100%

Last week I was at Lululemon (my new yoga/running clothes store obsession!) and got into a conversation with one of the salespeople about being vegan. I told her that I was taking my cousin to Fud to enjoy some yummy vegan food. She said, "Oh are you vegan?" to which I replied "Yes." We then proceeded to give each other a high five of support. I added, "Well, I'm like 90% vegan." Her question to me was "Why not 100%?"

It's a good question; why not 100%?

I feel like I give 100% in most areas of my life, but sometimes that ends up looking and feeling like a lot of pressure to put on myself. I am pretty close to having perfectionist tendencies and while this can be beneficial at times, it can also make me feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I was raised to work hard and give my best effort no matter what. When I don't reach that 100% mark, however, I can feel like I have failed in some way. This was a big problem when I was trying to nurse my son and it wasn't quite working out. I felt like I was failing him as a mother, like I wasn't being "natural" enough of a parent. I beat myself up over it and, quite frankly, it was a contributing factor to my postpartum depression. In retrospect, that experience was so important and it was the lessons learned from my breastfeeding experience that have caused me to draw the following conclusion: Sometimes it is okay to not give 100%. Sometimes doing the best you can means letting go and giving in when you need to.


So here is my answer to why I am not 100% vegan: I am doing the best I can. That is all anyone can do. We keep a nearly vegan home with the exceptions of eggs and, very rarely, cheese.  In the past two years we have eliminated our consumption of meat and reduced the amount of products that contain animal by-products (i.e.--shower and shave gel, shampoo, make up, etc.). I try to frequent vegetarian establishments, order vegan at mainstream restaurants and I do my best to avoid buying leather. But here's the thing: If a friend goes through the trouble of inviting us for a beautiful pasta dinner and puts parmesan cheese on top, I am not going to refuse it. If a friend bakes a banana bread and uses eggs, I am going to eat it. If I go back east and order a bagel, I'm going to get it with cream cheese. If the only thing CJ will eat on a menu is mac and cheese, he is getting the mac and cheese.

I think there are times when we just have to let go and do the best we can. If you are making an effort and are aware that we should be working toward the greater good, that is a step in the right direction. If it stresses you out to try to eat, act or be a certain way, give it up and let it go.