Today marks 20 years of being vegan.
On October 1st, 2005, I made the choice to take that final step after nearly a decade as a vegetarian. There are countless noble reasons I could list—compassion for animals, environmental sustainability, personal health, leaving a lighter footprint on the earth. And all of those remain true.
But if I’m being honest, the reason I actually crossed the line into veganism was love. I was in love with someone, and sharing in that experience with her made what once seemed difficult feel natural and even exciting. Love has a way of softening the hardest choices—it gives you courage, clarity, and a reason bigger than yourself. Years later, it was love that helped me give up drinking, too. In both cases, I wasn’t pressured. It wasn’t about someone demanding I change. It was about being on the same team, feeling supported, and wanting to share a path together.
Looking back, these decisions changed my life for the better. I feel healthier, clearer, more connected, and more at peace knowing that my choices ripple outward—not just to my own well-being, but to the people I care about, and to the world around me.
And after two decades, here’s why I still think it’s awesome to be vegan:
Compassion: Every meal is a quiet act of kindness toward animals.
Health: Plant-based living has given me energy, clarity, and balance.
Sustainability: It’s one of the simplest ways to care for our planet and future generations.
Community: There’s a whole world of creative, passionate people who share this journey.
Love: At its core, it’s still about love—for the earth, for animals, for others, and for myself.
20 years in, I can say this: what began as an act of love has become a lifelong gift.
Here is an interview I did in 2015 about being a VEGAN In IOWA
By Patrick Tape Fleming