Stagnation

You get up.  You eat a carb-filled breakfast.  You complacently get through your work day. You run errands. You don't get everything done that you planned.  You settle for an unhealthy dinner.  You watch some TV.  You go to bed.

Lather.  Rinse.  Repeat.

It's just how life is.. right?  You eat, sleep, and work, and try to make life better for your kids than it was for you.  You imagine things that are the epitome of the "American Dream" and are convinced it's just that - a dream.  What was once a real possibility, at some point became a child's fairy-tale.  You don't have time to do any of that.  You've got work and bills.  You don't keep up with your hobbies, because you're exhausted after your long day.  What's the point?  It's not like your hobby would ever amount to anything... right?

This is my fear.  Stagnation and decay.  As a young girl, I dreamed of New York City.  I dreamed of being on broadway.  I've all but given up on it, because I am afraid.  I've never allowed myself to believe it's possible.  Even now I think, "It's too late.  I'm 21 already and I have no experience besides a middle school solo award."  Even discussing it, I wait for people to laugh.  How could I ever amount to anything like that?

It's this thought process that squashes dreams.  This willingness to listen to all the NO's out there.  The "you can't do it"'s.  The "you don't have enough talent"s.  The "where would you even begin?"s.   Who am I kidding?  These aren't from "out there."  These things are inside me.  I'm not sure where they came from, but they're within me, killing me slowly.

Maybe I've given up on broadway, but I haven't given up on everything.  I'll live the kind of life that I'll be proud of.

New to Being Vegan? Yeah, Me Too.

My previous interpretation of vegans?  Weird skinny hippies that didn't get enough protein.

My Experience? Hardly any.

I'm actually noob to this whole vegan thing.  I’d like to coin the term Veginner.  Spread the word.  In fact, only a couple of people I'm close to even know that I have made a change, so if you're considering becoming vegan, let me tell you, with a fresh memory, what the beginning has been like.

There are a few things so far that I’ve found challenging and liberating. Going out to eat is a bit difficult, as it seems most restaurants either include dairy or use animal byproducts to cook their food, but there are options out there, especially if you live in a larger city. I’m not the biggest fan of cooking, so I’ve had to be more open to doing so, but these changes have saved me quite a bit of money already.  Something that is both frustrating and exhilarating is the need to make sure that I am eating enough.  I’ve never had a problem with that before.  It’s not that I’m starving, in fact, I feel better than ever. However, since I’m still learning what nutrients are in what dishes, I have to be careful not to create a deficiency in my diet, which means keeping track of what I’m eating.

My home is not yet cleansed of animal products, because I’d rather not spend the money on replacing everything in my fridge and cabinets all in one trip.  Instead, I’m using the products until they are gone or expired, and will switch to vegan products one by one.  This also makes it easier to search for the best priced and best tasting alternatives.

Why did I switch?

I recently watched a couple of very interesting documentaries: Food Matters and Hungry For Change. Both were extremely compelling and offered some great perspectives regarding raw food diets versus processed.  This new information already had me leaning toward a vegan diet.  For me, it was a weighty realization.  I had grown up thinking that vegans were weird, skinny hippies who didn't get enough protein. Suddenly, the idea of a vegan diet didn't seem so crazy. On the contrary it sounded like a great opportunity for health.  

Previously, I had the "it's natural to eat meat" mentality, and I still think so, but I had heard neither a compelling argument concerning morality, nor any negative health information regarding a meat diet. I gained some new perspectives, and after realizing that in this Western society, a healthy life is completely possible and quite reasonable without meat or dairy, I couldn’t ignore this alternative.  What finally persuaded me to go ahead with it was one ten-minute video.  It's called What Came Before. I highly recommend that you watch it, but to those of you who have even a slight sentimentality for animals, it is graphic. It appealed to my emotions, which had previously never had a strong enough effect on me.  However, as I had already been considering a vegan diet for health reasons, I could no longer rationalize my meat diet with, “It’s just the way the world is.”

A few days into the switch, I watched Vegucated, which I'd heard good things about.  Those things were spot on.  It was an honest, yet persuasive documentary about people who had never experienced a vegan diet.  It addresses the issues people have with making what seems such a momentous change (i.e. no more steak), so it is relatable to someone who is just starting out or is considering it.  It also includes graphic footage from factory farms, which is very compelling on its own, and addresses the issue of environmental sustainability that has arisen with the increase in demand for meat within the last few decades. 

Zealotry is not my thing.

I do not presume or ever plan to be perfect.  Since I started the whole vegan thing, I’ve had my “slip-ups.”  My mom brought me her leftover chicken tacos, which I gave to my husband, I mean, after I ate a few bites. I’ve gone out to eat couple of times where I made an adjustment to vegetarian: once for cheese fries and a second for chips & queso.  Oh, and coffee creamer on a day I didn’t have my soy creamer with me.

Do I feel guilty?  A little. 

Do I think I deserve to?  No.  

Why?  As I said, I do not presume or ever plan to be perfect. 

The whole point of this endeavor is to be healthier and attempt to decrease unnecessary suffering by boycotting the meat and dairy industry.  Here’s some math for you:

•          8 ounces of meat per day = 1,460 pounds per year.
•          2 ounces of cheese per day = 91.25 pounds per year.   

