Okay, so I’m coming up on my 10th year of being a vegetarian in about 2 years.*holds for applause* Thank you, thank you… ( takes off top hat and bows to the crickets in the blog world)
I can’t say that I am a vegetarian for spiritual or political reasons, though it may have started out that way…. I have no issues with those who eat meat, frankly. I mean, I think it’d be a good idea to eat the meat and sea food of local farms and support home grown rather than deplete our earth and send jobs away, ya know… I mean, enjoy the burger, just do it fairly ya know..?
Any whoo, back to my post… I started out as a vegetarian when I was very young. Early teens…and it started out because I saw a video of how major food companies and meat/fish distributors not only treated the livestock, but how they’d bitch-slap their employees around visa vie their pay, benefits and send jobs *out* of the country.
I mean, *everyone’s* got to eat yes, but when you crochet not just because you love it, but because absolutely *no one* is hiring because right when you turned 16 all the jobs went to China and all the local jobs get cut due to the economy, your ambitions change into “how do we bring jobs back” not “are you guys hiring?”. My shop isn’t my main ambition in life. It’s a talent I have that puts kitty food in the kitty shaped bowl for the wee little calico I vowed to take care of… I have that dream of bringing jobs back to my fellow man because I understand, not everybody has a handcraft. Not everyone’s a farmer, crafter, painter, singer, handy man, etc… Some people can just dig on cashier work, sales rep stuff and so on… The trick is finding where the hole is and plugging it up. So, next time you’re at the market and you’re about to lose it in a good way over a beer and bbq dinner, check out the locally farmed beef/veggies to grill. I’m telling you, they taste way better anyway and are healthier for you 
The farmer gets to keep his farm, the manager of the store gets to keep her lights on and the sales cashier chick gets to put gas in her car/buy a pixie vest and the hippie gets to keep her kitty happy 
Circle o life goes on…the right way
(The other side of that is voting for laws and reps that are pro-local jobs and such, but I won’t get into that. I’m sure you’re as tired of all the pop ups and propaganda as I am…)
Again…I’m straying off topic. As I mentioned, I’m a vegetarian. One who is reaching her 10yr anniversary. Haven’t had any real troubles either. Felt healthier, look better, in shape, etc. Greens and soy has been good to me, but recently I hit a speed bump that I feel I should share with others before they hit it or those who have hit it and wanna know what it could be, because I tell you this is common, but came outta left field…. and hard too.
Earlier in the year, I wasn’t feeling good at all. I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t energized, my head felt bad… I was permanently fatigued, exhausted, confused. It was like being a cat with her whiskers cut off…
I was really concerned. The migraines were awful and back to back. I just wanted to sleep and even if something wasn’t monumentally concerning I was tripped out sad or emotional about it…
So, before I started fitting myself for a straight jacket. I tried to find the answer the organic way. I looked up the symptoms and came up with a whole damned list of issues that…well, were either freakin frightening or way off base.
I tried not blaming me first too. I mean, all year so far has been stressful.(…poverty ain’t for the weak or easily broken) We have been looking for a new home before turning into street gypsies again, and that was terribly exhausting. Luckily we recently found one and will be moving soon…so…yay!!
So, I up’d my coffee. I figured, well…I am stressed. I’m not sleepin well. I’m tired. Maybe I just need to up my caffeine or sneak a nap in..? Still. Exhausted. And not normal tired either. Like, were talkin, pull over and maybe call for help because nothing is making sense and im practically drugged tired.
This was getting bad and scary. So, I traced back my steps. It wasn’t caffeine. I was sleeping okay after making myself a bed time. I was eating enough protein. My carbs were good. Wtf, could it be?
…B12? I figured, “hell its for energy and I’m an otherwise healthy young woman with a good job… its got to be a missing vitamin and I am not gonna take those artificial speed drinks that make you crash.”.(I should mention, my doc said I was cool otherwise too and I am not a doctor so although I’m trying to help, see a doctor to be sure your issues aren’t something worse.)
So, before marching my flushed delirious narcoleptic ass to the vitamin store, I did some research. I looked up the vitamin and was very surprised to hear the reasons its important to vegans and vegetarians…
Turns out, theres this whole deficiency that effects many unaware, unprepared veggies out there. B12 deficiency.(go figure right? The issue and cure are in the same title)
Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, confusion, emotional sensitivity are all side effects of said deficiency. The reason being is because not only is this germ mostly unattainable to us vegenites because its mostly found in meats and fish products (aka previously living things) but this germ helps the blood and oxygen the the brain needs to function properly (in a nutshell). Long term deficiency can cause brain damage.
I was surprised because I thought I was doin everything right. I mean, in almost a decade, I haven’t really had an issue. At least, it was never big enough to go “holy shit, I think I need to go to the hospital…” I always blamed stress because it always was a stressful time when I’d really pay attention.
Since going on the good stuff (b12) and keeping myself on the money other vitamins wise…I’ve been feelin much better I don’t even need to finish my coffee all the way *and* my afternoons dont need the pick me up. A quick swing through the Starbucks for a green tea lemonade are really it…and that’s just cuz they’re borderline orgasmically good. Seriously, try one. Hot day+green tea lemonade= needing a few minutes alone and a cigarette. I also can have issues with my phone without hurling it into the dry wall ;D
So, if you’re new to going green or you’ve been doin it for ages and know there’s a problem but never looked into it and are about to start marinating your locally farmed T-bone, here’s some other vitamins vegetarians need to watch out for to keep you standing and the ground level:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/195297-vitamins-for-vegetarian-women/
Hoping it helps ! Well, I’m off… I have custom orders to craft and I’m very excited to announce I have ordered some beautiful fiber reactive dyes to go with my very cute cotton fashions :} Let’s see what actually ends up getting listed *lol*
Wishing you much health and happiness and if your job hunting, I’m crossing my fingers for you <3
Absinthe Fairy Halter Top Available In My Shop
Lots of love,
~Earth Childe
*Know any other good Vegan/Vegetarian Tips? Share em here!*
