It was January 2003. I had long ago given up dieting, but instead had become gradually more health conscious over the last year, avoiding saturated fats and excess caffeine and alcohol. All this had led to me shedding excess pounds until I stabilised at a healthy weight.

Up until a few months before, I had still eaten meat on occasion, but had been out of the habit of cooking it at home for many years and only ever had it when eating out. Then I saw a television documentary about how diseased or rotting meat was being illegally distributed to supermarkets and other food outlets and ending up on unsuspecting consumers’ plates. I stopped eating meat completely after that.

Then, not long after Christmas, I was browsing the shelves of the local library and happened to pick up a book called K-Pax by Gene Brewer¹. I had never heard of it or the movie before – it just looked like an entertaining read.

Though it wasn’t what I would call great literature I found the content just struck a chord with my mood at the time and set me thinking about my role on Earth slightly differently. After reading the two sequels I decided to look into veganism more closely. With the help of the extensive reading list and numerous helpful web sites, I decided going vegan would be an excellent way to improve my health at the same time as doing something to benefit the environment, as well as reducing suffering to fellow creatures.

So I began by cutting out cheese and eggs, then over the next month or two, eliminating animal products completely. It wasn’t very difficult, because I had already cut down on these foods as part of my move towards a healthier lifestyle. I started feeling fitter, and some of my lingering health problems disappeared or lessened. I was careful to read the advice on the Vegan Society web site, and bought their book “The Animal Free Shopper” – listings of vegan products available in the UK.

As a natural consequence of reading all this vegan literature, my attention was drawn more and more to environmental issues and events and when I saw publicity about a “Big Green Week” in a nearby town I made a point of going along.

Through talking to people I met there, I ended up making many new friends. I became involved with a local food co-operative and even ended up doing the soundtrack for a community theatre group’s play. Now, through my new contacts, I regularly hear about social and campaigning events and my life has been very much enriched by the whole experience.

Another lasting consequence is a change in my reading habits – I could never get into non-fiction but now I read books on many different subjects with great interest, from physics to psychology to history to wildlife. This was started off by reading books in the K-Pax III reading list.

The third major consequence of my new attitude to life was that it gave me the added incentive and strength to do what I’d tried and failed to do several times before: on May 26th 2003 I gave up smoking.

Overall, these changes have made me healthier, happier and calmer, and I’d recommend it to anyone!