The first time I stopped eating meat was around the age of nine. I grew up on a farm in Northern California. I have always loved animals and would beg my parents to take in every stray dog or cat I found or that wandered onto our property. So when they brought home baby bunnies, I assumed they were our new pets. I spent time everyday holding them and petting them. Then one day I came home from school to find them being killed for us to eat. I was devastated. I refused to eat any meat that might be my precious bunnies. That was the start of my vegetarian journey.
After a while, I did eventually eat meat again. I wasn’t a big meat eater, but I would eat chicken or fish once in a while. For me the tipping point towards vegetarianism was becoming aware of how the animals are treated, the horrible conditions in which they live and how they are slaughtered. The first time I watched a video showing these conditions, I couldn’t stop crying. I decided then that I would never eat meat again.
After several years of being vegetarian, I made the commitment to become vegan. For the most part I was vegan, but I would eat eggs once in a while, thinking I needed the protein. I also loved cheese and couldn’t imagine not having it. I told myself it was okay to eat those things because the animal didn’t die. But my conscience kept guiding me towards my truth. I became aware of the conditions that factory farm egg laying hens and milking cows live in, and couldn’t deny this truth any longer.
The transition to being vegan has been fairly easy. I just had to find substitutes for the products I ate which had egg or dairy in them. To my surprise, I didn’t miss cheese like I thought I would and I have found some great substitutes.
My eleven-year-old daughter recently decided to become vegan. I allowed her to make that decision on her own. I knew that someday her soul would guide her to become vegan because she has so much love and compassion for people and animals.
My husband isn’t quite ready to be vegan, though he pretty much is since I only buy and cook vegan food. He says as long as the food tastes good, he’s happy. After watching Food Inc. he refuses to eat meat that comes from factory farms, so that is a start. I respect his right to choose and am thankful that he honors my choice. Yes, of course I would like him to become vegan. I would love for more people to become aware of not only how the animals are treated but how it impacts our environment.
Becoming vegan is one of the best choices I have ever made. I feel better physically and emotionally. I feel that I am more spiritually connected to the truth of my soul and that I am now living in integrity.
Tammy, Los Angeles, CA
my favorite vegan things:
Smoked Tempeh (Makes great BLT sandwiches!)
2 comments:
Check out this informative and inspiring video on why people choose vegan: http://veganvideo.org/
Thank you for sharing the video! I loved it! It is very inspiring! I will pass it along.
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