Being the change you want to see in the world!

Have you ever felt discontented with the world before? Ever felt that you’re too small a person, a nobody, to be able to make an impact on the world?

Well, how about making a change from within?

When I was younger, as a vegetarian, I was the subject of endless criticism.

I was scrawny. Unhealthy. Why? I had an open heart surgery at the age of 5. For those of you who know the medical term, its called ASD Closure.

I also learnt recently from my mum that I was not an easy kid to take care of. My grandma told my mum that I was the kid that won’t eat food – until I was fed medicine.

Only medicine could pacify me to eat my meals.

Thus, when I entered Primary 1 at 6 years old, my primary school principal told my mum that he didn’t dare to hold my wrist – he was afraid that he would break it as I was really thin then.

Throughout Lower Primary, I struggled with underweight issues. Back then, I was like most of you. My favorite food was fried chicken wings and herbal mutton soup. It was a clean sweep whenever those food were present. My parents had to control me not to eat too much as everytime after overeating such food, I would fall sick.

All that changed when I entered Primary 4.

My family decided to turn vegetarian, due to a combination of mainly health and a bit of religious reasons.

We started eating organic food – it caused a HUGE strain on the family budget.

Vegetarian was unheard of for young kids then, and my primary school didn’t have a vegetarian stall. So my mum would bring food for me and my brother during recess break.

I was the rebellious child – hated my mum coming to school, as it made it more distinct that I was different from my friends.

I had a low self-esteem then, even though I entered a reasonably good Secondary (high) school.

Friends teased me (no malice intended) that I can always eat the grass that was growing around, since there was no vegetarian food stall in my secondary school.

I gained the notorious reputation of ordering “Wanton mee without wanton“.

Even though my friends teased me about my vegetarian diet, I knew that they didn’t mean it. It was just a part of growing up.

But boy, it was a tough period having to survive in a non-veg environment for 6 years (secondary and junior college)! Especially since this is the age where teens like myself were going through an identity crisis.

Long story short, after a few eventful events that happened after I decided to set up SGVegan, my best friend, whom I’ve stuck through all the ups-and-low with, decided that we can only remain as Facebook friends.

Not sure if any of you can identify with that but I am sincerely grateful to her, for teaching me this really invaluable lesson of impermanence. Without her, I wouldn’t have this lesson that strikes close to my heart.

As SGVegan grows, and through my conscious awareness of the thoughts that goes through my mind, somehow, I find that I am being surrounded by a bunch of wonderful people.

I believe it came about due to a change in perspective.

Instead of being unhappy with what I was experiencing, I CHOSE and made the conscious effort of working on the thoughts within myself.

From being an outcast with my non-veg friends, nowadays, friends and strangers are asking me to introduce to them delicious cheap cruisine that is palatable to their tastebuds.

I can’t change the world. Its too huge a task. But what I can do is to be a walking living inspiration to the people around me.

Since I turned vegetarian in Primary 4 (10 years old), I’ve not been to a Western doctor at all. Every time I fall sick, I just take fresh lemon juice/apple cider vinegar + lots of SLEEP and I am fine the next day.

I hope my story can be an inspiration to those of you who are considering living more healthily. 🙂

Money can’t buy health, but money can help us achieve health if we make the conscious effort of what we choose to put in our mouths.

**Have any of you ever faced such struggles? We would love to hear so we can support each other. Please leave a comment below. ^_^ *