Hello,

I am Esse, a mature single vegan female in Boston, Ma. I am looking forward to getting to know lots of carrotloves members soon.

Can we redefine "mature?" When I was 39+, I still thought of myself as young. Now at 60, I’m learning to accept the concept of middle age. At 75, I may be willing to identify as "mature."

Looking at the pictures of the members here, I’m feeling "old." Can you all really be 39+? Or is the vegan lifestyle that rejuvenating?

I’m embarrassed to post a picture until someone my age starts the ball rolling. Until then, I am just grateful for this site, and hope to meet many more of you online. I live in northwest lower Michigan, and all living beings - especially innocent animals and children - are my passion. I have lived up here for 17 years and have never met a vegan, or even a serious vegetarian. If you live nearby and would like to talk, I’d love to meet you.

Yes, I believe we are all 40 plus... this pic was taken when I was 47... carrotloves1 (also myself) was taken when i was 42.

I use these 2 pictures as branding (nothing wrong with "Dear Abby" keeping her same favorite pic?)

I am now 52, and my most recent pic can be seen on my member website (click my profile).

When I thought of creating this website, I was under 50. I knew how lonely life had been for me almost all my life as a veg since early teenagehood. Today there are many very young veg*ns which I think i s great, but I felt there must be many "older" mor isolated veg's like myself who would like a place like this.

Maybe "Mature" is not the best discription? I do believe that a certain mental change happened when I hit 40 and felt that might be a good place to start. But Now I know and even bigger change happened at 50ish with menopause...

I guess we will all feel different thoughts and changes with each number milestone.

Please don't feel embarrassed to put a pic up .. any pics you feel good about or want to show.... (I happen to still identify wth the image I "was" more than the reality in the mirror).

Best

Please don't take me too seriously - I certainly don't! I am not at all concerned that I may look ALL of my 60 years. I am kidding that I am afraid of posting a picture on the website - I just don't happen to have a photo of myself, and am not motivated to take one. But I totally agree with the need for this website for us older vegans, and am so grateful to you for starting it.

My good news is that in the last month a vegan group has been meeting within an hour's drive from me! So for the first time in my life, I am starting to feel a little less isolated, as I listen to others talk about their need to be around people who feel as they do. And we sure do alot of talking! Once I can get a word in, I will mention this website. All of the participants so far are of the "mature" variety. We seem to agree on the need to share ideas, experiences and recipes, and to be part of a "support" group (I hesitate to use that word because it makes us sound like we have an affliction of some sort that needs to be fixed.)

The group is basing the discussions on the amazing book World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle, possibly my favorite book ever. Have you read the book? I can only imagine what our world would look like if we modeled it after Will's ideas.