How to make people like you - Obstacle #1: Vegetarianism

Welcome to my new self-help series. It is to help you become more socially acceptable and make more friends. I am hoping that I will help myself as I write these, so I will be targeting the apparent “flaws” in my personality, beliefs or behaviour that might be restricting my friend-making abilities.

Today, we look at vegetarianism.

First of all, I am not technically a vegetarian. Some may call me a semi-vegetarian or a pescetarian—that’s right, I eat fish. Sometimes I eat fish every day, sometimes I don’t eat fish for months. But I never eat cow, pig, chicken or any other animals that roam Earth. I say vegetarian for ease of use, and because I can’t really pronounce pescetarian.

People react in different ways when they find out that you don’t eat meat. Responses range from:

• Comradery: “I am a vegetarian too. Let’s swap recipes and names of places to eat!”
• Genuine interest: “I am thinking about becoming a vegetarian. What made you decide? What do you eat?”
• Mild interest: “I am not thinking about becoming a vegetarian, but I am interested in people who are and enjoy vegetarian food a few nights a week if I haven’t defrosted anything.”
• No interest, but acceptance: “I could never be a vegetarian and have to meat at every meal. But I will make you extra veges for tea tonight to go with our roast beef, but keep that tofu far away from me.”
• Defensive: “I love eating meat and believe that anyone who questions my right to eat it is the devil incarnate. The human body needs 90% of their diet to be red meat. To get the same iron as a steak, you would have to eat three million tons of spinach.”

So you see that being vegetarian can either help you make friends or turn people against you. How you respond is up to you.

Follow my top five tips and be surrounded by meat lovers and tree huggers alike.

1. NEVER screw up your face as a potential friend tucks into their steak at a BBQ while you smother your vege burger in tom sauce.
2. NEVER assume that people will know what you do and don’t eat. If you taste your “vege” soup that someone has especially made for you and you realise that it has been cooked with chicken stock, just grin and bare it. You can only do the best you can and it is the thought that counts.
3. DO answer people’s questions helpfully and politely.
4. DON’T get into big arguments about the virtues of not eating meat versus the advantages of eating it with new people. It will only end badly. Save these arguments for your boyfriend or Mum.
5. DON’T lecture people, no matter how sympathetic to your cause they are. No one likes to be lectured. Think about those intense religious people that try and force you to come to their church and then tell you that you will go to Hell if you don’t. It’s the same thing, but perhaps worse.

Letter from a 25-year-old

--> For those who are yet to reach this milestone it seems like a daunting figure. 25! Mid-twenties! And for many… adulthood.

I turned 25 three weeks ago, and was amazed by the number of people who asked me if I was going to have a quarter-life crisis.

First of all, I am glad that 25 years is only a quarter of the way through, not a third or a half.

Second of all, no I am not going to have a quarter-life crisis. I may be 25, but I don’t look back on what I have achieved so far with panic that I am falling behind my peers or haven’t ticked enough things off my list.

Thirdly, is it something you plan on doing? Surely it’s something that just happens?

I have had first-hand experience with The Crisis. Most of you reading this blog will know who I am talking about, and for those who don’t I won’t bore you with the sad story of my pathetic love life. Perhaps seeing someone else go through it helps me put things in perspective and knowing that I don’t want to end up down that road.

I can’t think of any real reason why I would suddenly have a freak out just because I have spent 25 years on this planet. In that time I feel like I have achieved plenty and am well on my way to achieve more.

If I was a bit insecure I could be worried about my single status. 25 and single?! Shock, horror! It seems like every time I log into Facebook someone else is getting engaged or posting wedding and/or baby pictures. I have been single for well over a year now, and to be honest it was one of the best and busiest years of my life to date. Why would I want to rush into anything with just anyone when I’m doing fine on my own?

If I was materialistic I would worry that I don’t own a house yet or have any assets to speak of. I have never even owned a car. I spent about half a house deposit on an overseas adventure this year, and intend on doing it again next year. At this point in time I want experiences, not property.

So for all you nearly 25-year-olds out there, don’t stress about the number. Be proud of yourself for all that you have achieved in your short life and be ready for the adventures that await.