If you knew me before December of 2014, you would have never guessed that I would become a vegan. To start with, I am Korean, which by default makes me a meat-lover, and American, which also makes me a butter, bacon, fast-food loving fanatic. I had the Asian "skinny genes" which allowed me to eat pretty much anything without gaining significant weight, so my food choices always revolved around meat and fatty food. You know, they tasted heavenly and so right, like this was how it was supposed to be.
Sometime in the end of November, I randomly came upon some documentaries on Netflix. The very first documentary talked about the danger of the Western diet and the importance of juice cleanse. I am not much of a juice cleanse believer, so I said "yeah, yeah. I know I probably should eat less fatty food" and brushed it off. But one documentary led to another, and I found myself watching documentaries about how animals were treated in factory farming, the China Study, how animals were harming the environment, etc.
I always knew in the back of my mind that I should not be eating meat (as a self-claimed animal lover), and I always wished I was a vegetarian of some sort. But of course, I could NEVER be a vegetarian. I just loved meat so much. These documentaries made me realize that this issue was something that I had been avoiding all my life. But even then, I did not have the courage to change, even as I was crying for the poor animals that I would have for that dinner.
After watching pretty much all food-related documentaries on Netflix, I began my own online research about this topic. I listened to online presentations and Tedtalks, watched more youtube videos, and read some books. More and more I researched, I found out more about the truth behind our food industry and was really disgusted by it. This was it. I had to change. I refuse to support this inherently violent act! I could no longer walk around labeling myself as an animal and planet lover and eat a big giant steak for dinner.
Even at that point, I did not have the courage to call myself a vegan. What if I failed? I didn't want to be a failure! So for the majority of December, I would opt for vegan/vegetarian meals without having a label for myself. This worked great, until I found myself eating a big spicy pork burrito. This was a lunch that my boyfriend had bought me, and I just felt bad not eating it. And you know what, I felt worse afterwards. I realized that this cannot continue; I wasn't accountable for my actions! So at the end of December, I "became" a vegan.
Today is January 14th of 2015. It has not been long since my big decision. It was not an easy decision, but I stand by it 100%. Many people don't support it or believe in it. People tell me to have a "cheat day" and ask me when I'm going to stop being a vegan. I don't expect everyone to understand. But this is the start of my journey as an animal loving, planet respecting, and peace advocating person that I always hoped to be.
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