At 47, it's difficult to believe that it's been 18 years since that amazing day when I was 29 and decided to no longer participate in all of the cruelty that was happening in order for me to eat meat. I became a vegan.
I have never really looked backed.
No, it hasn't been difficult.
Difficult is being tortured, living in fear, being constantly abused and beaten and then eventually slaughtered just so someone can eat.
In the last 18 years veganism hasn't changed at all. It still is the simple notion that I can be healthy and live an amazing life without having to consume meat or animal by-products. If you are just learning about veganism, it means no meat and also no dairy, eggs, honey, etc. For me it also means that I do not wear animals, products like leather or even silk.
It is super easy.
My annual physical with my doc has become a testament to what veganism, and paying attention to putting good things into my body, means to my health. Uber-low bad cholesterol. Great numbers when looking at protein, B12 and other things that tend to be a concern for people who are not vegan. My doc even tells me now that there is a huge difference between blood tests of someone who eats meat and someone who doesn't. As in those who do not eat meat get better results.
Kale? Yep. I love it. I also love dates, blueberries, Swiss chard, collard greens and dark cherries.
Miss cheese? No way. To me dairy cheese means cruelty. It means veal calves and inhumane actions that I just can't support.
Last year I did my first half-marathon. I'm not saying that if I ate meat I couldn't do it, I'm simply saying that as a 47 year old vegan I did it.
Vegan athletes are everywhere. The strongest dude in the world is vegan.
And so are elephants. Yep. And rhinos.
Thinking about veganism? Go for it. There are a ton of helpful links right here on our blog page to help you out. And we would help you too.
This post originally appeared on Dan Hanley's website The Gay Vegans. Republished with permission.
