Veganism: The Next Frontier

My Vegan Journey

My Vegan Journey

I was, like most, raised from adolescence that humans need animal flesh to survive, without animal flesh or derivatives we will surely perish.

Is this not what most believe?

These beings were created, cultivated, bred, or randomly spawned for humans to do what they please, their existence is simply for our survival.

Like most, this was my attitude, animals are mere products.
We express our love for animals, go to zoos, and wildlife parks, and help random animals in need on our daily life journeys, yet, maintain a double standard for a 5-minute euphoric sensation on a plate.

It’s a bit hypocritical if you ask me.

Then again, culture, indoctrination, and superiority seem to be the theme of human nature.

If I whine before being led to my death, I suffer.
If I display emotions, I have consciousness.
If you sense pain, you are sentient.

I am not innocent, I took part in the slaughter of innocent beings. I never said that I am innocent. Even as a child I abused and misused animals, this is part of the culture.

The only difference is that I chose to change my ways, I chose not to ignore the cries of innocence for a 5-minute euphoric sensation. I chose not to live blinded by a generation who educate their offspring that slaughtering innocence is okay and that this way of life has been done for generations.

So why change?

Life before pursuing veganism
A part played

Looking back on my life, I feel ashamed and guilty for the suffering I have inflicted on others. Not only animals but all life in general. I  am ashamed, I will never hide this fact because only through acknowledgment can we learn to move forward.

Let me say it louder, "I had a massive part to play in this socially accepted suffering!"

Every so often glimpses of the atrocities of my past would flash through my mind; a single tear rolling down my cheek engulfing my skin in goosebumps.

Glimpses of moments from my adolescence where I would walk around with a pallet gun and shoot birds simply because I could, because I was taught that certain species of animals are more important than others, or that all animals actually feel pain and experience emotions.

I never understood the ramifications of my actions.

Mindlessly consuming animals, leaving a trail of crimson-soaked suffering in my wake. Unfortunately, like most humans, this is my tale due to ignorance and generational indoctrination.

I never knew that a cow had to be with child to be able to produce milk, did you? I learned this fact only when I started researching veganism. Not once in my life, on tv, in school, or in parental teachings did anyone mention that cows could not produce milk if not pregnant.

I always assumed that this was a natural occurrence. They show you the cow udders and how the farmer milks the cow, then we automatically assume that cows naturally produce milk.

Acceptance without comprehension is the mother of all lies.

Here we are, a man with a crimson-dribbling past who changed his ways, pleading with the world to change its systems. If not for compassion, then at least for yourself.

Mental health complications

My mental instability felt like a curse most of my life, from youth mental health instabilities have been haunting my mind, pushing me to the brink of insanity and suicide attempts. This is recognized throughout most of my written works.