by petmomful » Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:26 pm
I have been thinking a lot about this. One person I really respect is the journalist, Christopher Hitchens. I watch him debate on Youtube. He was British, but became an American citizen. He was a brilliant man, and had a brilliant career. He wrote lots of books and columns, and traveled the world. He was not afraid to say what he thought, even tho sometimes it seemed offensive to some people. (He was BIG against religion.) He appears to have had a lovely family and home. But the one thing it seems he did not do is take care of himself. He got overweight, smoked pretty heavily, and drank lots of whiskey. Someone asked him once why he drank so much and he said his biggest fear was being bored, so he stayed a bit sloshed all the time, or something to this effect. So he got some sort of throat cancer and died at age 62.
I have really been wondering why people just are not willing to take care of themselves; is it so hard to do? If your rich uncle died and left you a Mercedes, I bet you would put only the best oil and gas in it. It seems people forget that EVERYTHING they do in this life, they do in that one body that we have. Our entire society promotes ill health. Every commercial is about fast food or drugs. I sit in my chair and read McDougall books while my husband watches tv, and I see endless commercials for burgers, fries, coke, and Lipitor.
My husband smokes and drinks, and eats whatever he wants. (He is very thin.) All 4 of my kids smoke now, they are all adults. All of them drink. Now we are going to have a big holiday feast and my husband is bringing the turkey! I am bringing my own food.
I go to my grandkid's games, and they are selling candy bars, hot dogs, and soda at the concession stand. Everyone, even little kids, is walking around with sodas. It is quite disturbing to me. I think it is a combination of misinformation, and denial. I am the ONLY person I know who cares about what they eat, except for my son's step-daughter whom he has told me eats healthy now, for her looks. She is a high-school senior. In fact, my family thinks my eating habits are crazy!! I have to follow this WOE by myself, while my husband buys junk food, and does some baking for the holidays. It is not easy, but I am determined. It always amazes me when I read success stories, where the spouse comes home and says, "Honey," we are not going to eat animals anymore," and the spouse joins them on the diet. My husband would never do that. I worry about all of them, but there is nothing I can do but live by example. I wonder if my husband is going to face a lot of medical care in the near future, he is 63 and is being screened every year for cancer now. How am I going to be able to handle all of that if it happens? Am I going to let doctors do what they want to him, or am I going to have to research everything so they don't kill him? He already has high blood pressure, but does not care at all. He just takes his pill. He always seems to skate by unscathed. My son-in-law's dad just had his second stroke, and his mom has dementia. They are deteriorating right before our eyes, but will not consider a diet change, according to my son-in-law. It is downright scary!
I just don't get it! I will stop ranting now, and thanks for listening! We have to stay strong!