In regards to my last post “Restaurant Rant,” I’ve decided I must move on with this mindset: you win some, you lose some.

When I got back to work after the lunch that put me over the edge, I started laying in edit for next week’s paper (I’m an assistant production manager/graphic designer for an alternative weekly), and to my glee, the articles written for the dining section were all about vegetarian and vegan food. What wines go best with what vegetable dishes, book recommendations and cookbooks for vegetarian and vegan recipes (I’ll add links once the articles get posted online). And even the quote of the week: I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants, which I got a kick out of. I was so happy! Maybe all the work we do to try to get others to go veggie is paying off.

It’s comforting to know that even on days when we may feel like a rare breed in this meat-eating world, we are making an impact. And though it may take patience, as my sweet boyfriend reminded me, the veg society is making its mark. Vegan restaurants were pretty much unheard of 5-10 years ago. Vegetarianism is much more accepted now than ever before. Fruits, veggies, and grains are keys to a healthy diet. There are many more veg cookbooks today.

So on the off days when people mess up your order multiple times and simply cannot grasp the concept of veganism, or you start to think of all the animals that sacrificed their lives for those damn hamburgers…and your blood starts to boil in frustration, just remember your choice to be vegan is greatly appreciated by me and many others. Every vegan meal you eat makes a difference, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. To all the vegans and vegetarians out there, and all the people who are cutting back on animal product consumption…. thank you.