When you cut these and other forms of animal byproduct from your diet, even by a small amount, you are still making a huge difference as an individual.  If you happen to inspire others to do the same, well, I think the numbers speak for themselves.  This is a personal choice.  There may be those who try to make you feel like an awful person for giving in to temptation, but you just keep doing your best.  The world won’t change overnight.

Suggestions from a Veginner:

•           Do your research
•           Find apps and reading material to help you
•           Find a vegan and ask questions
•           Don’t be afraid to try new things
•           Be patient with yourself
•          Don’t live with guilt - this should be a positive experience 

Choosing a Major, Majorly Sucks: Part 2

It has finally happened, and for the first time in a couple of years, I feel confident in my choice.  I have decided to major in Journalism: Professional Writing with minors in Anthropology, Women's & Gender Studies, and Spanish.  I intend to get my Master's degree, most likely in Women's & Gender Studies.

Through this process, I've learned that choosing a major indeed sucks, so I won't take that back.  I've got far too many interests, and trying to pick out the best path for myself has been hugely taxing, as I have had to discover the area where my aptitudes meet my greatest interests. However, it has made me realize that I shouldn't put so much weight on the decision.  Though I've been told by the countless sites online, advisors, and other students, it took a long time for it to sink in that it really isn't going to trap me into a life I'm not happy with.  Why?  Well, it's my life, and I can do whatever the ___ I want to with it.  In a year from now, if I suddenly realize I have a passion for accounting (not going to happen-but still), then I'll make that happen.

I've also learned that my 15 year old cousin is far too wise.  She has some big dreams, and more importantly a plan and the determination to see them through.  I was talking to her about this one day and telling her I envy her sense of direction, and she insisted that there has to be something that I think of when I imagine my future - one thing that my thoughts graze more often.  At the time, all I could think was, "Writing."  I've been full of self-doubt in this, as I'm unsure if I'm talented enough to make a career out of it.  I know that I'll regret it if I don't try, so I'm going to.  And that's that.


Now that that's out of the way, here are some useful tips for those just beginning the process:

• Do some soul searching.
• What kind of impact do you wish to have on the world and yourself?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What have you done that you're proud of?
• Who inspires you and why?
• Is there any occupation you've considered more than once?
• What specifically interests you about the career(s) you're considering?  
• Use your resources.
• Take some online assessments.
• Be honest with yourself.  If you don't enjoy doing math, that's OK! 
• Try different assessments and take them more than once with some time in between.  Doing this will help you narrow your focus to the things that you truly enjoy and are good at and help you weed out the things you're projecting from the career you're thinking of at the time.
• Meet with a career advisor.  
• Be open to new ideas, but don't be afraid to speak up and say, "No, I don't want to do that." The first advisor I had kept suggesting Hotel Management as a major.  Well, I worked at a hotel not too long ago and hated it  -  NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.  
• Interview people who work in the field(s) that you're considering, and see if any are willing to let you shadow them.  You can also interview students from upper classes to see why they chose the major they're in. 
• Relax!  
• It's all good.  A Bachelor's Degree is basically a standard now, so any major is going to help your resume.
• You've got time!  There are a couple of years of general classes, and you'll probably know early on when you reach the higher-level classes if you've made the wrong choice, so don't worry about getting stuck. 
• You're not alone!  I've been through this and so have many others.  Read this list of myths about Majors to help assuage your fears.

So long, farewell, and good luck!

Choosing a Major, Majorly Sucks Part 1

Ok, so I'm gonna be real self-centered on this first blog post.  I actually made this blog about two years ago, and guess what?  I never got around to writing anything.   Well, I'm done with that whole procrastinating thing now.  It's time for me to get off my ___, or rather to sit my ___ down and get to writing.

Choosing a major has been a huge source of anxiety for me for the past couple of years.  I'm finished with my core classes, so it's down to the wire and I need to make a decision.  I don't want to spend any more time deciding, but I also don't have the dough to take any random classes.  Here is a cute little line-up of my fickle-cell induced indecision:

Vet-Tech-->  Wildlife -->  English -->  Officially Undecided-->  Anthropology-->  Spanish-->  Political Science-->  International Relations-->  Astronomy/Physics-->  WTF?!

Tomorrow, I am going to part 2 of my Major Exploration appointment. I was on the brink of tears (pathetic right?) at Part 1, so I'm just done with the zig-zag.  By the end of this week I'll have made a decision, and I'll finally be able make a plan for finishing my degree (first in my family). I have narrowed my list down to 5, as requested:

• Anthropology
• Women's & Gender Studies
• Journalism: Professional Writing
• English: Writing (Accelerated BA/MA)
• Environmental Sustainability (Culture & Society)

I'm getting close, eh?

Regardless of what I choose, I feel that I need to incorporate writing.  It was one of my "artistic" go-to's as a child, and though I've neglected the talent (if I can call it that) for so long, I think it's there.  Therefore, I intend to update this blog weekly--I will, I really will!

**EDIT**
Well, I was mistaken.  Part 2 of my appointment is actually tomorrow, so stay tuned for the next update regarding my life choices.  I know you're all very excited.