Getting made fun of for going vegetarian? It shouldn't bother me but it is. Help!?

I am sorry you lost a friend. Its hard to lose someone you love, particularly to cancer and I think your grief is coloring how you feel about a lot of things. Losing someone when young makes you feel vulnerable and afraid. It also makes you rethink things. Watching my friend die of cancer made me decide then and there that I never EVER am going to fight like she did for nothing. She died by inches over a 10 year period and her whole life revolved around treatments, chemo therapy, bone marrow biopsies and being told for the third time that the cancer had returned.

In my opinion, changing your diet, suddenly smelling "death" on meat etc is directly related to your experience with your friend and how much her death is still affecting you.

This is what I would do if I were you.

1. Do NOT speak of your diet at work. Anyone who picks on you or drops of meat containing food on your desk is the azzhole, not you. Drop it in the trash. They wasted their money, not you.

2. Seek grief counseling. It can be life affirming and it can help with some of what you are going through.

3. Rethink your group of FB friends. They sound like bigger aZZholes than the folks at work.

Lets cut to the chase, and deal with your problem.

1. Don't advertise you have gone vegetarian, or use it as a crutch because you lost your friend.

2. Because you have blinded yourself with your friends loss, you may not admit it, but you blame the stage 4 on meat.

3. For your friend to be found with stage four, I am afraid, she made the same mistake as we all do. Not having the regular full Medi Check, at least once a year. I have it done in January then around July/August.

4. Going to the gym, great stuff, good move, bad move if you do not increase your nutrient levels. Do your due diligence Kat, and research fully.

5. Why put this onto the children? Your friend passed away, and you went into panic mode.

Death happens to us all, one way or another Kat. When your number is up, that's it. Eating healthy, does it really prolong life, or keeps you away from popping supplements and other drugs.

Let me tell you something Kat, we had a major accident on the main highway to Toronto from Ottawa, big 18 wheeler lost it on black ice, took four cars with him, winter of 2014.

While I was being assessed in the ER, I arrested in front of them, had to be DE fibbed. I ate healthy, did all the right things. But know, I am back at work, but the most important thing, I am enjoying life, enjoying the fresh air, swimming, BBQ's and drinks with friends Kat.

Don't shut yourself off and the kids. Those that are making fun of your lifestyle change, tell them to go suck a sausage. The Australians will tell you to go suck a "Sav" (Savaloy).

I'm not a vegetarian but I feel bad that people are treating you like that!

Firstly, don't be insecure about it - you're a vegetarian and you have your reasons. If someone asks, tell them, and be confident in why you eat what you eat

Secondly, tell the people who make fun of you the most (one to one) to please stop because it's bothering you. Without the group pressure, they'll probably listen to you and stop!

I do find this surprising and pretty childish considering how many people eat so many different things nowadays.

People are just rude. I'd speak to your manager at work about the incidents there. That is highly unprofessional and is a form of harassment that both the other employees and the boss can get in trouble for. A lot of people seem to think vegeterians always push their views on others, so they may be living in that belief... which isn't usually the case. I'd be courteous of course, and reply with something like, "I don't question or judge what you eat, so please give me that same courtesy." Avoid those negative people in your life. What you are doing is good for you, you are happy, and you should be proud.

i don't understand this kind of behaviour as i've never experienced anything like it when i have said i'm vegetarian or pescatarian. people are not even interested. persevere and throw away anything left on your desk without comment. hopefully people will tire.

They'll get bored. Just don't rise to it as they are looking for a reaction.

I hate to use the term banter but it is. People make fun of vegetarians and vegans and cross fitters because their didferent

one wonders how you navigate the real world at all if thats causing you a problem

I might simply suggest you set aside the vegetarian part of your problem rather look at your emotion and intellectual integrity more broadly

clearly some personal development is going to be of some use