I took the leap. I’m a vegetarian (in training).
Here’s the back story: Two years ago I made the decision to stop eating red meat. For as long as I can remember, I dreaded steak night, ground beef didn’t appeal to me, either did anything made with ground beef. For years, I went along eating those meals, but never enjoying the food I was putting into my body. I grew up being told that what my parents put on the table for dinner I had to eat. They raised me to be grateful for the food I have, which I am, but I eventually realized that I could choose what I wanted to eat.
Fast forwarding a couple of years: I have a completely new circle of friends, many of which are vegetarians or vegans. They show their compassion for animals and love for life in everything they do. I hear my new circle new speak about and support remarkable causes which made me extremely interested in their veg lives. I took it upon myself to research these causes, read articles about vegetarian/veganism, and watch documentaries related to the food industry. My eyes and my mind were wide open, and for the first time I truly asked myself, “What am I eating?”
Jessica was the first person I told about my decision to become a vegetarian. I wrote her a long, unorganized email asking for every bit of advice she could provide. What she doesn’t know is how nervous I was to send the email. Now, Jess and I met through Brenda and Love Infinitely, we spoke occasionally on twitter and in mass email messages, and anything I knew about her I learned through her blog. Basically, I was compelled to tell this girl I barely knew that I decided to go veg and I wanted her help. She replied with the biggest congratulations ever! I was now stoked about my decision. Thanks to Jess and Steph, going veg was easier than I ever expected.
What hasn’t been easy is telling people outside of my veg circle that I no longer eat meat. People are confused about my decision and often I hear, “You ate meat your entire life…” It’s not about what I did, but how I am choosing to shape my future. I didn’t realize changing my diet would be the easy part. Informing others of my decision is the most trying part of my veg journey, but I’m ready world and I won’t give up.
Blessed by the universe, as I began to write the previous paragraph Liz’s daughter, Ivy tweeted a personal quote that applies to my current situation.
Thank you Ivy for your inspiring words, Jessica and Stephanie for your continued advice, and my new, amazing circle of friends for all the love you give. I’m grateful for each and every one of you.
xxNoelle
Follow Noelle on Twitter: @NoelleBobo
Tags: go veg, inspiration, love infinitely, love infinitely project, vegan, vegetarian
I love those words of wisdom! I’ve been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and took the leap for reasons of compassion. I have 6 and 9-year old sons, and they have been raised vegetarian from the day they were born. I’m very firmly committed to the the ideals of a healthy lifestyle and diet for them, (not to mention the ideals of compassion), but I can’t tell you how many eyebrows were raised, simply because it wasn’t “the norm”. The food my children eat is so much healthier than so much of what their peers eat, but still, it was a departure from what everyone else was doing. I’m so glad that the tides are turning, and more and more, vegetarian and vegan diets are becoming more mainstream and thus, easier to maintain. Good luck to you on this journey!
Thanks so much Carolyn for reading my post and sharing your story! It’s positive feedback like this that keeps me going.
xx
Congrats Noelle! I would never be able to do it and i am so proud that you did
your changing the world one animal at a time 