09 April 2010

Veggie Anniversary

Today marks the two month anniversary of my switch to vegetarianism. And guess what? I’m still alive! I still have all my brain functions!

 

And people still think I’m completely, irreversibly nuts.

 

The other night at a baseball game, I was talking to M and some parents after the Varsity game. They asked if I was staying for the JV game, but I said no, that I was hungry and needed to go home and have dinner. Here’s how the rest of the conversation went:

 

Parent: If you’re hungry, go help yourself to anything from the concession stand!

Me: (Parent’s name here), what in the world would I eat from there??

Parent: Oh yeah. Starts laughing. We need veggie hot dogs. (She knows I don’t eat meat, and we like to tease each other. But still, it’s a great idea in my opinion!)

Other Parents Standing by Us: What? Huh? Seriously?

My Dearest Husband: Oh yeah. She’s vegetarian. (Said in a loving tone, of course.)

 

Ahhh, life in a farming town. Obviously, I like to stir things up a bit. That conversation opened up a “you really don’t eat meat?” and “why don’t you eat meat?” Q&A session.  

 

My real reason? I’m in love with all things animal and do not want to contribute to their slaughter, no matter how weird people think that is. I love love love animals. Plus, you all know me – I take things way too personal. So how did you really think I would turn out after reading books like Charlotte’s Web as a kid? Personify an animal and I’m a goner.

 

Wilbur burst into tears. "I don’t want to die," he moaned. "I want to stay alive, right here in my comfortable manure pile with all my friends. I want to breathe the beautiful air and lie in the beautiful sun. ~ E. B. White

 

My I’m-not-insane-please-still-like-me reason? My genetically crappy disposition towards high cholesterol. People tend to not think vegetarianism is so weird when I give them that line.

 

And you know what? If you eat meat, that's fine. I'm married to a guy who would rather eat a hunk of beef or pork than anything that grows from the ground (unless it's covered in cheese) so I understand. That’s your absolute right and choice. I don’t want to be one of those fanatics that think I have to go out and convert the entire world to vegetarianism. (I have my hands full enough doing that in a more Christian realm, thanks to the Great Commission.)

 

Let’s be honest. Biblically, I don’t think eating meat is a sin – after the flood, God told Noah that it was finally ok to eat meat. Before that though, meat was a huge no-no. I don’t really want to start a “God gave us dominion over the animals” debate, because my idea of the definition of “dominion” does not involve asserting our ability to go out and kill any animal we want just because we can.

 

However, I believe we are called to be stewards of the earth, and as we all know, it is getting more and more vital to create a more sustainable environment for future generations. This might be idealistic, but think about it: all the crops grown to feed cows, pig and chickens could go to people who actually need the sustenance. Animals by nature are grazers - they don't need corn to survive. And if animals are meant for humans to eat, why did God give them the ability to feel pain and bleed like we do? He could have created them without nerve receptors or the ability to know fear. Compassion is as part of human nature as anything else. "I think there's something odd about eating another living anything." ~ Shania Twain

 

Personally, I just see the results of vegetarianism in my own life and know I am doing the right thing for me. I fully know that might not be the right thing for anyone else. But I do know that I don’t feel so weary and tired all the time, my skin is clearer, my hair is shiny and my nails are growing long and strong. I don’t feel so puffy around my middle – I just feel clean and healthy. I didn’t start out by thinking this would be a weight-loss thing, but I’m dropping pounds at a rate of 1-2 lbs per week. And best of all, I feel like I’m making a small difference in the world.

 

I’ve stuck with it long enough that the people who really know me have finally stopped asking me “do you still not eat meat?” (Even the guy who runs the cafeteria at the hospital knows. The other day when I walked in he was really excited to tell me they were serving veggie burgers in Line 2. And they were delicious!)

 

Being a vegetarian works for me. I like it.

 

Questions? Comments? This is your chance to tell me that 1) you understand completely or 2) I’m completely nuts and think I need to go eat a cheeseburger.

 

Free will. Free world. Isn’t it great we can all have our own thoughts and opinions?

 

Speaking of thoughts and opinions, I finally ditched my dark hair. It’s springtime!! Here’s the new ‘do:

 
 
This time next week I'll be in Texas visiting my sister!! Woot woot! She's already found some veggie-friendly places we're going to try. I'm uber-excited.
 

Today I love: Vegetable stir-fry and my Pure Cider Neutrogena lip gloss.


6 comments:

Mel C said...

I think vegetarianism is pretty cool, and I'm not opposed by any means... It takes a lot of dedication to stick to an eating plan like that. Because I crave a good hamburger pretty regularly. :)

Happy Veggie Anniversary!!

Unknown said...

You know me! I am a fellow vegetarian! Not because I'm all animal rights activist, but I do agree with the Shania quote. I can't imagine eating another "anything alive" either. P.S. I've been a vegetarian for about 18 years now and when you go out to eat always ask for things that look good WITHOUT the MEAT. There's alot of main dishes and appetizers that can be easily made vegetarian simply by their eliminating the addition of meat during the cooking process. (Pasta's are my weakness and almost all of them are merely topped with meat in some way...which can totally be eliminated) Good luck!

RCW said...

So excited about cooking veggie-friendly for you! It was a challenge to plan your vacation meals, but I love a good culinary challenge! We can't wait to see you! We just finished mulching our flowerbeds, mowing, weeding, and edging for you! It's beautiful!

Kayla said...

i love how it starts out as a "celebration" of being vegetarian and turns in to a theological discussion of the command given in Genesis to be stewards of the earth! ha, nicely done

MamaJolley said...

Happy Veggie Anniversary! Our son, Christopher is Vegan - and he has convinced me that eating mostly vegetarian is really a good thing for me, health-wise - so I'm not strictly vegetarian, but will choose veggie options more often than not. I do a lot of raw vegan options, as well. Good stuff!! And I agree about the complexion and feeling better - the best way I can describe it is that I feel "lighter" without losing a pound...
...but yeah! Congrats!!
- Deby

RCW said...

Addie, I enjoyed your post. It is quite funny that in a sense you've been interviewed like an alien from space so many times that now you've had to more or less hold a press conference in blog form or release a formal statement. Thanks for your encouraging comment on my blog! Looking forward to this week!

Oh yeah, as for my weighing in on your decision. I understand (though never completely). I don't think your crazy, but you really should try a cheeseburger. Texas is the perfect place to break a vegetarians will-power. Texas Barbecue = UBER-GOOD. Mexican Fajitas = OH YES. Texas Beef = MELT IN YOUR MOUTH AWESOME. :) It's a really great state, this Texas.