January: Amorena

Amorena, a New Mexico native, shares her story of making the decision to live out her values.

One of the first things I ever heard Amorena say was her reason for becoming vegan. She made the decision a little over a year ago and her answer stuck with me. I think it’s a powerful example of how we can take a stand and make a difference in the world.

I loved her answers so much that I kept it pretty straightforward.

Enjoy!

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Lately I've been in full Fall mode - planning trips to the Balloon Fiesta, carving pumpkins, making costumes, etc. I LOVE this season.
*Note: I apologize this isn’t being posted until winter.
 

Random fact:  when I was 6, my father (who is a musician) and I were both in that Beach Waterpark radio commercial that aired on the radio for like 10 years, until The Beach closed down. He was the main guy singing and I was one of the background voices.

Inspirations? Well I guess my mom is a really good role model. She has always tried to lead as healthy a life as possible. She truly believes that our health is one of the most important things we have, and it's worth investing time/money/effort in. 

What motivated you to take on this lifestyle change?
It was a bunch of things.
I knew it would result in me being healthier, and, like my mom, I think that physical health is really important for living a happy life, and should be a life-long pursuit. I wasn't sure if this lifestyle would work out for me, but I figured it was worth at least giving it a shot.

But more than being about physical health, it was about spiritual health.
It was about trying to actually *live* my values. I've always known that animals get horribly mistreated within the egg, dairy, and obviously the meat industries, treated like items/products, instead of like living beings. I've always known this, yet continued to contribute to that system by buying meat and animal byproducts. I really believe that our dollar is our vote, so when we buy something, we're voting for it, and saying to that company, "Yup! You're doing it right! Keep it up!"

Finally I thought to myself, "If I really believe that this is a bad system, how can I continue to vote for it?" I felt like I knew the facts, yet I was pretending I didn't... and I was walking around feeling guilty. Instead of taking action to alleviate that guilt, I was just ignoring it.

I decided that this was unhealthy behavior, and that in order to put my mind and conscience at ease, I needed to start walking the walk. So, I think of my veganism as my vote against cruelty, and as a way to "flip the bird" to corporations that don't seem to have any respect for life, the planet or for the consumer!

Also, I kind of feel like if I consume something that came from a sad animal, I'm somehow consuming a piece of that sadness... I know that sounds weird, but I guess it just seems unhealthy to eat something that spent its life being sickly and miserable. 

Have you noticed any changes in your life since you've become vegan? 

I actually read the labels on the food I buy now! And I have a better idea of what nutrients I'm supposed to be getting everyday - when I first became vegan, I actually made an effort to learn about healthy eating. Before that, I kind of just ate whatever. Honestly, I'm still probably not getting enough of certain vitamins, but I know I'm doing better than I was when I was an omnivore, because I'm actually thinking about it now.

It's an ongoing process for me to try to become healthier and healthier, try to cook at home more, increase the percent of my diet that is accounted for by green things. It's a journey.

What has been the hardest part about making the shift?

I find myself explaining my dietary restrictions and reminding people of them often. I sometimes crave foods I can't have, and sometimes feel a little left out when it comes to social eating situations, or like my dietary restrictions are a burden to others. But these are really just inconveniences.

I haven't felt any real negative consequences from going veg.

I guess the thing that plagues my mind and confuses me most is that I don't fit into my own stereotyped-vision of what a vegan is, which makes me feel like I'm somehow not "doing it right" or not being vegan enough. But what I'm realizing is that all vegans and vegetarians don't look and act the same. A vegan = you - animal products. And that's really it. This lifestyle only determines whether you consume things that come from animals, not how you dress, whether you own a TV, how you spend your free time, etc. 

What have been the most positive things about shifting?

Veganism seemed like this big, difficult thing until I actually tried it. I'm glad I finally broke down that wall, and gave it a try. Actually it's lead me to do other things I'd never done before (I've started a vegan food revue blog - www.abqvegans.wordpress.com), and it’s lead me into friendships I might not have found otherwise.

I think a lot of us talk about things that upset us, or things that we wish we could do, but we don't actually take any action to make any changes. I feel like I'm living a life with a little more integrity now, and this has also gotten me thinking about other beliefs I have that I'm not living up to. I see veganism as the first of many steps toward a life that I can be proud of.

It's hard to make big life changes, but I've done this much, so I know it's only a matter of time before I break down another wall, and then another, toward a more physically and spiritually wholesome life.

A vegan friend of mine once told me, "It's not about perfection, it's about progress."

It's a start

I've always seen service to others as a given. It's something that we should all do and really the only thing I've ever known I've wanted to do. From a young age I exhibited characteristics of a caregiver, although my siblings I'm sure would sing a different tune. Some may say nurturer is a natural female trait, although I've worked with children for several years and I can tell you that young girls are often the toughest crowd.

I remember my senior year of high school having to put together a portfolio. This portfolio was supposed to highlight your successes throughout the four years spent in high school and outline how you plan on using those "skills" to pursue your future career. How anyone can think a teenager is 100% certain what career they want to pursue is mind boggling but, it was a requirement none the less. As is still true today I remember writing that I wasn't sure what I wanted to be when I grow up or what job I wanted to have but one thing was for sure, I promised to continue to serve others. The teacher I was presenting to paused and marveled at that. He told me that it was an amazing thing to have such clarity at a young age in such a pure mission.

After I graduated I kept my promise. I continued volunteering. I worked for organizations dedicated to serving the community. While I have valued each and every experience, I have begun to wonder whether any of it really makes a difference. If any of the time or energy any of these people put in really counts in the grand scheme of things. I began to work with cynicism. Rather than feeling optimistic and connected to the communities I was serving I began to feel jaded.

How was any of the genuine work of so many going to make a difference?

That's how I thought of this idea. Some times it can get very easy to focus on the negatives. It can be easy to see all of the things that are missing and lacking and wrong. I'm starting this project with the selfish hope that it will restore my faith in humanity and maybe, help us all to see more opportunities and ways to make the world we live in a better place.

This blog will honor those working, in their own way, to make our world better. I plan on posting at least one story a month sharing the goodness of others. I'll be keeping my eye out for moments of good and share them here, but I don't want to do this alone.

If you know someone doing something great (big or small) nominate them to be featured here! We should all be supporting and recognizing the positive work being done. I hope this blog reminds readers that community is about support and connection and allows us to savor the moments when everything aligns and we all have clarity enough to see that.