The Clinchers

As those around me know, I love animals. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes of talking to me for something to pop out about my cats, being vegetarian, or the ever-so-common squealing at pictures of animals. I’ve always had the same passionate respect for and adoration of animals. I had a cat and dog growing up, my grandmother had up to seven cats for much of my childhood, and my aunt owned a farm with dogs, horses, and a duck pond. The mere existence of animals in my life piqued my desire to know more about them. I was always a quiet person and once my brothers were too cool to play with their little sister, I spent a lot of time on my own, exploring nature and hanging out with the critters. I sometimes take for granted how much I know about animals and how highly I regard them. It’s rare to find someone else who sees them in just the way I do who also views them as an equal. (Personally, I think owning pets should become an extinct practice, but that’s another discussion…)

So why was I not a vegetarian much earlier in life? I had my hesitations about health etc. What ended up being the clincher for me was a peak of culminating events. My childhood was the foundation and a few bouts of learning were enough to make me sick. Sick at the horrendous state of affairs of animals rights and sick with an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

This is what changed my mind forever:

Out Of The Trees

I’ve only been vegan for just under one month now, but I’ve spent the last year and a half researching veganism, both the lifestyle changes and the resources for food and other products, so when I first officially began, it was incredibly easy for me. I’m certainly still learning, though. I get cravings for non-vegan foods. I’ve even found myself in the Eat-Non-Vegan-Or-Don’t-Eat situation a few times. Overall, though, the thorough research and having understanding friends and family have made it much easier.

That being said, I was not as prepared for facing non-vegans. I was one. It shouldn’t be a huge change, but I put myself into a tiny minority literally overnight and the change was alarming suddenly being an outsider among people I love and in areas where I used to feel so comfortable. Being on “this” side, I’ve seen exactly how skewed people’s perceptions of being vegan are, including how unattainable they make it seem.

I face a lot of negativity when I tell people about my choice. ”Oh I could never do that!” “You’re already so skinny, though.” “..but we’re meant to eat dairy.”, among many others. Growing up around animals and seeing how amazing they are, becoming vegetarian was not a choice. It was how it had to be. I realize most people haven’t had the same ingrained alliance/awareness when it comes to animals, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that animals can suffer.

Most people don’t want to directly hurt animals, but it’s the lack of awareness of the repercussions on other species that’s hurting them. A lack of effort and state of denial are the major culprits.

I never wanted to be a preachy vegetarian, but there’s a compromise between overzealous preaching and doing nothing. Neither are productive. Do I wish others were vegan? Sure. But I won’t be a converting fiend. I just want to inform people about why it’s so important to the environment, the animals, and me. Following this post will be a wide array of other posts regarding vegan eating, recipes, cruelty free shopping, animal rights, and more.

 

amboseli