How long have you been vegan? is a question that brings out mixed feelings inside of me. On the one hand, I feel proud of being vegan for as long as I have been. On the other hand however, this question makes me wonder whether or not I’ve done enough for the animals. Maybe this is just who I am, but I do think sometimes that I need to do more.
When I first started off as a vegan, my motivations were selfish. The reason I say selfish, is because I chose to be vegan for my own health *shocker*. The concept of morality and being an active voice for the animals wasn’t in the forefront of my mind—it wasn’t there at all. It took me a few months, and even years, to develop a sense of urgency towards the fight for animals. This has been an arduous, yet rewarding, feat so far.
I’ve learned so much about various industries that exploit animals, and I’m still learning to this day. I’ve managed to boil this down to almost every aspect of my life; from what I eat, to what I wear, even the toothpaste that I use! Suffice to say, this still begs the question of, can I do more?
Proactivity, Not Reactivity
I learned a very big life lesson, and that is to always be proactive rather than reactive. Proactivity allows you to take matters into your own hands. You no longer become your life’s bystander, but rather, become an active individual in shaping its course. Sometimes, we feel blanketed by our life’s circumstances, and we become frozen in time. I think inherently as humans, change is something that frightens us, because it invites the unknown. Unbeknownst to us, change is like the seasons. Sometimes it’s cold and gloomy, other times it’s bright and cheery. Nonetheless, change is vital. When I decided to become vegan, I committed to a lifestyle that is different from what I was used to. This isn’t to say that becoming vegan was a sacrifice, but rather, it was an unprecedented reality shift.
Before I turned vegan though, I was constantly watching vegan YouTubers, learning each and every day about the movement. Funny enough, I remember one time I watched a video on veganism whilst eating fried chicken—quite bizarre if I have to say so myself. But, what I’m trying to get at, is that it took me a full year of consuming content to finally realise that I wanted to transition. When I did want to transition, I thought it would be best if I started off as a vegetarian. Fortunately, that didn’t last very long (only two weeks), which prompted my decision of going vegan.
If you have been unsure of going vegan for the longest, then the best way to overcome this uncertainty is by trying. You will never know if you’re going to succeed at something if you don’t give it a shot. So, have a go at it and go big!
Do The Research
Research is key. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to develop strong research, and critical thinking skills, when deciding on a life altering action. Although veganism is not as profound as some other life choices, like buying a house or having a child, it is still nonetheless a very deep rooted subjective choice. The reason I say this, is because there is no such thing as a “part-time” vegan. Once the connection has been established, the individual choices that one makes will reflect outwardly. By saying this, every time someone decides to buy something that is cruelty-free, they’re incrementally supporting a cruelty-free product. Over time, if the product is doing well, it will become normalised and popularised. In short, we vote with our money.
Today, there’s a myriad of different vegan and cruelty free options on the market. We’re really living in an ever-changing world where being vegan is not only easy and affordable, but it is slowly becoming normalised. For instance, Veganuary (Vegan-January) commences at the start of each new year to promote positive lifestyle choices. In the UK for instance, over 500,000 people joined the movement last year, and the numbers are growing exponentially. Restaurants and supermarkets alike, release many new items on Veganuary, and even during festivities like Christmas and Easter.
Additionally, social media has played a big role in promoting veganism across the world. There are many vegan activists, influencers and celebrities that are spreading their messages on different platforms, from recipes and educational videos, to speeches and articles. The plethora of resources available on the internet has become unmissable, and as a result, more people are aware of the vegan lifestyle and overall message.
The Power of Empathy
Like anything that requires commitment and time, veganism develops internally and externally the longer you’re doing it for. Suppose you want to run a marathon, or start your fitness journey. At first, you might struggle with running a mile, or knowing how to use the machines at your gym. As you start picking things up, you become better and more efficient. You start running more miles, and now you’re lifting heavier weights. Eventually, you will reach a point where you have made these things a habit, and the initial goal that you had set out for yourself becomes something that is tangible. You no longer become pressed by the fact that you need to run 26 miles, or lose 50 pounds, but rather, you are motivated towards these goals.
Once you smash through them though, you would have clocked in enough hours where discipline takes over, and running or lifting becomes part of you daily life.
This is similar to being vegan. At first, you start cutting out all the animal products in your diet. You begin to switch things around, and you might have to learn new recipes. Over time, you stop wearing animal products, and you become pickier when choosing the cosmetic products that you buy. After a while, you start embracing a life that you feel at peace with, knowing well in your heart that you are alleviating as much unnecessary suffering towards the animals as you can. You become connected to the cause, and you no longer see this as a solitary journey, but rather, a collective step towards a more empathetic path. Whereas discipline drives you to go on a run or hit the weights, empathy keeps you from harming others.
Accept and Unplug
I started to write blogs about veganism since 2018, and in 2021, I partook in real life activism (outreaching). I understand that there is a bigger role to play, and as such, I want to become a voice for the voiceless. However, others might be less “involved” in vegan activism, and that’s completely fine. No matter how you approach it, veganism is not an individualistic endeavour. I believe that if you have established your personal connection, then being a voice for the animals should come naturally to you. Whether this is through an open conversation with family or friends, at work, or even in public, just voicing out what happens to the animals behind closed doors could open up someone’s mind to a hidden reality.
No matter what, I am personally happy to track the progression of veganism every year. I believe that the future will be vegan, and that animal agriculture as we know it, will cease to exist. Does this sound idealistic? Maybe. But I’d rather say “Yes” than “No”. Technology is ever-evolving, and the climate emergency crisis has become a “real” deal. Although there’s a long way to go, the incentive to cut down on emissions is in the forefront of many people’s minds, and one of the best ways to do this would be to cut down on/eliminate our intake of animal products.
In short, the time for change is now, and the world is slowly accepting a new Vegan reality. Whether it will arrive tomorrow or in ten years, collective societies will be more open to building a connection with our animal friends, rather than endlessly destroying it.