The blog I wrote in January 2018 but didn’t post until November 2018 #LIFE

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First. Blog. Ever.

By: Bailey K.

Started: January 6, 2018 : 10:09PM –

Here I am; writing my first blog. Woohoo!

I honestly don’t know where to start. It’s January 2018 and I feel like a completely different person. I’ve turned the new leaf of veganism. Now before you meat eaters stop reading, hear me out.

I’ll give you some background. I’ve eaten meat my entire life. Cheese was my bae. And yes I love animals, but never put what was on my plate in relation to the cute fuzzy cow in the field. I lived in South Carolina with my mom in who was a single mom to the ABZ’s; Alex and the twins Bailey & Zach. Our household was always healthy. My mom is an amazing cook. She would make things like Cube steak with gravy and saffron rice, steak with twice stuffed baked potatoes and a vinaigrette salad, and my personal favorite…Broccoli Chicken Curry Casserole with bunt pan biscuits. LAWD. But we had things like skim milk, special K cereal, and NEVER sodas/candy. My mom was a real stickler about these things which I totally understand now but I can also relate to having a little mouth that wants to eat you out of house and home.

Small Timeline:

-April 2012 my beautiful daughter ERK was born.

-September 2015 married my amazing handsome husband Brett.

-March 2016 moved to Louisville, KY to be around my Dad’s side of the family and explore new adventure.

Summer of 2017, I was sitting in Chipotle with my husband Brett and a coworker for a quick lunch. Brett has terribly high blood pressure and our coworker suggested to “try giving meat up for a week.” WOAH WOAH WOAH CALM DOWN WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?!… we thought to ourselves. A meal wasn’t a meal without a meat and two sides (meat and three on every corner in South Carolina). This coworker was unknowingly vegan-ish. I didn’t even know there was a difference between vegetarian and vegan. Getting to know her more questioned my entire existence. I am Christian, but how was I applying that? I do love animals, but I ate them. I do care about the environment, but wasn’t actively doing anything to help it. I do care about my health, but I never followed through on changing my habits in anyway at all. What in the world was I doing to contribute to the world?

Fall of 2017 I went partially vegetarian for the sake of my health. I felt better but I might have been over-consuming in cheese, yogurt, eggs, etc. which I thought were so “healthy” for you. At 24 years old, 5 feet tall, weighing the heaviest I’ve ever weighed even when I was pregnant, I had open ears. I skewered the web for vegetarian recipes but in the midst of all of that, veganism kept popping up. When I found out that veganism meant no dairy, eggs, milk, or meat… I couldn’t believe people actually did this. How? How is this even possible? You can’t have enough protein or vitamins to survive (as if I knew anything about protein or vitamins or sustainability). This exercise more or less just made me think a lot more about what I put into my body. It also made me question SO MANY things I ate before like…why I the world would THAT have some sort of ANIMAL PRODUCT in it?! It just didn’t make sense. You trust what these companies put on their shelves because they are “regulated by the FDA” but heck, McDonald’s is regulated by the FDA and I know y’all ain’t trying to start with me about McDonald’s!

October of 2017 I was traveling 7+ hours back to my home state of South Carolina from Kentucky. I frequently travel back and forth, but that’s a whole other blog post. I often listen to speeches, how-to videos, or something productive to pass the time. This time someone referred me to “The Best Speech Ever” but Gary Yourofsky. As I filled up my gas tank, grabbed a coffee, and plugged in my headphones I got a glance at this guy with his shiny bald head, white v neck shirt, khaki cargo pants, and rimless glasses. Driving down the mountain roads, the beginning of this speech prefaced but telling me how many times he’s been arrested. I really wanted to turn it off, but I couldn’t as the speech went on, I was convicted on so many levels it was unreal. It made a lot more sense as to why people were vegan.

I started with my health, with the reality of the environment, to the emotional cry of the animals and now I can’t go back. I tried eating a cheeseburger at my families dinner like I always had, but it made me sick. I could barely get through half of the burger. Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?

A few things to note since my vegetarian/vegan awakening:

• Thought I didn’t like Avocados, but I love them.
• How have I not had chickpeas before now?
• Quinoa is better than rice.
• TOFU = soy beans like edamame… this blew my mind. Really thought this was like some concoction of petri dishes LOL it ain’t bad!
• I’m a spoiled brat when it comes to tomatoes.
• Having this mindset is extremely eye opening to the world around me.
• I never thought I could get that many seeds/nuts in one smoothie.
• I have a whole other galaxy of food to try.
• Making my family experiment with vegan cheese, milk, deli, etc. is hilarious.
• How can you not at least try veganism given the benefits it has to your health and the environment?

2018 I’m a vegan. There’s left over Christmas candy and non-vegan butter in the fridge that will still be used in this process. I read labels, I have apps, and each day I do a little bit of research but I’m not perfect. I am sharing my journey along the way as I am learning, experimenting, and exploring. I still have so much to try and I hope you’ll join me!

 

So if you read this, thank you – seriously.

 

Love,

B