It’s new year’s eve and you know what that means- time to roll out the resolutions.
Maybe yours is to finally ask out your crush, or to be more bold in your business decisions,
or perhaps to lose those stubborn last five pounds,
or to save more money and get out of debt,
or maybe to finalize the implementation of your plan to become the unquestioned all-powerful
vegan overlord master of the universe supreme queen of the internet in the name of the animals!
Did I just say that out loud? Whatever your resolution may be,
do not go vegan for the new year.
Hi it’s Emily from bite size vegan and welcome to another vegan nugget. Now you may be wondering
why I of all people would be advising against making veganism a new years resolution. I
mean, don’t I want more vegans in the world? Isn’t that kind of the reason that
I'm doing all of this?
[ding]
Well let me explain. With the new year always comes our hardened resolve and renewed commitment
to our goals. And that all lasts…maybe a week or two. In fact a 2014 study in the University
of Scranton journal of clinical psychology showed that only 8% of us are actually successful
in achieving our resolutions. 25% of us maintain fail within the first week and 54% of us within
6 months. This is the same reason I don’t advise approaching veganism as a diet- diets
and resolutions have a nasty habit of being broken when temptation or apathy becomes too
great a force. They simply don’t last.
We are human. It’s in our nature to give up on things we find too challenging or overwhelming.
And that’s why being vegan has to reach beyond a diet or well-meaning resolution.
Because while being vegan certainly can revolutionize our health for the better and aid in desired
weight loss, it has a far great impact than any physical trappings we may dream up.
Going vegan saves lives. Pure and simple. Sure it may decrease your waistline but it
will save his life. It may give you renewed energy and vitality, but it will keep this
family together. It may help you get off your medication but it will set her free. And it
may cure your disease but it will save her from violation.
Veganism greater than you and me. And falling off a vegan new years resolution means more
than breaking our word. It means the continuation of the needless exploitation, torture, and
murder of innocent, sentient beings.
So this year, don’t make going vegan your resolution. Make it your purpose, your passion,
your lifestyle, your gift to the animals. Put them first. Because in a moment of weakness
it may seem like one deviation won’t ruin your figure or your new found health, but
it will mean life and death to them. And don’t they deserve a new year of their own?
Now if you want to go vegan to improve your health, I say go for it. You certainly can
reap great benefits by eating a vegan diet. But as I discussed with Gary Yourofsky in
this interview segment and as I’ve said here, diet and health alone often aren’t
enough to cement a true commitment. And perhaps you want eat ethically but not
necessarily healthily. That’s totally doable too. There are plenty of ways to “ruin”
your new year’s diet while remaining on ethical ground. Vegan food is incredibly diverse
and can be as rich, decadent and delicious as you desire.
My point is, don’t make going vegan another resolution to break or another diet to fail.
Being vegan isn’t difficult, it isn’t a state of deprivation, and it certainly isn’t
about us. This year, put the attention where it belongs. Because while our resolutions
rarely last the year, they may not last the next hour.
Now I’d love to hear from you- are you making a resolution this year and if so, what is
it? Do you find you’re successful in keeping your resolutions? Let me know in the comments.
If you enjoyed the video be sure to give it a big thumbs up and share it around on all
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for more vegan awesomeness in the new year every Monday and Wednesday and some Fridays.
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Vegan, join us in the nugget army on Patreon. Now go live vegan and I’ll see you soon.
This is really your year, Ooby. You’re gonna fit in that new collar!