Well, I haven't written yet this year, and while that fact does not seem to be a disappointment to anyone, I figured I'd remedy that today. My New Year's resolution (or one of them, at least) is to complain less, so I am going to try to hold good to that one, at least.
I started my transition to vegetarianism probably back in high school, or at least college, when I stopped eating meat during the season of Lent. I was raised Catholic by my mother, and we at least observed most of the major rites/holidays of the religion. Probably the most important of these was/is Lent. Forty days and forty nights (not including Sundays, apparently) of giving up a vice. In my latter years of observing this season, I started giving up meat.
After college, I got a job in Washington, D.C., and moved out on my own. I worked with a bunch of guys (there were about six of us when I started) and every time at lunch we'd go out and get something. Burgers, fish, pizza, pho, you name it. It was a great time in the late 90's for food. I could eat whatever I wanted because I was making good money and I had a great metabolism. I'd take my burgers extra rare, and I'd eat cheese steak subs. I had gone out to a Christmas party with my younger sister's college roommate, and she told me about how meat was an inefficient way to get nutrients, but I didn't care, because I knew what I liked to eat. The following year, though, I met my future wife, and I took her to the Christmas party, and while she did nothing other than tell me she didn't eat meat... a few months after I got sick from a burger and decided I was done with it.
She and I were not seeing each other at the time, so I don't think that counts as giving up meat for a woman, but I decided to stop eating meat because I figured there was something wrong with the way they raise the animals just to kill them and feed us. I didn't know the whole story at the time (probably still don't) but I reckon it can't be too pleasant. I still ate fish, because I figured the fish probably lived a better life and were a healthier alternative. Last year I discovered both suppositions were false, so I stopped eating fish, as well. I feel healthier, though.
In the years that have followed my cessation of carnivorism, I have encountered many people trying to persuade me to begin eating animal flesh again. I have fended off these attempts with simple things like 'I feel healthier now' or 'I don't really care for the taste of meat, anymore' or 'I get ill when I eat meat anymore.' All of these statements are true, but that doesn't stop people from telling me that I have to eat animals to be healthy. The thing is, my sister's college roommate was right, meat consumption is an inefficient way to get nutrients. I have found out that I am correct in thinking that animals are abused when they are raised solely to be slaughtered. Last year how many tons of meat were recalled because of tainted practices?
Simply said, going vegetarian is better not only for the environment, but for your body, as well. Everything gotten from meat can be found lower down on the food chain, and the closer you get to the source, the better off you'll be. That's my take on it, anyway. Eating meat may be easier, but easier is not necessarily better. After all, would you rather drink the water from the mouth of the river, or from further downstream (after the towns and the factories)?
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