- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Ecocentricity Blog: Decisions, Decisions https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/259406?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/259406?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/259406?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Ecocentricity Blog: Decisions, Decisions&body=ESG News from Ray C. Anderson Foundation https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/259406?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Environment](/CSR-News/environment-0) # Ecocentricity Blog: Decisions, Decisions ##### By: John A. Lanier Sep 4, 2019 11:00 AM ET Campaign: [Ecocentricity Blog](/news/campaign/ecocentricity-blog) ![](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/Vegetarian_Meal.png) [Ecocentricity Blog: Decisions, Decisions](https://www.raycandersonfoundation.org/articles/decisions-vegetarian-climate-change) So often in life, significant decisions are tied to particular moments. I remember precisely when I asked my wife’s parents if I could marry her. I remember walking down the lawn at the University of Virginia in the 11th grade, and I knew that was where I wanted to go to college. I remember entering my mentor’s office at my old law firm to tell him I would be leaving the firm to take my dream job with this foundation. I imagine that I’ll remember those moments for the rest of my life. For some reason though, my most recent significant life decision doesn’t have any particular moment tied to it. I didn’t look myself in the mirror and make some new resolution. It’s strange to me, but it kind of just happened. By “it,” I mean my decision to become a vegetarian. Let me say this at the outset – I’m not here to shame meat-eaters or evangelize for vegetarianism. I just want to write about my experience, and if you find it interesting, that’s cool. If not, that’s cool too. Back in May or June, I just stopped eating meat. It wasn’t some intentional thing, and I honestly can’t say with any accuracy when I last ate an animal. I think we hadn’t prepared any at home and I hadn’t ordered it at a restaurant for a week or so. When I realized that, I just thought, “This isn’t that hard.” So I kept not eating it. Eventually, I had been a vegetarian in practice long enough to decide to be one in principle as well. My reason is simple – a vegetarian diet lowers my carbon footprint, and I want to lower my carbon footprint because I’m concerned about climate change. That’s it. I often advocate in this blog for people to find the things in their lives where they can make a positive environmental impact, and then to do them. Everyone is different though, so what is doable for me may not be as doable for others, and vice versa. Again, I believe environmental activism should be about encouragement, not admonishment. When I realized that being a vegetarian wasn’t hard for me, I became one. And even though I know that a vegan diet would reduce my carbon footprint even more, I’m not ready for that. I celebrate those who are vegan, just as I celebrate those who avoid red meat because of its environmental footprint, but still eat other meat. Also, I’m not saying that I’ll never eat meat again. If I’m a guest in another person’s home and they serve me chicken stir fry, I’m likely going to eat it out of politeness. Moreover, I may eat someone else’s leftover meat rather than have it become waste, which would have its own negative carbon footprint. In the meantime, I’m enjoying all of the non-meat that I’m eating, and I honestly feel better day-to-day than I used to. I get all the protein I need from various nuts, vegetables, and eggs. I don’t really miss anything, with the only exception MAYBE being a spicy chicken sandwich. And when I eat out, I find that nearly every restaurant has multiple options that make me quite happy. It’s my small offering for the benefit of humanity, and I will continue to look for other ways to improve. Thank you for anything that you are doing in your own life! I celebrate every bit of it. [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/Screen_Shot_2014-11-05_at_3.00.07_PM.png)](/profiles/ray-c-anderson-foundation) ### More from Ray C. 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