The Vegan Lifestyle
- helanashumway
- Feb 4, 2022
- 4 min read
This post focuses on the vegan lifestyle. Some of the content may be upsetting for some readers. However, if you are comfortable, I invite you to take a read and reflect on what veganism means to you.
I have been a devoted animal lover for as long as I can remember. Growing up, we always had at least one dog in the house, and if you asked me as a 5-year-old what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say, "A veterinarian." I was that kid that watched emergency dog surgeries on The Animal Channel and played the Vet Emergency PC game on the computer... It's safe to say I was a committed dog worshiper before I knew how to spell my own name.
Around age 10, a family friend introduced me to the concept of veganism. She was a hardcore animal rights activist and full-time vegan, and I was curious to learn. My curiosity was confronted with a stark reality when she decided to show me a documentary of the horrifying living conditions of chickens in a factory farm. I've always had an extremely visual memory (often to a fault), and after seeing that documentary, I didn't eat another bite of meat for 7 years.
In my early twenties, I vacillated back and forth between periods of eating some meat, or only fish, trying veganism for a month at a time, etc. It wasn't until I really began to do a bit of research into the benefits of a vegan lifestyle that I decided to fully commit. There's no getting around it - a vegan lifestyle is a commitment. So is training for a marathon or learning a new language. I have come to realize that anything worth fighting for is a commitment, but as long as it's something you want, the dedication is easier to come by.
As I started to learn more about animal rights and the ethical reasons to go vegan, it became much more difficult to differentiate between the bacon I would eat with my pancakes and the pig that was slaughtered to provide it. That's because there truly is no difference. Pigs are some of the most intelligent animals, and I had to ask myself whether I was willing to eat bacon for a moment's satisfaction, while knowing that the meat came from a smart and sentient being.
My heart broke when I realized that dairy cows are constantly and forcibly impregnated so that they have a steady milk supply. Cows are mammals, and mammals only produce milk when they need to feed their young/after giving birth. This is a fact that most of us know, but without consciously thinking about it, we are able to ignore where and how we get the milk in our cereal. We are the only mammals that drink another mammal's milk. Kind of bizarre when you think about it, isn't it? Not to mention, if a dairy cow gives birth to a male cow, he is almost immediately ripped from his mother and taken to the slaughterhouse to become veal - another cruel reality.
My intention with this post is not to coerce anyone into veganism, but I do think it's important to at least bring a sense of awareness and mindfulness to the food we decide to eat. It is always better to shop locally and from smaller farms that allow their animals to be outside and have adequate living conditions. If you do eat meat, please consider researching where your meat comes from and how the animals are treated.
Apart from the ethical reasons to become vegan, there are many reasons to follow a plant-based diet if you wish to combat climate change. For example, 80% of deforestation worldwide comes from agricultural production and expansion (Greenpeace). Livestock emit exorbitant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions - the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has reported that around 18% of emissions worldwide come from animal agriculture (Sentient Media). The amount of resources and energy it takes to raise animals for food consumption ends up emitting more greenhouse gases than every other form of transportation combined (Happy Happy Vegan). So it's no surprise that if you are interested in lessening your carbon footprint and choosing a more sustainable lifestyle to fight climate change, being vegan is the single best course of action.
To wrap up, I want to share one last perspective on veganism. Since dedicating myself to this lifestyle, I have noticed an incredible internal shift on how I view the world. I think this has happened for a few reasons. First, I know that by being vegan, I am taking a stance on climate change and am doing my part to protect the planet. I have also noticed an even deeper connection with animals. Again, I have always held a special place in my heart for animals, but since becoming vegan, there isn't as big a power dynamic between us anymore. Maybe that's a bit out there for some of you, but it's my truth. I feel a kinship with all animals knowing that I do not intend to hurt them and that we can live in harmony. Through my vegan journey, I have come to find a greater sense of peace and have held more hope for all living beings.
If you've gotten this far in my post, I truly thank you! If nothing else, I hope it has given you a moment to pause and reflect on aspects of our day-to-day that are often overlooked in the craziness of our lives. Being a bit more mindful is never a bad thing. On the contrary, I find mindfulness is often a catalyst for self-discovery and self-acceptance.
P.S. did you know that Oreos are naturally vegan?! 🌱 😊
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Websites referenced:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYD5nDnjvBa/ (Greenpeace post)
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