One of the many perks of going vegan is a community of people who are eager to make your acquaintance and support you. Most of us have friends from work, school, and other places in our lives, but there is something special about a community of people connected through compassion.
When I went vegan, I didn't know anyone who had made the commitment I made. Sure, I had read books, but those were one-way communications. I felt alone and very alienated - especially among my own friends and family, many who thought I was becoming an extremist, an eccentric, or other equally perjorative word. It was a hard transition socially, and I had no one with whom to share my experience who could understand. I started this blog to document my experience - mostly to those who were still omnivores - and started to use Twitter to distribute my posts.
Lo and behold I started getting large numbers of followers quickly. And these people were extremely supportive! I received messages from people all over the world who were so glad that I had gone vegan and was sharing my experience. Encouraged, I started to join other vegan groups on LinkedIn, Facebook and also in-person through the Veg Phoenix meetup group. Suddenly I had a network of people who understood me since they felt the same way. I was shocked and amazed at how deeply vegans support other vegans. I have given and received everything from restaurant and recipe advice to business consulting. Vegan businesses are popping up all over the country (and the world!), and they are being supported by other vegans.
I encourage you to consider a vegan lifestyle. Initially you may feel that you're giving up something, but you will receive so much more than you ever thought possible. And I promise to be your biggest supporter of all!
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