Apologies for the lack of internet presence this past week. My motherboard went on my (brand new) computer and it just got resuscitated yesterday. It was such a terrible ordeal, but everything seems to be running smoothly now. Hooray for a functioning computer!
Anyways, I owe everyone a belated Happy World Vegan Day (November 1st)! And happy World Vegan Month as well. Here’s to a month of awareness, good food and good people!
I recently realized that I’ve made this blog a bit impersonal. This was somewhat intentional, as I wanted to just concentrate on providing information and not on myself, because honestly I’m a bit boring. But I think this might be putting up a wall between my readers and I. Correct me if I’m wrong but vegans are typically creatures of community and compassion. I think most people value opinions more if they actually know the person. So I plan on making chic vegan a bit more personal, but with all the same great info.
World Vegan Month is the best time to recap my journey to vegan-dom and where it has brought me in life. So here goes my (vegan) story:
I’m Mandi. I am a website developer among other things. I live in the Philadelphia area with my boyfriend (a very pleasant omnivore… we will call him Doodlebug), and my two sugar gliders named Sailor and Lula. Sailor and Lula came from a man who bought them from a breeder and quickly realized he could not care for them, as they are a handful and require some serious dedication. I gladly took them off his hands. They are now my rascally little darlings.
I became vegan on December 26th, 2006 after watching PETA’s “Meet your Meat” video. Trite – I know, but love PETA or hate them that video is pretty damn disturbing. Prior to that I always had struggled with meat. I had already cut out pork and most red meat, and I am severely allergic to seafood. Growing up, my family was not very health oriented and knew little about what they were shoveling into their mouths. I was raised on a diet of doughnuts, Mac and cheese, and deli meats. Oh, how I shudder at the thought of my former existence.
To be quite honest, going vegan was hands down the best decision I ever made. I had suffered from horrible allergies, chronic bronchitis, and constant drowsiness my whole….entire….life. One month of vegan living and *poof* -it was all gone. Breaking free from my former SAD life, I learned all about different, diverse and nutritionally dense foods. I started cooking (before I could only boil water and make toast), and now I cook all kinds of delicious meals with success. I also feel better about myself, knowing that I am dedicating my life to making the world a better place for animals and people alike. Naysayers don’t bother me because I know at the very core of my being that what I am doing is right.
After the vegan transfer, I had all of this new found energy. So naturally I started running, yoga, and spending more time at the gym. Exercise was finally a beneficial experience instead of a stressful and draining one. Then, about a year and a half ago, I took it a step forward and started training in the circus arts. I now have a somewhat expansive repertoire on the rope, fabric, and static trapeze. I’ve also recently been working on contortion and hand balancing. In the near future a plan on taking a professional circus program. Yes folks, I am running away and joining the circus! So the next time someone tells you that you can’t have strength, energy, and endurance because you are vegan, you can let them know that they are VERY wrong. I know this for a fact.
That is pretty much it. I spend most of my time developing websites, reading, writing, and playing in circus-land. I hope you guys enjoyed this little peak into my life and I promise to be more candid in the future. Now… tell me about you!!
Oh! Also, I have a few things planned for Chic Vegan that are really exciting. Including an e-book, giveaways and some fun community interaction. Stay tuned for more info!
Excellent! I’ve been veggie since I was about 12 (though I do use dairy/no eggs). It’s great to have you in the club! A very compelling story, and you can not over estimate the health benefits (though in a recent dicussion a meat-eating friend told me she enjoys being grumpy, gassy and constipated, so who’s to say?). Anyway, yeah, it’s better for you, for the animals and for the planet (can you say factory farm?) , so thank you. Also, I am totally envious of your circus skills!