I woke up to firewood yesterday, and I just got done helping QB split some more wood today.  After enjoying my hempilicious berry sorbet for breakfast (which was still some time after Noon), we had the pleasure of splitting, tossing, and stacking firewood. Other than that, activities were fairly normal yesterday, and included a grocery run and some well spent kitchen time (yum, curry!). Today, we are planning on going into DC for some social events this evening.

But while pondering my daily activities and what to write, I starting thinking of the things we do that both benefit others and ourselves. Actions that are selfless and selfish. Such as being a life extensionist or a vegan. I’m going to do a reverse discussion here a talk a bit on some of the selfish things I like about veganism, and some of the selfless things I like about life extension (just because in general people see veganism as more selfless, and life extension as selfish). I have somewhere I am taking this so follow along…

Selfless -> Selfish Approach

Let’s take a brief look at my veganism. Such a decision would appear mostly selfless, but I would venture to say most or all people who go vegan have their own selfless and selfish (note that selfish is not necessarily a bad word….) reasons. I then naturally would be lying if I said it was for purely selfless reasons, although many reasons certainly are. Since I am a person that likes structure, having firmly decided to go vegan really helps me feel more focused with my diet. I also (obviously, right?) like the health benefits of the diet choices, and I now also have some nostalgia over thoroughly reading ingredient labels (this seems to please some part of my ocd-ish brain). No, these alone aren’t enough to make me go vegan (I had to have the selfless motivation), but they are fun harmless selfish perks. I also like the mental reassurance I get from the assertion of principles. I feel good when I stand up for something I feel is right, so even though the goal itself is selfless, I am still getting selfish feedback.

Without selfish feedback of any kind, I’m not sure a vegan or “pick some other principled selfless act” would continue for anyone. For most people, standing up for something they believe in, even a selfless principle, generates internal selfish warm fuzzies. I would be interested so learn what other selfish types of positive feed back other vegans get.

Selfish -> Selfless Approach

When thinking about life extension, many people instantly think such a desire is so very selfish. I’ve read in CR articles how selfish people like me are! How dare I have such a strong desire to live a very very long life, how selfish of me! First of all, why is this selfish desire a bad thing? Don’t we all have the instinctual urge to survive? So what if I want to push that limit as far as I can?

While the selfish view is obvious, there is a very selfless side to life extension that also motivates me just as I am motivated by both the selfless and selfish sides of veganism. One aspect of death that really bothers me is the loss of great minds. I think about all the knowledge and possible further advancement the human race has loss to death fairly often. We try to pass down knowledge though education, but what if people lived 300 years instead of 80-100 years? Humanity looses so much potential because of death. If I knew I could not extend my own life, but could work to eventual extension of all of humanity – I would do it. I am saddened because I feel all of humanity suffers because of death from the loss of loved ones, the loss of knowledge, and the loss of potential.

Hopefully life extension will also come in the form of cures for disease and cancer treatments, too. Selfless things I can do are give time when I can, give money when I can, and help increase awareness. I have a lot of selfless desires in terms of life extension, anti aging, and human suffering because of death and aging. I realize this is brief, but I think you understand some of my selfless hopes for humanity via life extension.

These selfless wishes for humanity act as an inspiration for me, as some grand dream of what could be. I know it may not be very realistic right now, but it does act as a motivating force just as some of the selfish things about veganism act as a motivating force for me too.

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Anyhow, I just wanted to touch on this point so you could stop and think of selfless and selfish reasons you do certain things. Why? So you can understand more about what drives you, and what motivates you. At certain times in our lives, depending on whats going on, we are more inclined to be motivated by selfless or selfish things. This is normal human behavior, and there is nothing wrong with this. If you understand this about yourself, when you hit a rough patch, you will hopefully better know what you need to pull yourself out of the mud.

Ask yourself just a few questions:

What things do you like about CR or Veganism (or some other thing, maybe exercise) that aren’t part of some big picture long term goal? First think about all the selfish things that drive you (either consciously or subconsciously), then go back and think of the selfless bigger picture things that you inspire you.

