Guest guest Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Hello there! I've posted this on the calivegan board as well, so if any of you are members of both, if might be a repeat. I'm a Pasadena resident that has very recently began a quick path towards a vegan dominated lifestyle, under the tutelage of a new friend that is an animal rights activist. I became a vegetarian a few years ago without a clear reason as to why, other than the fact that I never really enjoyed meat, and I worked with a vegan that seemed so healthy and peaceful. However, I didn't go a day without some form of dairy, and often ate far more cheese than I ever had before, subconciously thinking that was my meat "substitute." I was not a healthy vegetarian. Towards the year mark of my vegetarianism, I fell in love with a meat and potatoes guy, and I found myself questioning why I was a vegetarian. I tried cooking veggie for him a couple of times, and he wasn't that into it, so loving to cook as much as I do, I eventually started seguing back into meat eating. That was about two years ago. Now, looking back at the last two years, I recognize there has been a guilt, a malaise, a funk that's been on me, and I can definitely connect it to my deep down moral qualms with the meat industry. What was lacking in my veggie quest from before was education. I was afraid to really delve deeply into what was aptly termed to me recently as the "tragic knowledge" of factory farming and such. Turning a blind eye to the facts made it all too easy for me to continue my meat and cheese based diet that, in retrospect, has been making me physically and mentally ill. Recently, I became friends with a girl that has such a healthy glow about her; such a vibrance; such great skin and clear eyes. After lots of talking and questions from me, I've finally started gaining that tragic knowledge - understanding that the dairy and veal industries go hand-in-hand; understanding the torture that is abundant thrust upon chickens at egg farms, and on and on. Certainly I don't need to convince any of you... For about two weeks now, I've had no meat. The turning point was when I bit into a turkey sub following beginning this new education. I was thinking I would just start cutting back, but found that I felt truly sick to sink my teeth into this processed flesh. I threw the sandwich away and haven't touched meat since. I have had a limited amount of dairy and eggs in this two weeks, but the last couple of days have been completely vegan. I've never felt more excited, vibrant, energized, empowered and healthy in my life. I feel like all of the overeating I've done in my life has been a result of trying to feed a part of me that didn't actually want food. Now I'm hungry in a new way - for education, and opening my eyes. I'm starting to feel satisfied in a way I didn't realize I needed. My life is changing drastically, and for the better, and this is why I'm here. I realize now what was lacking before was a support system. I look forward to gaining knowledge from more experienced vegans. In reality, I don't know that I'm ready to say that I will never allow anything with the slightest meat or dairy derivative to pass through my lips for the rest of my life, but I am ready to make drastic changes in my life that will not only affect me personally, but will doubtless have a huge impact on our environment and taking a stand against attrocities I have spent 29 years in denial over. So, thanks for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to learning, and learning, and learning some more!!! Jen Search - Find what you’re looking for faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.