This Is How Veganism Has Transformed My Life

Introducing this Guest post from Chrissy about how veganism transformed her life. I hope you enjoy this insight into vegan life.

Hi everyone, it’s Chrissy from Grateful Green Life here, and it’s a joy and an honour to be guest-posting today, on Damaris’ wonderful blog!

I’ve been vegan since 2014, after my worsening health issues led me to discover the nutritional benefits of eating a whole foods, plant-based diet.

Altering my diet allowed me to look at life in a way I’d not dared to before, and I suddenly realised that I needed to change more than just my food, if I was going to align my actions with my beliefs.

Since then, I’ve been vegan for the animals and the planet – and I’ve honestly never looked back. I feel so much better in my soul and in myself, and thanks to veganism, I’ve experienced some beautiful changes in my life!

Becoming a Vegan Runner

The most obvious transformation I’ve experienced, is my journey of going from being in a wheelchair, to becoming a Vegan Runner!

I live with chronic Lyme disease, and when I first became vegan, I was largely bedridden and needed a wheelchair to get around. Soon after switching to a whole foods plant-based diet, however, my Lyme arthritis began to resolve and I started to regain my mobility.

Every step felt like a blessing, and after I began walking further and further, I started to wonder, what if I could run?…

I’d never been a runner before, but my curiosity wouldn’t let up, so I gave it a go – and to my surprise, trail running became my new passion!

I later joined the Vegan Runners running club, which has given me a real sense of community, and has motivated me in so many ways.

Being a Vegan Runner has also introduced me to the most inspirational person I’ve ever met, Fiona Oakes. Fiona is one of the founders of the club, who has dedicated her life to rescuing animals and caring for them at her sanctuary, in Essex. She also runs with a disability (no kneecap) but she doesn’t just run for fun, she competes with the elites and smashes world records, to raise money and awareness for the animals.

(If you’d like to know more about Fiona, check out the 2018 documentary Running for Good and visit her website here.)

Forging a Deeper Connection With Nature

It may sound cliché, but since I became vegan I’ve developed a new appreciation for the natural world, and my bond with animals has deepened.

I now look at other living creatures and see their individual personalities and souls, and it humbly reminds me that we are not separate from (or superior to) the rest of nature.

I’ve also become more aware of the ecological and environmental threats, that our beautiful planet is facing. Animal agriculture puts an enormous strain on the planet as the industry uses extensive resources, and causes a huge amount of suffering, habitat destruction and pollution.

This is why, like Damaris, I now strive to live a greener lifestyle – not just by being vegan, but also by being mindful of how products are made, and by choosing reusable items, that can ultimately be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way.

Gardening and Growing My Own

My efforts to live more sustainably, have also led me to seek out food that’s grown organically, and is produced as locally as possible – and you can’t get more local, than food from your own back garden!

I was already a bit of a plant lady (I became hooked on houseplants when I was housebound) and as my health improved, I took over the garden too!

I particularly love growing edibles as I adore the process of nurturing tiny seeds and watching them grow into thriving plants, which then reward us with food – and nothing quite beats the health benefits, taste and pure satisfaction, of consuming homegrow produce!

Being vegan has definitely opened my eyes, to where our food comes from, and how it was actually made, and this has played a major role in motivating me to grow my own!

Since becoming vegan I’ve eaten the tastiest food, met so many amazing people, and have had some incredible times visiting animal sanctuaries and to going to vegan events.

The world has changed a lot too in this time, and with veganism continuing to grow, I’m filled with hope for the animals of the future, and for all that there is to come!

If you’ve enjoyed this post and would like to see more you can find Chrissy’s blog at gratefulgreenlife.com or join her on Instagram here.

Thank you so much Chrissy for your wonderful guest post on how veganism has transformed your life.

I hope you enjoyed reading how veganism transformed her life, please let me know in the comments if veganism has transformed your life. For another vegan lifestyle post check out my vegan food festival post or vegan activism post.