Veganism is so much damn easier than your average omni realizes. It requires a step out of that major comfort zone of carnism that most of us end up growing an attachment to from an early age, and that's what psychologically makes it sound insanely restrictive and challenging.

I realized that once my sense of ethics began overriding that attachment to carnism, I actually find it, in some sense, more difficult to be a carnist, not less. Veganism is very second nature to me, and I do not see animal flesh and secretions as food anymore. I do not see animal skin, fur, and wool as clothes anymore. I don't see horses as animals to ride or elephants as astounding entertainers either.

To clarify, this isn't me saying that things like meat "taste bad" (because for some reason, people think being vegan comes with the notion that you believe animal-derived foods don't taste good). However, it really is me saying that the source of said good taste puts me off of it immediately.

Some of the people I grew up knowing but have not talked to in ages, including my late mother who passed before I even went vegan, would be baffled to know that I now have such a strong commitment to veganism because, beforehand, all of my favorite foods consisted of some kind of animal product. Even without fancy mock meats and dairy alternatives, which I won't deny that I enjoy, I'd take being vegan over being a carnist any day of the week. Eating a plate of beanis, potatoes, and broccoli brings me more peace, comfort, and satisfaction than that plate swapped with fried pork instead of beans and the potatoes and broccoli smothered in cheese, and that was a very common kind of meal for pre-vegan me to eat with a smile on my face.