Feel free to skip my intro and scroll down straight to the video.

Like most people, I grew up eating meat. My favorite food was a chili cheese dog. I would down double cheeseburgers after track meets. There was absolutely a period of time when my college roommate, Mary, and I lived off dollar pizzas, cheese rollups, and ranch dressing.

I was a hardcore carnivore who also loved and cared for animals.

Throughout my 20s, I read articles and books that changed my perspective on milk and meat. I didn’t drink milk, but still ate cheese. I cut out meat for a while but dabbled back and forth. It was a slow and steady process, but after 13 years of learning about food, I finally cut out all animal products for good.

I hadn’t been able to figure out how these conflicted values could coexist for so long. I’d get mad at myself for not taking it as seriously as I should have earlier on and not going vegan sooner. Then I found this video.

Melanie does an incredible job redefining what’s “normal,” and that’s why I’m sharing her TEDx below. Please keep an open mind and watch the whole thing.

Melanie Joy’s TEDx on inherited beliefs vs. reality:

“Your awareness is the first step of the solution. And acting from your awareness is the rest.

Awareness has always been the antidote to violent ideologies. Virtually every atrocity was made possible because the populous turned away from a reality they felt was too painful to face.

And virtually every revolution and every social transformation were made possible because of those who chose awareness.

And who acted on what they had learned.”