegan Artists and Art-Lovers, Listen Up

Don’t Merely Complain About Lady Gag-Gag… Do Something

Coming Out for Animals

Announcing the Winners of the Lisa Shapiro Award for Unsung Vegan Heroes!

“Animal Man” — A Vegan, Animal Rights Activist, Comic Book Hero

Search Episodes

Subscribe to our Shows

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPocketCastsAmazon MusicAudible
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • AudibleAudible
  • PodbeanPodbean
  • App not listed? Try this RSS linkApp not listed? Try this RSS link
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPocketCastsAmazon MusicAudible
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • AudibleAudible
  • PodbeanPodbean
  • App not listed? Try this RSS linkApp not listed? Try this RSS link

Subscribe to OHH Emails

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

Instagram

Join us On Facebook

Join us On Facebook

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Join our listener community

Join us on Mighty Networks and share insight and inspiration with fellow activists from around the globe who are changing the world for animals.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

©2023 - Our Hen House - All Rights Reserved


Back To Top
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Flock Bonus Content
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Our Hen House
Search Podcasts
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Flock Bonus Content
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate

Subscribe

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Music
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • AudibleAudible
  • PodbeanPodbean
  • App not listed? Try this RSS linkApp not listed? Try this RSS link
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Music
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • AudibleAudible
  • PodbeanPodbean
  • App not listed? Try this RSS linkApp not listed? Try this RSS link

OHH NEWSLETTER

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

 
Sign In

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

Password Recovery

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here