For anyone making the transition to becoming vegan in 2021.. this is for you
Whether you're turning to veganism for health reasons, ethical standards, environmental factors or a combination of the three, there are some things I wanted to share. It's okay to not be perfect, it's okay if you mess up, or you make a mistake. That doesn't make you less than anyone else. There is honestly an insane amount of bullying in the vegan community that I see. This idea that everyone is meant to be vegan overnight or you're not vegan enough. These people that preach, well I did it and I wasn't even vegetarian first. We all have a moment of awakening, that causes us to change our views, but I think what our community needs is more inclusion, more niceness. This idea that there are perfect vegans is unrealistic. We make mistakes, we learn, we grow, we try to be better each day. So I want you to know, that while there's a handful of vegans out there like that, it's not all of us. It's a journey every day to be better, to try and to keep trying no matter what. So you accidentally ate something with milk powder in it, does that mean you're not vegan? It means that you've learned this, don't take it so hard, it happens, but keep trying. <3
I didn't go vegan overnight, I was vegetarian for seven or eight years and then I switched to non-dairy milks, then I stopped buying dairy products, I started researching more and more and then decided it's all or nothing. I've made mistakes and they used to make me feel SO bad, but it gets easier. It helps having a community you can rely on and trust and I don't want to be a part of a community that doesn't reach out and help and be there for those who are trying and are made to feel less than. I've always said the hardest part about being vegan isn't the options of food, or that it's the people that pick on you for it, lets not let those people include people IN the community. It makes no sense to me? Berate people to get them to go vegan? It won't work, it wouldn't work on me, it's about education, and learning so that's what I'm here for.
So, if you're doing Veganuary this year I'm proud of you. If you've decided to take milk off the table and switch to all almond milk, I'm proud of you. If you've decided to do meatless Monday's I'm proud of you. Never hesitate to reach out and ask for opinions, recommendations or meal ideas. I gotchu. I've been doing this now for almost six years and I can tell you some of the things I've learned along the way. In 2021 let's be more inclusive, let's be more helpful, let's show people that being vegan isn't as hard as it sounds. That no matter what steps you're taking, or how slow or fast you take them, the end goal is to better yourself, the planet and the environment and all it takes is one change at a time.
Xoxo,
Jessie Ann
