Happy Veganniversary to Me!

I have been Vegan for One Year so far. Me. Really. I'm so happy that I'm going to make a list (lol), a list of things that I have achieved in the past year, things that I am super incredibly proud of:

• I can roll my own vegan sushi
• I eat a whole lotta vegetables
• I am open to trying any (vegan) food now
• I am passionate about, and well educated on, Vegan issues (health, environment, animal rights)
• I actually eat raw vegetables now
• I've gotten over a lot of issues I used to have with food texture
• I get less headaches
• I've lost weight
• I'm a pretty amazing chef
• I'm weaning off of my Nexium
• I've cooked for so many people
• I've turned other people on to Veganism
• My skin is clearer
• I faithfully maintain a blog (while still keeping up with journaling)
  
• I believe in myself
• I've made new friends from the incredible community of Vegan Bloggers
• I have learned so much about balanced nutrition
• I have lowered my carbon footprint
• I have stood up for Animals
• I've discovered that I might be a cat person
• I've become a compulsive ingredient reader
• I'm obsessed with kitchenware
• My food presentation is starting to improve
• I've set up an altar to the Hindu Goddess Annapurna in my kitchen

I could go on and on with this list, but I want to talk for a moment about the picture in this post. The Art of Tattooing has always been fascinating to me, even before it became as mainstream as it is now. I don't know why, but I always wanted a tattoo. I was 21 when I got my first one, and 15 years later, tattooing is still part of my world. Here's how I see it. The human body is a work of art in and of itself. Tattoos are amazing works of art that serve to enhance the human body. All of my body art is either spiritual in nature, or is somehow part of my life story. (All of my body art is also easy to cover up with a business suit when necessary.)

And so, at least 6 months ago, probably more, I decided that in honor of my One Year Veganniversary, I was going to get the Vegan Society Logo tattooed on my right wrist (which, to me, is the perfect complement to "Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu" (Sanskrit for "may all beings be happy and free") around my left wrist). So that's what I did to celebrate...and then I had a really big and tasty salad. (For the record, it's a totally Vegan tattoo, created with Eternal and Waverly Inks...done by Jenny at Tattoos By Lou in South Beach.)

Here's looking forward to another year of learning, growth, a whole lotta fun, and a whole lotta veganliciousness!