Dealing with Loneliness + Not Having Vegan Friends 😔

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This episode of The Vegan View was recorded before the COVID 19 crisis. We are currently practicing responsible social distancing and recommend you guys do the same! With that in mind, please note that all of the information about making vegan friends, meeting up, and hosting potlucks/picnics are not recommended during this time. Please do your best to stay safe and healthy! In the meantime, we can all virtually hang out on Instagram and in our secret Vegan View Facebook group! All of that is linked below. Hope you're all staying healthy and safe! Lots of love from The Vegan View Team :)
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[@Melhut65]

For me after going vegan, I never realized how meat centric many of my friends are and how obsessed they are with CHEESE. The thing I hated the most was the condescending pity I got from them like as they brought out the tray of ribs or cheese and pepperoni they would say, "Aww you can't have this." I couldn't say to them just how sorry I felt for them for putting that pain and suffering into their bodies. But that's what I was thinking! The best thing we did to make vegan friends was that last May my husband and I decided to spend our 22nd wedding anniversary at the Sales Ranch Animal Sanctuary Fundraiser in Temecula, CA where they had a 4 course vegan dinner, wine and a silent auction. And let me just say it's one thing to be trying to make new friends in your 20's versus us as we are in our 50's! There we met Angie and Ryan from Happy Healthy Vegan and lots of other folks that we consider life long friends. It was truly an amazing weekend for such a great cause. But on the daily, I still feel like I'm CONSTANTLY having to explain myself for why I'm vegan.Thanks for this video!

[@theheartofchela]

I went vegan with my amazing husband. I just recently went back home and it the first time I went without my husband and wow that was difficult in not having anyone around me that would defend me and I was feeling lonely. BUT to my surprise when I went to go see my aunt she had heard I was vegan and tried her best to make everyone eat vegan enchiladas. I felt so heard and seen.

[@KateDatingCoaching]

That's a really sweet gesture!

[@oceanmermaid3700]

I'm mostly a quiet vegan since, after 4 yrs being vegan, my family still doesnt understand it. I have one friend, not vegan, and when I visit her a couple of times a year, she will go to a vegan restaurant with me.

[@Notmyr3alname]

Ocean Mermaid yeah I learned the hard way that the way I was as a new vegan was a big turn off to people around me that I’ve not been able to repair the damage even though I’m don’t act that way anymore. They appear to be permanently turned off by vegans. ☹️

[@kindregardskatie]

My family don’t get it but when they start seeing more vegan food at their grocery stores they’ve come to accept it, try joining vegan communities on fb groups etc, I met lotsa vegan friends that way !!

[@tofulover672]

I want vegan friends so badly! I've been vegan for about 4 years and I watch a ton of vegan KZbin to feel a community lmao but I still have no vegan friends. I live in LA now, so you would expect I would find some by now but nope lol. My friends are understanding, but they still aren't ever going to eat at an exclusively vegan place. Even though I can eat anywhere here, I often really want to go somewhere fully vegan and I don't want to go alone lmao

[@ashavocado2986]

I feel that

[@dylanstevens5714]

Just go and step out your comfort zone! You might make a friend at the counter

[@ashlynprather45]

I took my non vegan friends to Vegandale festival and they liked. They still aren’t vegan but they are more open to eating more vegan friends….weirdly one was a ex-vegan.

[@adriannschmitke6578]

I'm the only vegan in our home. My hubby and our adult daughters aren't vegan. It's been interesting. We are respectful of each other. I cook vegan meals and they add their own meat but most of the time they just eat what I'm eating. I should say that I only went vegan about 5 years ago so I'm the one changing. We live in a small community in Northern British Columbia so there aren't many vegans but we are growing 😁 take care and stay healthy 💖

[@kelseymark7929]

I have been so scared to reach out to make any vegan friends for fear of "not being vegan enough". I've heard rumors of a few people I know being vegan, but I have never reached out. I only have a few friends, but none of them are vegan. They are fairly accepting of my choices, but it would be nice to have someone that I feel like is "on my side". Hopefully at some point I'll get over my fears and make a vegan friend. 🤞

[@ashlynprather45]

I openly share my flaws with and if they don’t like it oh well. I have only 1 online vegan friend that still talks to me.

[@nataliemorrow500]

I love you guys!! Thanks for doing this one! Very helpful. I liked how Nikki said to reframe our thinking to being different! That is so true.

[@caitlynappleman314]

I absolutely felt this way. I had friends but I just genuinely enjoy talking about veganism sometimes as it is such a big part of my life. So i joined a meetup group in my area and met a ton of vegan friends! I started at a gym also and met some lifelong friends who understand where I'm coming from and a few that are vegan. It was an interesting combo that brought me out of my lonely vegan funk. And I try not to debate or talk about it much, I lead though example and now a lot of my family and friends are headed toward veganism. When I started this journey 7 years ago, they thought I was crazy and now it's amazing what I see!

