Why I have become a vegetarian

in #food7 years ago

I have not been eating meat for four years now.

During all this time people around always asked me why and it became a really challenge for my family and friend to cook for me in occasionally meetings. I’ve never asked for vegetarian food. I can face any meeting without discussing my culinary preferences. I am not embarrassed, nor proud. It’s just a fact of my life and I do not need to make a conversation about it.

Still, there were many persons that asked me why. Every time I answered “just like that, I do not eat meat” in that way that does not let room for more questions.

In fact, I did not know how to define my vegetarianism. I feel like not eating meat. It’s not something rational, it’s a feeling, that need that comes from the heart with no other question. I need to be vegetarian. My soul needs it.

But I started asking myself why, as I use to ask myself about many of my decisions, my feeling, my rational mind, my life and my soul.

Asking this, I have discovered that everything has started long ago. I was a teenager when there was a big flood in the small town where I grew up. With the flood there came the rats but, most of all, bugs of all sizes. They were everywhere on the street, day and night and they were hitting you in your head, on your body, even trying to enter your mouth. Quite disgusting. I hated bugs.

I still don’t really like them if I have to cross words with them. When I see them with all their legs and the dark colours, I feel a sort of fear.

In that period after the flood I remember walking on the street and stepping over the bugs without wanting. I remember the sound of their bones broken under my shoes and my body still vibrates. That sound was terrible for me. I hated bugs, but I also hated killing them.

The years passed and I forgot in a certain way about that episode. I have met a few vegetarian people in my life; some were very proud of this fact, but some were humble, the ones that made it because they felt like that. Being a vegetarian was part of their life, it wasn’t something extraordinary. It was like they were saying they liked cranberries and disliked mint ice-cream. Simple and natural.

The idea of becoming a vegetarian started to come into my mind, but it was not solid as I had no motivation. After some more years, there came the moment I understood I did not want to eat meat anymore.

I was spending time with a very young baby from our neighbourhood. She was wonderful and made me be surprised about the miracle of life. Then, one day, I was cooking a chicken. It will sound hilarious and maybe completely insane, but when I saw the dead chicken body that I was about to slice and cook, I was thinking about that little girl’s body, they were so similar - small legs and hands, a big body as only young human beings have. That moment I saw the similarities of life from more angles: nature replicates patterns over and over. And that is absolutely gorgeous!

I stopped eating meat as I felt so. And I do no think this a a recipe for life and I have never tried to convince anyone to eat like me. This is my way of celebrating life, of contemplating the universe, of being grateful for everything that is created around me and makes up my world.

And I have to say, this is my way, not a way that someone else should follow. This is a personal choice and it has nothing grandiose in it. I am sure there are many people out there that eat meat and celebrate life every day much better than I do, as I am sure there are vegetarians that do negative things to the environment and themselves.

image source: pixabay.com

Sort:  

@aninamaev On behalf of the #steemitbloggers, I upvoted this AWESOME post as a part of the recently launched #steemitbloggerssupport initiative.

Only a pleasure :)

nice post, I think that like you say every person has to choose what to eat, and it's a big change but I think is healthyer for you and for all the planet in general!
It was nice to read your story, it can be a nice inspiration for someone

I am glad you found it interesting. Thank you for stopping by!

I was vego because my parents became vego in 1976. Can't imagine eating meat now.

I feel you. There were moments when I was very hungry and the smell of a bbq seemed awesome. So I tasted some meat, as I use to listen to my body, and it was not that awesome any more. My body was yelling “I’m am hungry, but is there another option please?”

Ha yes!!! Bacon is always tempting!!! But theres always willpower!!!

Ja-ja! Yes!
You touched a subject that is in my attention lately: willpower. I kinda believe (not totally convinced by now) that willpower is something limited, like finite every day or in a certain amount of time. If we have something that consumes us a lot of energy/willpower, there is not much room for other things.
For example, I think being on a diet in a stressful period is a lot harder.

As I told, these are open ideas. What is your opinion? Is will power limited or not? Is a good motivation enough to generate infinite willpower?

It's not limited, I don't think. It depends what you are talking about. Maybe it starts off as feeling limited but with practice becomes such a habit that no strong power is needed... it's just will. Like compassion, or not eating meat, or daily meditation, or believing in something that drives your whole existence...

So you are saying that willpower can become, at a certain point, a habit. Very interesting point of view! Thanks a lot!

YES!! Say you are really tempted by sugar. You think about it all the time. Crave it. If someone brings out a cake you're like all a jitter, wanting that thing. But the more you use your willpower, eventually you just look at it and the habit is there - there's no real reaction, just a 'no thanks, I don't eat sugar' - an almost automatic response. No big deal.

Uuh! I really like this kind of way of thinking. For now my mind/willpower does not work like that. I mean, I believe there is a moment when you can say easily "I don't eat sugar", but it takes some time until that mindset is stable

I stopped by from #steemitbloggers because the title of this post resonated for my. I think that our bodies tell us what we need to eat and that we should just do that. Although I am not a vegetarian, I do lean in that direction and that features quite a lot in my cooking and my menus. All the best with this journey which, from your post, seems to be both a "body" and an ethical choice. Makes sense to me!

I totally agree with you that our bodies tell us all we need to know, but learning to always listen to it is one of my goals. I think every pain, every hurt has to do with the way we treat ourselves, both physically and mentally and if we learn to be in connection with ourselves I believe great things can happen. My journey, as yours, has started and hope to get there one day.
Thank for stopping by and no matter what you decide to eat, I wish you only good vibes!

I agree with you, we choose to live the life we feel comfortable with, as a respect to our body intelligence. Great post!
From the family of #steemitbloggers.

I am so glad you liked it! I also believe being satisfied and happy with ourselves and our lives is one of the best things we can do!

Totally a YES!

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.26
TRX 0.29
JST 0.045
BTC 101426.92
ETH 3906.37
USDT 1.00
SBD 3.67