At what times do you find the selfish things more important, and when do you find the selfless aspects more important to you?

Remember this when you are in a rut, having a bad day, or can’t get motivated. Maybe you need to be reminded of the selfless reasons you are doing something because it’s too often to get lost in ourselves, or maybe you have been giving too much to others lately and you need to focus on yourself. Learn how to refocus your motivation and inspiration! This is how you hack your brain!

And remember, this isn’t a black and white issue. You will not be acting purely selfishly or selfless at any given time. Just know when one or the other is favorable to motivate and inspire you to live the lifestyle you have decided on. :-)

Now, on that note, let’s take a look at yesterday’s food. When we went to my favorite locally owned co-op, I got a snack bar and a green soda drink. All the wood work really worked up an appetite, so I wanted to find a fairy healthy, vegan snack. So, this was my compromise. :-)

Food for November 8 2010.

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Brazil Nut (22)
Hempilicious Berry Sorbet (334)
* 120g Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
* 240g Unsweetened Vanilla Hemp Milk
* 240g Strawberries, Frozen
* 120g Blueberries, Frozen
* 15g Hemp Protein Powder
* 5.5g Flax Oil
* Stevia
Thai Red Curry & Vegetables (254)
0.2 Seasoned Scrambled Tofu (52)
MACROBAR – Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (290)
Peach & Pumpkin Chia Pudding (234)
0.5 Thai Yellow Curry & Vegetables (125)
Carrot + Kale + Ginger Juice (136)

Supplements:
3 Bone-Up Capsules
5000IU Vit D
1/8 Tablet Vit B5
500mg each L-Carnosine/Tyrosine (I alternate these each day)

===========================================
Nutrition Summary for November 8, 2010
Report generated by CRON-o-Meter v0.9.7
===========================================

General (90%)
===========================================
Energy               |  1452.7 kcal   109%
Protein              |    54.8 g       96%
Carbs                |   200.8 g      103%
Fiber              |    47.7 g      191%
Starch             |     4.7 g       31%
Sugars             |    80.0 g      160%
Fat                  |    54.8 g      117%

Vitamins (100%)
===========================================
Vitamin A            | 85061.9 IU    1701%
Lutein+Zeaxanthin  | 35704.1 µg     714%
Folate               |   459.4 µg     255%
B1 (Thiamine)        |     1.9 mg     176%
B2 (Riboflavin)      |     2.4 mg     181%
B3 (Niacin)          |    17.3 mg     115%
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)|    16.1 mg     322%
B6 (Pyridoxine)      |     2.8 mg     173%
B12 (Cyanocobalamin) |    52.4 µg    2622%
Vitamin C            |   478.4 mg     797%
Vitamin D            |  3702.5 IU    1851%
Vitamin E            |    19.2 mg     160%
Vitamin K            |   850.6 µg     945%

Minerals (97%)
===========================================
Calcium              |  1684.5 mg     168%
Copper               |     1.8 mg      92%
Iron                 |    12.8 mg      86%
Magnesium            |   659.2 mg     206%
Manganese            |     5.1 mg     128%
Phosphorus           |  1033.0 mg     148%
Potassium            |  3352.1 mg      96%
Selenium             |    78.9 µg     143%
Sodium               |  1323.7 mg     265%
Zinc                 |    12.9 mg     108%

Amino Acids (99%)
===========================================
CYS                  |     0.7 g      291%
ILE                  |     1.6 g      143%
LEU                  |     2.5 g      113%
LYS                  |     2.0 g      117%
MET                  |     0.5 g       88%
PHE                  |     1.7 g      178%
THR                  |     1.9 g      224%
TRP                  |     0.5 g      230%
TYR                  |     1.2 g      247%
VAL                  |     1.9 g      111%

Lipids (58%)
===========================================
Saturated            |    15.1 g       76%
Monounsaturated      |     4.6 g       18%
Polyunsaturated      |    18.5 g       74%
Omega-3            |     8.6 g      786%
Omega-6            |     8.8 g       80%
Cholesterol          |     0.0 mg       0%