Lately more than ever I've been noticing that being vegan among so many non-vegans sometimes sucks, and feeling like I'm a problem at get togethers, or that I'm the only vegan in like, the entire world. We've all felt this way, and it's no reason to doubt your morals or reasons for doing the things you do. You have dozens of great reasons, oodles even, all smart and conscientious that you can fully back up even against a prep-school-blazer-wearing-first-prized debate team. You have so many reasons, it's like they're coming out of your ears and you have to wipe them from your brow or nose. They are like running down your shirt and staining your little vegan shoes. So stand by those reasons-- even when it's the toughest thing to do.

For example, when your mother-in-law always insists on taking you to brunch every time you get together, because she's sweet and wants to do something nice for you.. But is incapable of knowing or understanding that brunch/breakfast is the hardest meal to "go with the flow" with, that vegans don't really jive with eggs and bacon, or that butter and honey aren't vegan, or what the hell does "vegan" mean, anyways, but you go, every time, and pick at your dry shit bagel, and smile. Because she's sweet. And she's family. 

Your friends all love bacon. In fact, vegans are always accused of being "obsessed" with veganism and that no one wants to hang out with us because we are "always talking about it" and judging or whatever. But really, can we talk about how goddamn obsessed with bacon everyone is? It's like, for real, you are waaay more obsessed with bacon than I or any other vegan is obsessed with veganism or animals, or my own and your health, or you know, the world and stuff. I mean, I care a lot about the well-being of all of those things. But not as much as people love bacon. So when everyone is talking about it, and staring at your face to see how you are going to judge them for talking about it in front of you, you just smile and pretend you have a royal flush in your hands or show them your pretty teeth or something and think about avocados. Or mustard. I can't say "mustard" without smiling. Who can, really? You can? oh.. I don't trust you, then. 

You bring the best food imaginable to every get-together ever. You make the most classic, American, or homey-food or wherever you are, the food that is very traditionally accepted and welcomed, and you make the best goddamn vegan keylime cheesecake and make it so beautiful and irresistable. The key is to not remind everyone its vegan. Because after all, it is just a cheesecake. To everyone else, vegan sounds like it's poison or something. Just bring the best food ever, and that's baketivism at its finest. That Isa girl, she really knows her stuff. :) 

The moral of the story is that you do what you do for you, because you're a good person, and you know what is right and what is wrong. It isn't always easy. But every situation is always going to be fine. Your friends will always love you, and as long as you remember not to treat them like anything but friends, or judge them, or preach to them, they'll admire what you do. Who knows? Maybe you'll inspire one or two along the way. But if you don't, then that's okay too, because you make a huge difference every day, just by being you, and doing what you do. The world is a better place because one vegan exists. And even when you feel like the only vegan in the whole world and no one gets you, just remember, KZ gets you. And she loves you. <3