I do not call myself a vegetarian anymore. I just say I lean heavily towards a plant based diet.
I do not fuss about it. Sometimes I end up eating meat.
I try to practice a plant based diet as best I can, because I feel it makes a tiny but non-insignificant difference to the suffering and cruelty inflicted on many factory farmed animals, and in some tiny but non-insignificant way, lessens my impact on the planet. And that is enough for me.

It is about personal practice over public performance. It is about being fluid with my self identity.

–ooOoo–

Take Marcus, a management consultant who travels three weeks out of every month. He’s been vegan for twelve years. When I asked how he handles client dinners in countries where veganism is virtually unknown, he laughed.

“I do my best,” he said. “Sometimes that means eating plain rice and vegetables. Sometimes it means accepting that the soup stock might have fish in it. I don’t interrogate waiters in languages I don’t speak. I don’t make scenes. I just do what I can with joy rather than what I can’t with misery.”
“But doesn’t that mean you’re not really vegan?” I pressed, channeling Anna’s earlier anxiety.

“According to whom?” There it was again. “I’m not performing veganism for anyone. I’m living my values as fully as the moment allows.”

Full essay: I discovered why some vegans thrive while others burn out—and it revealed a hidden psychological pattern that nobody talks about but everyone needs.