Many people think about becoming vegan, discuss it with their friends, and then give up because they think it is going to be too difficult. Some people think about becoming vegan, actually stop eating meat for a while, discuss it with their friends, and then give up because their friends tell them they are hypocrites.
If you find yourself in this situation there are two things you need to get clear on straight away:
- Real friends support you when you discuss your beliefs and decisions with them.
- No one has the right to tell you what you can and cannot do as a vegan.
Something went through your mind relating to veganism, or you would not be here reading this now. Something has attracted you to the idea of veganism and maybe you just want to know more about what veganism is. Maybe you are thinking about becoming vegan but are not sure what that would require you to do. Well the purpose of this site is to help you nurture those ideas, in a supportive way. We want to help you see veganism as a journey that you can begin with small steps, rather than a sudden massive change which will destabilize your entire life.
Most people start thinking about veganism for one of the following four main reasons:
- They realize that veganism will improve their health, reduce their weight, make them more physically attractive, and significantly reduce the probability of them being struck down by serious illness. This is great thinking and there is a massive amount of science to support this view.
- They realize that the meat and dairy industry are responsible for massive damage to the environment. These industries are responsible for an extremely high proportion of greenhouse gases. They are responsible for massive deforestation internationally, and they are responsible for considerable pollution both of the environment and of the planet’s water table. This is great thinking too, and there is a massive amount of science to support this view.
- They realize that all sentient beings on the planet have feelings, dreams, and aspirations just like they do. Mother cows, and sheep, and horses, and pigs, all love their children in the same way humans do. All parents in the animal kingdom will fight to the death to protect their mates and their offspring. When people truly realize this, the thought of killing and eating animals becomes revolting to them. This is also great thinking and there is plenty of evidence to back this up.
- The fourth main reason some people decide to become vegan is they realize that it is a very cool fashion statement with a lot of side benefits. That is true too, and a great reason for going vegan. We don’t care why you want to go vegan. We just want to help you succeed at becoming vegan and remaining vegan.
This site is not here to tell you there is only one true way to go vegan. It is not here to tell you all the rules you must follow if you want to be vegan. It is simply here to support you on your vegan journey. We want you to be successful regardless of what success means to you.
We know from experience that veganism is a journey that starts with a small step. This may be as simple as you stop eating meat one day a week. Maybe you just start by drinking your coffee black, or with soy rather than milk. We also know from experience that after you successfully take that first step, you will take another step, and another step. Whatever your original reason for going vegan, we know that with time you will start seeing the validity in the other reasons we have listed above. With time you will develop a set of personal rules for yourself about veganism that you are comfortable with. You will realize that your personal rules are just that, your personal rules. You do not have to justify them to anyone else.
This site is here to support you. If you feel you are strong enough in your veganism to support other people who are considering veganism, that is great but don’t give them a set of rules or focus on what they are doing wrong.
Veganism is an ideal and as such it is impossible to attain perfection. It is a journey where you continually seek to learn more and improve yourself. Stay true to the ideals and everyone on the planet benefits.
If you have ever been unfortunate enough to have been a smoker, and fortunate enough to have kicked the habit, you will know that there are times when people slip up. They stop smoking for a period of time and then one day something happens, and they reach for a cigarette. The key to successfully quitting smoking forever is in how you explain this to yourself. If you see yourself as successful non-smoker that has reduced your smoking to one cigarette in six months, you are far more likely to remain a non-smoker. If you explain it to yourself in a way that makes you feel like you just failed at giving up smoking, you are going to have a problem freeing yourself from the addiction.
The Vegan Society definition of veganism is ‘… a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals …’
Note carefully the words ‘as far as is possible and practicable’. You are the only person that has the right to define what these words mean for you.
