Back when I was in school, I came home one day and I told my mum I wanted to try vegetarianism due to its positive impact on the environment and animal rights.
The next day, I returned home from my part-time job to a steaming plate of spaghetti bolognese. I paused, looked at mum, and said, “Mum, I’m trying to be a vegetarian.”
“I know. This is vegetarian mince,” she said.
Thrilled, I sat down and began to eat. After the first mouthful, I was shocked to find the flavour was rich and full. I turned to mum and said, “This is so good, I can’t believe vegetarian mince tastes just like real mince!”
It was then that I saw the look in her eye.
I tentatively asked, “This is just normal mince, right Mum?”
With a wry smile, she nodded and then shared how when she was growing up she’d get salted fish every now and then, and only eat “proper meat” once a year: a chicken drumstick during Chinese New Year. For her, it was a point of pride to be able to put meat on our table every day. She made it clear that as long as I lived under her roof, she wanted to serve meat at our table—and I respected that.
I feel like we all have our own points of pride. Mine is books. A few years ago, I decided that I would no longer question the cost of a book. If I think I’ll benefit from it, I’ll buy it.
Do you have any points of pride?