Talk and stuff

In the last week, I've struggled.
I've struggled with skepticism {"It's absurd to think you can meet your nutritional needs by eating just... what, leaves? Grass? Is that what you eat as a vegan?"}
I've struggled with ignorance  {"Vegan is so unhealthy! You will perish."}
I've struggled with being put down {"What you are doing with this diet... is nothing."}
I've struggled with eyebrow-raising humor {a co-worker held up a milk container and attempted to use it on me as one might use a cross to scare off the Devil.}

And by "struggle," I mean I listened to what some people had to say when they heard I have become Vegan... and had to empathize with what they were feeling without taking it personally. {I even encouraged them to elaborate on some of these feelings, even though sometimes I wanted to just stomp my feet and fight them back.} I can't possibly imagine that these reactions had anything to do with me, considering they didn't ask me why I'm doing it or how I'm feeling -- they told me what I should think, feel, or be now that I'm Vegan. There was a sense of panic and unrest, followed by, "well, I could never do that." And I got the feeling that they were attacked to hear that I can. But once they got their initial testiness out of the way, people had a lot to say about their diets. It turns out, people care.
And we talked.

Finding out how some people really feel about their food has been just as eye-opening to me as learning that some chocolate is vegan. They might not follow through with their promises to eat more fresh food and get their exercise in, but people care. Many were wondering the same things as I:

Do the animals we breed to eat have any other purpose in their own lives? Why do we need milk anyway? How should meat be cooked in order to prevent disease? Where do intestinal worms come from if we live in such an obsessively-sanitized country?

Talk is good. It makes people think. Become aware. And ask questions. And make suggestions. It makes more people join in the conversation.
In the last week, I've received book suggestions, film references, follow-up calls. Some even took it upon themselves to bring me in person a book that they thought I should read. When I had dinner with friends, we talked about the food we were having, why we were having it, and how it made us feel. When I was hanging out at Divine Cupcake with Natalie and we were talking about how sugar is made, the owner of the place overheard and joined in the conversation, and explained why they use More Fiber Baking Blend, powdered erythritol, or agave syrup instead of sugar. We talked until close... and we were mere strangers until we shook hands and exchanged our names at the end.
Though it may seem nothing, talk can be the driving force of change. It's a step up from thinking. Action is needed, too, but saying is only one step away from doing.

So talk to me! Was there ever a breakthrough in your diet or mentality when it comes to food? If you could change something about your meals, what would it be? Are you happy with your diet?

As for these pictures.. they're made by Carl Warner and represent, as you can see, creative landscapes where the scenario is made of food. Looking at all this, do you still think I will starve? :) Check out Carl's Web site (Flash needed) for more inspiring art!