Mutual support

Because people who aren’t vegan are so dismissive of it, to keep it away from them and to keep it from growing in popularity, there’s zero encouragement given to vegans. This is the hardest cause to fight because of that. Vegans therefore have to gain their recognition and reward from other vegans. Thin pickings, because other vegans are suffering from the same adversity. Motivational energy must come largely from a developed sense of altruism. It’s hard in one way, but useful in another since this is how vegans can develop empathy for the most marginalised beings, the exploited animals themselves. Nevertheless, energy is where you find it. There is no shame in reward and recognition in exchange for this vital income of energy. If we deny the importance of the element of reward, altruism won’t work. It will wither and we’ll revert to a catch-what-you-can mentality.

Energy. We need so little back, but we do need some, because we don’t come free. Our engines need just a touch of this good grease - a mere smile of recognition, even just a glance. There’s not much more we need to do other than recognise each other’s existence. If vegan, support for another vegan is of greatest value. Whatever cause we are fighting for, part of that cause is the giving of support to others who are giving their time and energy for that same cause. This is altruism at its most subtle and yet most powerful. Mutual support stimulates us to act for the greater good.
We are capable of being content with very little, not because we’re good (for having such strength of character) but because in this way we won’t run up gratitude debts. It means if we haven’t got much to give, it’s okay - small is no less effective. We aren’t building with bricks here, this is merely a spell we’re casting to conjure up a better world.