I, Melanie Shields, Am a Vegan!
good morning loves. below, enjoy an email we recently received from a reader and supporter of our blog. messages like this one always remind us of why we started blogging in the first place, and they always, always keep us going on this journey. yay!
Hello Lindsay!
Hopefully you remember me, but if not I'm sure this will be lovely news either way!
I
am so happy and proud and unbelievably excited to report that after
being blessed with a job I adore, and finally figuring out how to budget
for my own groceries, I can proudly proclaim, I, Melanie Shields, am a
vegan!
My sister gave me PETA's College Vegan Cookbook for
Christmas this year, and I made it my goal to slowly but surely make the
steps to becoming vegan. I'd been trying it off and on for about two
years, and I finally realized that I was going about it all wrong. I
couldn't do it the same way I became vegetarian, I had to do this
slowly. So, I've been trying my hand at cooking and navigating the maze
of gross versus delicious dairy alternatives, and have since purchased
many more awesome vegan cookbooks - including Alicia Silverstone's The
Kind Diet. Lindsay, seriously, if you haven't tried her peanut butter
cups... you are missing out on a world of taste heaven!! I made them for
my friend's birthday, mostly so that I could join in on the birthday
gluttony, and I swear not a single one was left while her entire
homemade birthday cake was untouched! I felt a little
bad but hey - they're just that good!! :-)
Anyways, I've been slowly weeding out dairy from my
diet for four months now. It has been so much more difficult than
becoming vegetarian was! I became vegetarian overnight, and never looked
back but along this journey I've realized I have a pretty concerning
obsession with cheese!! Hahahah! But I decided my love for the animals
was so much greater than my love of cheese, and luckily they have some
pretty kick ass soy cheese out there too!
It's been a long journey, as you know! I first
contacted you two years ago - I had been vegetarian for a year and was
trying to figure out what made sense for me. Now, as I look forward to
going away for university in Newfoundland this September, I know that I
am armed with knowledge, health, and an overwhelming sense of compassion
which I know will guide me through whatever challenges life throws at
me. I appreciate this journey so much more than the decision to become
vegetarian because it has been a real struggle. I had so many moments
where I thought I just couldn't do it, and I even questioned why I was
doing it! I would ask myself "why am I doing this? No animals are dying
for this, are they? I'm not hurting anyone!" I'm almost embarrassed to
admit those questions, but that's what this journey is all about -
gaining knowledge and compassion! I learned that not only am I hurting
innocent animals, I'm hurting my body too.
But I can now say that I have never felt so healthy
in all my life! My plan has been to weed out dairy in four months, and
this, the last month, will be a bit of a cleanse with absolutely no
dairy, making the "official" date of my becoming vegan March 31 - my
Vegeversary! It's almost sad that a seventeen-year old girl has just
begun to feel optimal health, but this was so worth the wait! I've
always been a bit overweight, and since going vegan, even in the
beginning stages, I lost fifteen pounds! I'm no longer in the "slightly
obese" category, and my body feels so invigorated. My skin glows, I
don't wear makeup anymore and everyone always asks me what products I
use. To that I say carrots! :-)
I have always loved and connected with nature, but
this new attitude has strengthened my relationship with nature so much.
Now that I truly understand the life around me, there is such a mutual
respect and love that comes from being in nature. I even feel more
connected to my dog, and maybe it's just me humanizing him, but I feel
like he knows that I've changed and loves me more for it. He follows me
around everywhere and doesn't protest so much when I take him on a steep
hike! (He's a Pomeranian, so he's very small and has a hard time on the
steep inclines!)
I know this is getting very long! I just wanted you
to know what an impact you and your blog have made in my life. Thank you
so much for keeping me inspired through the tough times, and for making me laugh through the good times.
I always look forward to reading your blog, and will of course continue to do so!
Thanks so much for everything, Lindsay! You've been a true inspiration.
Much love,
Melanie
Want to be featured on our blog? Send vegan success stories to kissmyvegan@gmail.com!
Comments
My sister Lindsay has had quite the impact on me as well. She got me to try Kathy Freston's "Quantum Wellness" vegan cleanse, that changed everything I thought about the way food affected me.
One cleanse, two attempts at a 30 day veg pledge, and 11 months vegetarian has led me to be Vegan for almost a year.
The best part about all of this is, you did it. This was a decision you made that meets your human need to grow, contribute, and find significance in life. This will truly be one of the most fulfilling decisions you have ever made.
Great story!