While this is going to be the last installment of my vegan adventures, I have to say it was quite the ride. This last week I want to focus on what this whole experience has resulted in. Throughout these few weeks, the most important thing I realized was that the word vegan and veganism can get people really fired up to the point of starting derogatory and hateful arguments. There are extremists in each campaign that can annoy the other side. But I feel like for some vegans to be abrasive and rude to non-vegans, it serves no purpose. The entire point of this lifestyle is compassion and empathy, and the only way to get people on your side isn’t to condemn them for their choices, but to live your own life earnestly and kindly. And if that inspires others to try a plant-based diet or vegan lifestyle, then so be it.

This lifestyle change has proven only successful for me. I wake up with a little more energy, my jeans fit a little looser, and, more importantly, I’m learning to fall in love with myself. I’m learning that my body doesn’t need to be a size 00 to be awesome. What makes a body awesome isn’t always about how it looks, but what it is capable of. Your body has the capability to withstand pain, run miles, and even give life one day. As for your mind, it has the ability to remember things, to question things, and the ability to help you choose between right and wrong.

I don’t want to get into how bad my relationship with food has been for the past nineteen years, but let's just say there were definitely times that I'd starve myself and then times when I'd overeat. This wasn't exclusive to just me. I know plenty of people who fall into the vicious cycle of calorie deprivation. Calories were always enemy #1. Until I realized calories weren’t the enemy. The enemy was depriving myself of things my body liked, such as vitamins, minerals, and yes, even calories. The truth is, calories are awesome and especially when they’re coming from whole foods.

Going into this, I thought this challenge would be a boring month of boring fruits, vegetables, and beans. But this lifestyle is only as boring as you make it to be. Fruits and veggies can be fun, especially when you spend time with yourself in preparing them. I go to bed excited knowing that in the morning I get to wake up, put on some Drake, and make myself a breakfast that I know my body’s going to love. Same goes for lunch and dinner. Being excited about food is a good thing. Loving the planet and animals is a good thing. But more importantly, loving yourself is a good thing. So, give your body what it loves and it will return that love tenfold.