I’ve lost track of the years I’ve been vegan. If I had to estimate, I would say at least ten. I started being vegan due to health reasons. I had terrible acid reflux and stomach bloating/discomfort. Before bed, I would eat cheese and crackers and then wake up with burning in my throat. I put two and two together and figured out it was the cheese causing my issue. Ten years ago, being vegan, plant based, or whole foods was definitely not as mainstream or common as it is today. I was teased by family and friends and completely misunderstood.

I started reading books about veganism and the health benefits. I would look for book recommendations within the books I was reading and I checked out many of them at my local library. From The China Study to The Kind Diet and everything in between – I was fascinated with everything I was learning. Not only was being vegan absolutely wonderful for your body but it helped the environment and saved many animal lives. Of course, I knew I saved animals by abstaining from chicken, steak, turkey, fish, or pork but I didn’t realize the connection with dairy.

Ten years ago, things were different. You couldn’t walk into Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s and find “vegan” scribbled on food products. I remember walking into a Whole Foods looking for nutritional yeast and Ener-G replacer (an egg replacer) and asking a stocker who looked at me with dazed and confused eyes. I felt alone on my path. I didn’t know anyone who was vegan. My brother was vegetarian but I didn’t think he even understood the reason and eventually all the reasons I was vegan.

I was scared to tell others how I really felt. I told them I was vegan for health reasons and how dairy really messed with my stomach. Family gatherings, parties, and celebrations were less than fun. I hate to bring any attention to myself and people were baffled with my recent decision to stop eating not only meat, but dairy and eggs. No butter they questioned. Meanwhile, my Mom would put butter into almost every dish. I could use plant based butter but people just never really got it. “You’re not eating a cow when you eat butter or cheese….” they often said to me or rather, boldly blasted me.

And when I went oil-free and dabbled at raw veganism, boy…. did I really get even more long stares and remarks. Eventually, I figured out it was better for me to be a backseat vegan. Anytime I tried something new, like raw veganism or a juice cleanse, I didn’t shout it from the rooftop. I merely embarked on this type of eating and shared with only those I trusted and knew would support me.

Fast forward to today, February 21st 2020 – I absolutely love being vegan. It’s not a diet or fad to me. It’s a lifestyle, a way of life, and a peaceful one in fact. I am proud and no longer ashamed of my choice. People often ask me if I would eat chicken or steak for an outrageous amount of money or to wipe out my student loan debt. I reply, no thank you. The lives of animals have no price tag to me. They are living, breathing, beautiful beings that deserve to live. Why did I go vegan? For health reasons initially but now, it’s part of who I am. I couldn’t imagine living any other way. I love all animals. I value my health. I understand the connection of climate change and animal agriculture. And each day, I marvel at my decision so many years ago to live my life consciously. What made me connect eating cheese, my health, and veganism? I’ll never truly know. Perhaps it was my higher self or the start of my journey of awakening to a higher purpose.