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| Can you tell me which one tried to kill you? |
For those that have no ambitions in the area of longevity I offer the following guidelines. I call it the "Here For a Good Time, Not a Long Time" plan, also known as the "Better to Burn Out Than to Fade Away" school of thought. It seems that many people are following it.
- Don't be concerned with heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, or accidents. Most things in a modern lifestyle are potentially harmful, and you have to die from something.
- Work as much as possible, preferably more than 40 - 50 hours per week. Live to work instead of work to live.
- Eat a meat-based diet heavy on processed and fast foods, and eat extra calories every day. The guidelines of about 2,200 to 3,000 calories per day for men, and 1,600 to 2,400 calories for women, should be considered a starting point. Don't worry - animals don't feel any pain.
- Be busy all the time. Allow chronic psychological stress to dominate your life. Success doesn't come easy.
- Don't exercise. Who has time? Plus, no one likes to sweat.
- Drink alcohol Life's a party!
- Cultivate a negative attitude. It's not pessimism, it's reality.
- Don't laugh. These are serious times.
- Don't spend time in nature - go shopping instead. Nature is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and often far from amenities. How can you buy anything there? It's all free.
- Be a rugged individual! Don't cultivate relationships. Do it all on your own.
I do hope that you ignore these guidelines, and are working toward having a long, happy and healthy life.
“Of the 3,142 counties in the US, McDowell County, West Virginia comes in at No 3,142 in terms of life expectancy. For men, that’s 64 years, a statistic that, as Bernie Sanders likes to point out, is the same for men in Namibia.” - Source
Amen! On the flip side, if we can cultivate moderation, gratitude, common sense and good relationships we will come out ahead. Another big one is smoking. Why are people still buying into that? We need a culture of wellness.
ReplyDeleteYou can see that things aren't working out by all the hospitals everywhere. The penny hasn't dropped yet and besides there is just too much money to be made. Your right people are so indoctrinated that they think it's normal to get heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Never really got alcohol as it makes me feel rubbish and haven't consumed it for years. Caffeine is another culprit as it raises cortisol and messes with sympathetic nervous system. What can you say about exercise except that it makes you feel great without a come down and the only side effect is getting fitter.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Alex
Gregg, I am saddened that in society today illness has become completely normalised. When yet another staff member or student gets cancer, people are smiling whilst saying that the latest treatments are so successful (I doubt it) rather than questioning why on earth we have this serious health epidemic.
ReplyDeleteIn a 25 year study of 11,000 nurses it was found that having at least one close friend in your life was more important in terms of life expectancy than whether or not you smoked. Whilst I'm not for one moment suggesting smoking is a good idea, I am suggesting we all put relationships first in our lives ahead of work and accumulating stuff. I used to be guilty of not having people around because I thought the house had to be spotless - what a load of bunk! I woke up to myself and realised that real houses can get that 'lived in' look (if you cook, read, make things etc..) and that the sort of friends I value understand that.
Madeleine.x
Such a good post Gregg! Wow, where to begin? Annie, Alex and Madeleine are all right on.
ReplyDeleteEating three, vegetable-based meals a day with plenty of heathy fat and some protein makes me feel so good! I eat a sensible amount and don't get full; rather, I aim for feeling satisfied.
I drink non-fluoridated and non-chlorinated water (Berkey Filters are the best!) and my body is healthy and happy.
I walk daily and enjoy deep, meaningful friendships.
I recently decided to leave my career of over a decade, which I have enjoyed, to pursue a new path that's been calling me and I am giddy with excitement! Life is gorgeous!
And I love that doing these things, taking these actions, is what makes up the fabric of my Life. People often ask me how I "do it." I simply look at them and tell them it's part of who I am.
By the way, now that I'll be working and studying from home, the NBA community will be an even greater resource of sound thinking and camaraderie for me, thank you! -Erin
Erin,
DeleteCongratulations on the exciting developments in your life. It is always good to hear about another person successfully transitioning to ways of living that they most yearn for.
It is a common view that the basic things of life are a drag, or somehow prevent one from doing more worthy things. But what is more worthy than cooking and eating, the routines of maintaining a comfortable home, and providing the supports for following one's passions and priorities?
For me, these don't get in the way of Life, they ARE Life. And doing them simply and mindfully provides one with a gorgeousness and beauty unparalleled in a perpetually busy, rushed and stressed lifestyle of chasing more and more things and packaged experiences.
We look forward to hearing more about your new path in Life.