Major Life Change

As I approach my 33rd birthday, I've been contemplating many of my every day decisions in life...the amount of time I spend working, the amount of time I waste rather than completing projects or taking the dogs for walks, the lack of attention I've been paying to my friends and relationships over the past few months...but mostly I have been deeply pondering my part in this world and the differences I can make.

For years I've had many vegetarian and vegan friends, all of whom I've respected for their dedication. But personally, I've always let selfishness, laziness and convenience keep me from adhering to such a strict lifestyle.

Knowing that I was feeding my body with the wrong foods and energy, I began studying the health effects of a meat and dairy diet vs. a plant-based diet earlier this year. The findings just can't be argued...people who eat a plant-based, animal-free diet are much less likely to suffer from heart disease, cancers of all types, hypertension, high cholesterol, depression, diabetes, and yes...ovarian and uterine cysts and tumors.

Over the last couple of months I've cut meat from my diet and beginning July 7th I will officially cut all dairy and animal bi-products in order to adhere to a vegan diet. I know many people won't understand this decision and some loved ones won't support this. However, I think if everyone took the time to investigate the cruelty and torture animals suffer in order to feed humans, many would reconsider. I've never really understood the craving to let animal flesh rot in my intestines, yet it's what our culture accepts as normal. Or why it's cows and goats we drink the milk of...why not cats, rats or other milk-producing animals? Considering that there are so many natural food alternatives available in this day and age, the change seems like an easy decision.

Aside from my compassion for animals, the damage being done to our environment through the operation of livestock, poultry and dairy farms is truly shocking. I had no idea that 70% of the grain grown and 50% of water consumed in the US are used by the meat industry. Or that the amount of farmed animal manure produced in the US equals 5 TONS of waste for EVERY woman, man and child in our nation. Manure lagoons and sprayfields, the most common techniques used in farming for handling waste, pollute the air by emitting ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide and contaminate rivers, streams and groundwater through floods, bursts and leaks.

I could keep going but I don't want to make this an issue of preaching or condemning anyone's personal decisions. Just as I respect everyones choice of religion, sexual orientation and politics, this too is a very personal decision that each human must make for himself/herself. For me, knowing that I can save at least 50 animals a year by eating a vegan diet is enough to fuel this lifestyle change. Hopefully my example will help others.

Yes, I will miss goat cheese, and ice cream, and Hershey's chocolate, and pizza, and...the list goes on and on. But I know I will find new foods to love and crave.

So, here's to a long, healthy life for me, for many animals and for all others effected by my decision.

***DISCLAIMER: I will never, ever find compassion for mice or rats. Sorry rodents...you're on my "no guilt" list. I suggest you keep your distance at all times. Otherwise, good luck to you!