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Losing Friends
Started
by Tanny
on June 22, 2011
Thanks so much for your advice, you're all so kind. I am going to bring enough food for all next time I'm invited and see how I go, if nothing changes I don't think their friendship is worth it. Being vegan is who I am now and a very important part of my life and if they can't respect that then new friends are in order! Thank God for this website, it feels so great talking to people who understand me!
Yeah, being on a site like this has helped me too, even though I've only been here a short while. It's good to talk to others/read others who share the same view. It's very motivating.
I haven't done this but I'm told that Meetup.org can help you find vegan/vegetarian people involved in a range of activities in your local area (if there are any). I know someone who joined a runners group of all vegans through the use of that site, for example.
I cannot believe that you friends would not accept you for that! Mine make fun of me, but they would never, ever leave me out of something because of my choices.
Mine steal all my food because they figure its ALL healthy... I made almond butter bagels for a friend and myself for a little picnic we had in central park and she liked it so much she went out and bought a jar the next day!! ...bring something rich and decadent to the next party like coconut or something chocolatey :)
It's been my experience that being vegan can be as polarizing as being a certain religion or being vocal about your political stance. I don't get why it makes people so darned angry. Once, my brother raged at me for not feeding my son meat and cheese, saying that I was "damaging" him. (I chalked it up to a lack of knowledge on his part, and genuine concern, because like a lot of people he thinks meat is essential.)
Sometimes life changes reveal who your true friends are. None of my buds would leave me out of something because I choose not to eat animal products. Most of the time when I bring food, people end up wanting to try it.
From reading your post, it sounds like your friends might be feeling a little bit guilty about the choices they are making. Knowing that what you are doing is what they SHOULD be doing could certainly make them uncomfortable, even if that's not your intention at all. Why don't you have a dinner/bbq and invite them to try some of your favorite vegan dishes?
I have an update to the same friends, they have invited me to dinner tomorrow and instead of having to bring my own food they are making a vegan stir-fry with tofu for all of us!! I am so happy that they're going to be eating vegan and it was their own idea!! I just hope they like the tofu!!
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