A series in which ordinary people talk about living a plant-based life
A serious illness in the family reminded our latest contributor, Jakki, just how precious life is and helped inspire her to become a vegan
I’m 55 in July, and have never felt healthier or more energised; I owe it all to veganism.
I live with my partner and a teenager at home in South West England. I also have a 27-year-old son who lives further south with his partner and my grandson. In January last year, we found out that my six-week-old grandson was born with a condition that required urgent surgery. This made me realise the value of life, how precious it is.
A few months later I saw a post on Instagram about cow slaughter. Something just clicked and this instantly made me switch to veganism.
The combination of both incidents made me really focus on value of life and the precious gift it is for all beings.
I’ve been vegan just over a year and I know that I am vegan for life now.
It’s wrong that we can take an innocent voiceless being and torture and murder it. I just realised how wrong it is for my mind, body and soul to eat death, if I want to be full of life.
My family have had to adapt with me not cooking meat now at all at home. I’ve also had to accommodate and realise that their transition is still a personal journey after a life of conditioning… like I was, I guess.
I was vegetarian for four years in my teens after my French mother served rabbit and I made the shocking connection between the food and the living creature. I wasn’t fully ready to transition at this age; I just wish I had realised and accepted what I knew it my gut then.
Becoming vegan has been a transformative process in all areas of my life. It’s made me appreciate life more, and I’ve really focused in on my health and adapting and tackling food addictions such as processed foods and sugar as a result.
Veganism is a life process I feel and I am always happy to talk to others and guide them along this path. That’s my way.
Sometimes, I get frustrated that others don’t see what is happening in their lives and won’t stop eating animals, which makes me sad and angry too.
I owe my life, I’m sure, to those beautiful animals. I’ll never stop fighting to save the animals who have no choice and speaking for them with my voice.
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts in our Everyday Vegans slot, please get in touch and we’ll let you know what to do.
To connect with Jakki on social media, check out her Instagram account.
Bardo Burner 