Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Once the journey of this vegan life began, I knew there would be multifarious changes that had nothing to do with food. Some of them obvious, some of them not so much.  Once I started to rethink and recreate the life I have always known, it took on the inertia of a rock rolling downhill. It challenged me to re-examine and unearth the corners of my life like an archaeologist. I knew that my fridge and pantry would get a vegan overhaul, but I couldn’t stop myself from digging and looking for more.

What does this commitment to leading a more compassionate lifestyle mean?  What else and where else are there unsuspecting threads of products and choices in my home and everyday living that are the by-products of cruelty.

I soon found a surprising realization about the contents of my closet. If you had asked me if I wore leather shoes I would have said…unequivocally, no.  I have not worn leather since I went vegetarian 13 years ago.

Evidently, I must have a selective memory and/or selective vision. About a month into the vegan transition, I really looked at my shoe collection for what felt like the first time and I realized that many of my sandals had or were made from leather or suede. “How did this happen?” I asked myself incredulously?  At what point did a killer sale at Lands End.com override my personal moral code? But there it was…a barnyard full of shoes  I would have sworn under oath that I did not own.

I reminded myself that change takes time and transition of any kind is always positive. Just keep moving forward without judgement.

Because a closet full of new shoes is an expensive thing to amass, I gave myself time to make the switch. I would wear them when I needed and buy more sandals and shoes as they went on sale. However, every time I went to wear this pair or that pair…I had a crisis of conscience and wore the most animal friendly pair I own. This narrowed my options down to one pair all day every day it seemed.  Now that I had brought it to my own attention, there it was.

So, the shoes with animal hide had to go.  I couldn’t talk the talk of a compassionate consumer while walking the walk in shoes that were not consistent with my new beliefs.

So there you have it, we have begun to introduce leather free shoes into our new vegan life. They are abundant in cool, comfy like no other..  new shoes by Crocs.   Vegan shoe options abound, but this is a great start and they were on sale. 

In an effort to keep the flow of positive energy in motion… I packed up every single pair of leather and suede sandals and donated them. It was so freeing to release tangible goods that no longer fit into my view of myself and who I wanted to be. It  felt wonderful to share perfectly good shoes with others that could use them as I continue to grow on my path.

This has been one of the greatest and most exciting aspects of the vegan transition, to make everyday decisions that support my core beliefs.  It requires an amount of personal responsibility that I am accepting for the first time.

These choices are mine to make, just as yours are yours to make.  We can all be empowered knowing that we can break free from what we have always done and make new choices.   We can change course and begin a new path just to see where it will lead.

Have a delicious weekend.

Tags: Crocs, going veg, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan footwear, vegan products, vegan shoes, vegan transition, vegan wannabe