I feel that I should clarify, I am not a vegan. I'm on my way there, but it is an uphill battle filled with cheese avalanches, reading the ingredients on the back of packages and discovering that, sadly, it's time to cut out another snack. I'm not complaining, though. Thanks to of all the horrible things in the world, choosing to cut out animal products is not one of them; in fact, it's an incredibly positive experience. In the two months that I've been (almost) animal-free, I have noticed a change in myself. I love myself more and more as the days pass, not only physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually as well.
At first I experienced a loss of appetite, but after a week I was hungrier than ever, and putting clean fuel into my body felt so good. I ate whole foods, mostly fruit, during the day, and made sure my dinner consisted of rice, potatoes, and vegetables. I truly felt better inside and out. I had more energy and felt I could feel a fog lifting from my mind; it was like I had triggered the windshield wipers on my car. Suddenly I was able to understand things more easily and focus on my tasks better than ever. In addition, I felt that navigating and controlling my emotions was more accessible than ever before.
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I feel that the most important way going vegan has helped and changed me, however, is spiritual. I am a Christian and I do my best to follow Christ and His teachings and to be loving, kind and forgiving to those around me. The hardest person to be loving, kind and forgiving towards is yourself, and that's where I was constantly tripping up. It's easy to point out your own flaws and hate on yourself, but going vegan was a sign that I was loving myself. Instead of putting animal products that harmed not only the animals involved but also me, I was eating the natural fruits and vegetables of the earth that God had put there for me; it was almost as if removing animal products from my diet removed a negative energy from my spirit. I feel that with a clearer head and a softer heart, I can more readily empathize with animals and the people in my life and that it helps me be the best person and Christian I can.
While I'm not 100% vegan at the moment, I'm working hard on my transition, and I know that this path is the right one for me.