[@tomcottee2729]

Lol at the two handed glass lift 21:22 classic. Great video. It's tough. We just need to be that same friend as always not judge or be angry. We keep the anger in us but should use it wisely. I've met some vegan people irl from Twitter. It's a great starting point.

[@beaware.bethechange.1368]

Love those vegan view mugs ;) I'm drinking outta mine every day and loving it! Thanks for the upload ladies!

[@awesome123girl]

Thanks girls!

[@neilmitch81]

My problem is I worry I'm not vegan enough.... I'm super passionate and live a vegan life as far as I can, but I think that because I'm not a hippy or earthy enough, that I'll be judged...... Which I KNOW is so ridiculous because we all come is such varying forms. It's just scary to feel that what you're doing might not be viewed as enough

[@amberweatherly1349]

Thank you so much for this video! Me and my husband are one of the few vegans in our small southern town... But after the quarantine I intend on making more connections with vegan people in Nashville

[@TheVeganView]

Nice! 💚💚💚 we hope you and your hubby are staying healthy and safe! ☺️☺️☺️

[@KateDatingCoaching]

You ladies are exactly what I have been looking for! How have I not found your channel until now? Vegan Chic, Vegan Elegance I love this! Also your channel is amazing the production quality.. you need a TV show!

[@annarebecca]

OMG how have I just found your channel I'm loving it, I was really struggling with having no vegan friends but I went travelling and found some for the first time which was amazing. I can't wait to socialise again after this crisis. These videos will get me through it though cant wait to binge watch, THANK YOU xx

[@TheVeganView]

Aw thanks Anna! We’re so glad you found our channel! We hope you enjoy our videos and that they’re comforting during these uncertain times 💚 lots of love!

[@bettyglick2679]

Can't tell you how helpful and encouraging these real talk convos are

[@TheVeganView]

Aw we’re so glad Betty!! ☺️💚

[@jessikaamaya8477]

i went vegan after i graduated high school so i had about 2 real friends and they both were extremely supportive. right now my best friend is cutting back on meat and drinks almond milk so it makes me happy to know one day we’ll be able to connect on both being vegan!! they always say they’ll never go vegan until one day they do 💚

[@TheVeganView]

That’s incredible!!! 💚

[@AaronMetallion]

I'm an introvert and always had only about 3 close friends, but after going vegan and experiencing toxicity on a number of events over the course of 5 years from people I considered close (especially in male friendships) I gravitated towards the extremity and just isolated myself. I don't feel like I particularly want anyone around anymore. My culture, religious background, family, aren't very open minded like the west, so it's difficult to find any ideological / moral common ground. Especially since they grew up slaughtering animals themselves, they believe it's biblical, and are way past the point of fostering an understanding. It's gets lonely, but it's far better than the alternative I think. To give an example, 2 days ago I wanted to have a vegan birthday dinner / party. I ordered really tasty Hakka Chinese food. These dishes are just naturally vegan. But my parents upon hearing the word vegan, go "What will the guest's eat, this won't look nice!". Without asking me they ordered their own meat dishes and served it at my birthday on the side, and said to the guests that what I ordered is mostly for me, since I'm vegan. When I got upset, they go "But you didn't have to buy it, we bought it, so what's the problem?". Last birthday I went camping, celebrated alone, and I quite liked it. Earthling Ed, Joey Carbstrong, and the KZbin / online community make me feel seen and heard.

[@Solarpunkkait]

hey youre not alone in all those feelings. youll stumble apon someone great and vegan one day but for the mean time its important to have a alone time especially if that gives you peace. After escaping DV i was pretty isolated for 3 years because I needed to find myself again, then find some good safe friends. Safe can look different to everyone, but you wont know what youre looking for until you find yourself

[@jash1966]

so glad I stumbled across your channel!! you all seem like such lovely humans and I wanna be friends w all of you 🥺🥰

[@FiberFairy22]

You ladies are so kind and amazing! I used to bounce around in my head and my heart about people who I thought I was still in line with “love“ but then I see it so clearly. Something that I think we all agree on: if you found out someone who you “love” actually raped, abused and killed human babies and children, would you “honor them on their journey“?! I would not. Not only would I disconnect from them I would do everything in my power to save the child! Same exact thing here: these are all somebody’s babies who are being tortured and abused. Not to mention the humans who suffer and are often basically slave laborers in these horrific industries! And of course there’s always the physical environment and all her living plants and beings who are the recipient of all this evil as well. I mean geez, humans have killed the soil microbes that make B12 through the rampant use of glyphosate and gosh knows what else. But back to the babies… I just can’t make an exception. If part of the simple truth I’m learning is that there are a lot of evil people walking this earth, I’ll walk alone until I meet up with beautiful hearts like yours and find my people! And I 100% agree as well that the answer isn’t to attack anyone but it’s OK to not honor the choices that people are making once they know the truth and they just don’t feel like it’s convenient enough to stop committing crime!

