Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Healthy?


Ever get fed up with hearing stuff?
Environmental and health stuff?

Do you just go along with it and think that what you hear is gold or do you dig to see the other side?


I sometimes just go along with what I hear as long as it sounds good. And then I watch shows on how things are made.Yah.
And then after subscribing to a certain health site and having correspondents with the author I started to wonder about a lot of things.
OK, I wondered before I 'talked' with him but it really sparred my research into scientific sites and gave me more of an urge to search out both sides of all the stories.
What is healthy, what is good for us?

Did you know that the health and 'green' movement is a huge cash cow? No. Really!
OK. We all do and want in on it, I know!

Oh, I do think that there are great things to be gleaned from both environmental and health discoveries to make our lives healthier but where do you draw the line?
I try (try but do not always succeed, we are renovating the cottage) to draw it when I see companies promote gadgets to protect you from your gadgets and extra cleaners to clean what you have already cleaned and stuff to replace old not 'green' stuff.

Hmmm, in that case wouldn't it make more sense to just keep the old and not create more waste by throwing it out and buying the new 'green' stuff? Wouldn't that be less wasteful?
What about the process that new stuff goes through to become that 'green' product? In a lot of cases it is just as harmful as the process the non 'green' product goes through. Like eco friendly cars for instants. Go read up on those funky batteries and see. Read the whole process it goes through from the mining to the plants, across the ocean on a freighter and back, and all the other steps in between. Mmm, hmm...


And recycled stuff. I am all about it but remember that the process from one old piece of junk to the next is not so green. Maybe better than throwing it in the trash but can it be upcycled or repurposed?

Some people are into not having microwaves, some computers, some don't live near power lines, some don't use cell phones, some don't eat meat, some don't use lawn mowers. Some people don't sleep near an alarm clock and move their beds to the middle of the room to get away from power outlets. Some don't listen to the radio or drive cars, some don't eat processed foods and some don't watch TV's all to avoid certain waves and emissions and frequencies and pollutants and I could go on and on. I am sure eventually I will hit at least one area that concerns us all.
I haven't got you yet, let's try again.

Do you not worry about the emissions from the paint on the walls?
The stains on your wood, the carpet, or the fabrics in your home? Your side walk?
What about your appliances and hair dryer or your detergent, light bulbs, vacuum?
Your keyless remote, ceiling fan or camera?
What kind of shopping bags do you use? Whatever they give you, the ones you bought that are reusable or do you sew up something from some old fabric kicking around the house?
Think about the process.
What about diapers or wipes or soaps?
(I am totally not pointing fingers here, really! I think I have all this stuff!)


Or hey, your counter top, is it concrete, what kind(?), tile, or a solid surface, is it a laminate? Then what are it's emissions or off gases, or if you have granite, the radon emissions must concern you. No? It is pretty though isn't it!
Or what about your food? Ooooo, this is a biggie!
Your water, what kind do you drink?
And your supplements, you must take something, or not, how we are created by God is good for you? Are you sure? No vitamins, nothing? Interesting.
How about vaccines, or medications?
Alcohol? Mmmm, I could go for a glass of wine right about now!
Do you recycle? Compost? Drink raw milk? Go for grass fed? Free range?
How about when you choose to read the paper online to save a tree but then you are exposing yourself to EMF waves (I think that is what they are called, correct me if I am wrong...I am just shooting into the dark here with whatever pops onto my head) by sitting in front of your computer. How the heck do you know what to do? Health versus environment, but yet it is somehow one, ack!!


See, we all have one area that would create some controversy with friends. Isn't this what makes us unique, beautiful? Our differences. What we choose to be our personal convictions, not God convictions in a spiritual way but the ones that we make because we think we are helping ourselves or our environment somehow.
And in one way or another handing over our hard earned cash to the government or a corporation or someone who is laughing all the way to some hot gorgeous destination while we freeze our butts off and down whatever it is that we ordered from them.

Oh, right, I almost forgot about the dirt under your house. It could contain an multitude of electromagnetic forces or radon or something, anything really.
Better get a tree house. Oh, but, but.......


I must stop!

Hello, where the heck do we stop? We do have to live. Life is just not as simple as it was a few thousand years ago. And we think that all this stuff is making life better, easier and less stressful.

Not convinced here.

Should we not just be thrifty and not waste so much and maybe shop local when possible and grow our own food when possible and not worry about so much?
Doesn't worry effect our health?
Maybe we could just be content.
Hmmm.....
I wish I could do this. I strive for contentment. I think I am there sometimes but then I love convenience and interesting things, no matter how they are made. When it comes to the environment there are things I would love to do but I also cannot afford the solar panels up front nor is it practical for me to strap my three children on a pedal bike in -30C to get around to lessen my impact.


So we all make concessions and do different things that work for us in our own books. But why? Who made us feel guilty about what we were doing? Media? Friends? A seminar or speech? God?
Funny isn't it what we choose to use our energies to focus on?
What is it that really matters?
What about relationships and spirituality and mental health?

Ah, balance, where is the balance?

Seriously though. This is the stuff that runs through my head at any given moment when I hear someone talk about what they are doing.
All the 'what abouts'.
Not that this is bad, no, some of it challenges me for sure, but this is how my brain spins and I am actually not keeping up to what I am thinking as I type.


So I just smile and nod. :-)

Yo!


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey :) I think we should just stick to having the glass of wine and forgetting about it all :)

lynne said...

Good morning, just dropping by to say hello and sorry its been such a long time since I've commented :)

Charity said...

I hear ya sista friend!!

I have had so many of these thoughts - especially about the process of making 'green' cars. Oh - and how do I fit all my many children in one of those anyway??

Love and hugs to you!!!

Anonymous said...

And yet again, I read and I feel refreshed and I feel like someone is putting into words exactly what I am thinking!!!!!!!! All it boils down to is... WHO CARES! Do what is best for you and your family and try and be happy instead of conforming to your friends or the world because "they say so" or you feel some type of guilt if you don't. All you need is love! ;)
- Christa

Brooke said...

Anna, you have me laughing pretty hard. And not at you, the kind where I shake my head and giggle with you. Because I can think of someone I know for just about each issue you mentioned : ) Balance is a good reminder!

Anonymous said...

I hear you and am right there with you! I think it boils down to just trying to be sensible and responsible with each decision, and then move on - no worries, regret, or stress. We recycle, but not everything - for instance, I could recycle the little tomato paste cans, and used to, but how much water does it take to rinse those things out? Lots! Too much to make sense! So I just toss those. Etc.

BeachMama said...

You are so not alone in your thoughts. I think all the same things as you and just can't believe how many people get sucked in.

Smile and nod, just smile and nod...

mamatucci said...

great post Anna,I think we all just should what is best for our own families and not judge.

Matteo has a pretty severe allergy to anything that goes through his nose(airborn) some people would have him in a glass house. I do what I can,try to keep him safe and go on...

Sandy said...

Loved your post! Miss you!!

Kamis Khlopchyk said...

This post is so relevant to me....my mind gets swirling with all these thoughts too and then I get exhausted.

My thinking is that life is too short sometimes to worry about all those little things - microwaves, powerlines etc. I believe in lessening my impact on the environment but I waver from that all the time too. I think it's about balance. About remembering the important things. Forging relationships. Being a better person. And maitaining good health by eating right and treating yourself every now and then too. Because life is too short and I am pretty sure on my deathbed I won't be wishing I wouldn't have used my cell phone or had a microwave. I'll be wishing I spent more time with my family and friends.

wow. I am so emotional about this. You really hit a chord. Excellent post, my friend. I could never have expressed it so eloquently.

xoxoxox