May I be frank? The journey to becoming vegan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich (WOTV) - This past week I watched a new documentary called "May I Be Frank" released by Cinema Libre.  This film chronicles the journey of Frank Ferrante, who at 54 finds himself unhappy, overweight, in poor health and on a barrage of prescription meds that affect him both body and mind.  Frank meets up with some vegan 20 somethings at a local cafe and decides to believe in himself and the power of change one more time.  The film was interesting, heart warming and at times intense.  After watching the film I had a call with Frank to talk to him about his transformation and where he is in life now.

Michele:  Firstly Frank I had a hard time picturing you at that point in your life even going in to a place like Cafe Gratitude.  How did you find yourself there?

Frank:  I went into Cafe Gratitude on a whim, the word gratitude sounded like something out of a 12 step program which I was in at the time.  The food, the cafe itself none of that held any interest for me but the people in there.  Everyone was so kind in there and friendly.  At that point in my life in was very depressed and also desperately lonely.  It was the people that kept me coming back. 

M:  So then what began the experiment?

F:  Well my life had become a disaster by that time.  I had been sober and off drugs (non prescription for 17 years by then and was suffering from a variety of health issues, hepatitis C included.  And it was not so much that my life had just become a disaster but that I was seeing it as it was for the first time.  The reality of it all.  I was also extremely overweight, fat.  When you are fat you feel unseen.  So its a lonely life.  And yet in Cafe Gratitude I felt seen.  People talked to me and I began making friendships with some of the staff.  Each day there is a question of the day and on this particular day it was "what do you want to do before you die?".  My response was to "fall in love one more time".  At that point in time I really felt like no one could ever love me and I certainly did not love myself.
So its Valentines day.  We begin a 42 day experiment, me and 3 of the guys from Cafe Gratitude.  For 42 days I eat all 3 meals vegan, I practice daily affirmation, I exercise and I see a variety of natureopathic healing doctors.  This was an experiment in Surrender. 
For the 42 days we became like a family.  The change in my lifestyle created a change in my perspective and I began feeling happier, healthier, I had a renewed desire for living. 

M:  This film was very inspirational to me and it gives hope to people who might think that wellness and change of this magnitude are beyond their reach.  What do you think is a realistic goal or way to experience this kind of transformation for the average person who does not have a 3 man coaching team behind them?

F:  Well after the shooting was complete I relapsed.  I was given a script for vicodin by a doctor and then I stopped going to meetings, began to slip back into old habits.  That could happen to a lot of people and then perhaps you give up and give in.  Fortunatley I knew now that there was a better way for me to live and I kept seeking that.  It wasnt just the food, you can eat healthy and still be an unhealthy person.  Its more about how you give and receive love.  And how you love yourself every day.  When you love yourself you want to take care of yourself, you show up for life and participate in it.  I think of myself as a spiritual warrior, I am healthy and most of all I am conscious.  Its funny that most of the things shown in the film are the things I was most ashamed of and hated about myself.  Now this can be a healing message.  We can heal ourselves and we can heal the planet.