[@user-vu4yf1ry2m]

I'm 16 and the only vegan in my family. My 2 sisters went vegetarian and some of my friends are open to it but some are just constantly making jokes. I would love to have some vegan friends tho lol 😂

[@AaronMetallion]

Proud of you 👏🏼

[@inagadda1976]

You guys and like other ppl that I met on Facebook (they helped me to be inspired to try vegan) are all of my vegan friends lol none locally at all. Ah the joys of small town KY. XO Davita

[@sandyhossman7771]

Great video, I also wanted share the health benefits. Now I just do my thing and if asked I explain why I am a vegan.

[@TheVeganView]

That’s awesome! 💚

[@angelslosingsleep09]

I move around a lot and don’t know many exclusively vegan people. But at every point in my life there always seems to be one person in it who is interested in learning more about veganism and partaking in vegan meals with me. Right now it is my sister, she has been vegan for the month of March and has been loving it! Hopefully it sticks. 👍🏼

[@sam6_6]

I want vegan friends..I want friends in general 😭

[@TheVeganView]

Hey! ☺️ are you in our Facebook group?? You might like it!

[@sam6_6]

The Vegan View No I’m not, I actually only just found this KZbin channel and I think it’s great! What’s the group called?

[@ivonnecordero515]

I feel you 😖☹️

[@svpate5]

Omg I love those wine glasses - can you link to them?

[@TheVeganView]

Not sure if they still have them because they’re pretty old but I got them from ZGallerie! -Hannah

[@user-vn6xo2tc9r]

I’m lucky to have a vegan husband and 3 vegan friends! 💚💚💚💚

[@TheVeganView]

Nice ☺️💚 hope you guys are having a nice day

[@tishsheppard7713]

For me the issue that has come up more lately is the whole “travel” thing. My non-vegan girlfriends all want to go away for a week and they pick a place to go but I am super anxious the entire time because I know that this means eating out all the time. Not to be selfish, but if I am going on a holiday that will cost $2000.00 and more, I want the experience to be good for me as well and that includes a good selection of food. They will say, the restaurant said they have vegan options but salad and fries and one bowl selection on a menu over and over for the week is not “good selection”. I end up choosing not to go on these girl trips as a result which really alienates me from my friends. I love them all but they just don’t understand how challenging it can be when travelling.

[@plantbased_tami]

What was the podcast Nisha mentioned? Don’t see the link.

[@TheVeganView]

Here you go ☺️ www.colleenpatrickgoudreau.com/podcast/

[@xasia_]

[@KH-vr6uf]

Washington State? Where were you living? There are a ton of vegan restaurants etc. in the Seattle area.

[@TheVeganView]

Nice! What are your favs??

[@KH-vr6uf]

@@TheVeganView Sooo many. No Bones, Araya's Thai, Harvest Beat, Frankie and Jo's (GO here if you are ever in Seattle), Plum, Pizza Pi. So many more. I will admit though, i think Portland, Oregon has an edge on Seattle.

[@ashavocado2986]

Are any of you dating someone non vegan?

[@savannahknight9184]

Everyone talking about when they went vegan, and I’m just over here wondering where those glasses are from 😅😂🙋‍♀️

[@TheVeganView]

Z Gallerie!

[@amberlee6826]

I'm a vegan in West LA. If anyone want to hang out, let me know :) I've been vegan for 5 years and don't have any vegan friends.

[@TheVeganView]

Virtually we hope! Lol 💚💚💚 but in the future we recommend going to vegan events like vegfest! It’s a great way to meet like minded people ☺️

[@amberv4223]

Super lonely 😞

[@TheVeganView]

We’re sending you love 💚💚💚

[@amberv4223]

@@TheVeganView thank you 😊 x

[@s-smith6577]

It doesn't seem fair to label more passionate vegans as "crazy". Are you guys implying that you are "normal" because you only talk about vegan food rather than the deeper aspects of animal welfare? Some vegans are activists and like to have a voice for animals and advocate for them, it's not always rainbows, butterflies and sunshine, when you need to intervene with an animal abuse case, or help and injured animal, but someone has to do it and I respect those who have the bravery to do so. Labelling these types passionate activists (who have seem WAY more than you) as the "crazy ones" is not helpful. Labelling certain vegans as "crazy" because you don't understand their level of passion, is just not right.