I’m willing to be giving up my freedoms for this: the good health of others, but not for THIS!
Let me explain why I’m ranting…
It Started With A “Quick Stop” At The Store
I thought I’d just grab a bag of potting soil quickly, but things had changed this week. Consumers now had to get into a queue to enter the store. New rules limit the number of people shopping at any given time. Nobody can just “run in for something” now.
The new mandates for social distancing are inconvenient, yet they’re for the greater good and the protection of public health and wellness, right?
I’m willing to give up my freedoms in exchange for good health.
I’ve renewed my decision daily to suck it up a while longer even though I don’t like this loss of liberty and convenience.
Silly me! I guess I expected a little something in return…. that if we were “all in this together,” we were all working for our good HEALTH.
Once I finally made it to the inside of the store, I’d guess that 30% of shoppers wore homemade fashion-statement masks and all patrons observed 6-foot distancing while pushing sanitized shopping carts down aisles with newly-laid directional arrows on the floor.
There was limited staff available for questions or guidance and the store was noticeably quieter than a typical pre-pandemic visit.
Is This A Scary Movie?
Honestly, the strangeness of this whole scene made me feel uncomfortable. The current vocabulary of words like “obey,” “compliance,” “mandates,” and “restrictions” is visible and audible everywhere, even piped through as public service announcements. It frightened me as it reminded me of the 1975 horror movie, The Stepford Wives.
But Where Are The Healthy Messages?
Hmmm, if this is all for our health, where’s the extensive public information about eating real food, staying active, and exercising?
If I’m giving up my freedoms for the health of others, WHY aren’t we being slammed with messages about living “HEALTHY?”
Why is the public taught how to make masks, but not pushed to the same degree to eat more vegetables? Why aren’t messages of healthy eating being pushed out like this?
Why can’t we go to the gym and keep a 6-foot distance where we have wipes to disinfect everything but we can go to a big box store where we don’t have wipes?
I Know I’m Not Alone In My Thinking
I question everything right now and I won’t stop. I like being an independent thinker and I know I’m not alone. In fact, it’s healthy for the brain to look at different perspectives or viewpoints and consider each one carefully.
You’ve GOT To Be Kidding. I Can’t Be Giving Up My Freedoms For THIS!
I finished at the checkout line, packed my bags of potting soil in the back of my car, and headed toward home. As I passed Panda Express, Arby’s, Culvers, Burger King, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell, I saw their drive-thru lines wrapped around the buildings and even tailing into the street.
Sure enough, hungry people were in their cars patiently awaiting their fast food to be handed out the window to them. Some were wearing masks while ordering up their fast food.
I Thought You Wanted To Stay Alive?
What part of this makes sense? Why are people eating garbage convenience “foods” while being made aware of a health scare? Why isn’t the government discouraging that? Why don’t people understand that this industrially-created fake food can kill them and their families?
Topping It Off With Cola And Ice Cream
I went past the fast-food locations shaking my head and stopped at Walgreens for a few greeting cards. As I waited in line for the cashier with carefully selected Mothers Day and birthday cards for loved ones, the masked man in front of me set his two 2-liter bottles of cola and ½ gallon of ice cream on the counter.
Wasn’t He Wearing A Mask “For His Health?”
Then why was he willing to risk his health like that?
And while I’m on this rant, let me add that he managed to carry them up to the counter without a problem, but took them out to his car in a plastic bag for carrying convenience. Wait – let me correct myself – they were double-bagged, as a courtesy, because of the weight of the items.
Two plastic bags, 2 colas, and ice cream. What about this was good for him, his family, or our environment?
I Could Go On And On But I’ll Spare You
Let me just say this for now… pizza is being consumed in greater quantities now. Processed and packaged food sales are UP. Alcohol sales have skyrocketed.
Hey, I Was Giving Up My Freedoms For YOU, But Not for THIS!
And I would feel good better about giving up my freedoms for you if I thought it was helpful.
FYI… This virus isn’t just going away this week, so doesn’t it make more sense to level up to a healthier place? There are more reasons now than ever to be making improving lifestyle choices.
Eat HEALTHY, my friends. Exercise. Please take better care of yourself.
But for now, could you please lay off the **** junk food?!
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Please share your thoughts in the comment box below…
Have you felt this way about these contradictions, too?
What are YOU doing to level up your health right now?
As a front line health care worker my focus has been on not overwhelming the health care system and decreasing the number of people who contract or die from Covid. This is important. You, however, have offered an entire avenue of defense that I have not thought about. The majority of people that have die or have been seriously ill from Covid are those with chronic illnesses including obesity. The healthier you are prior to contracting Covid the better your chances. You are right. Why isn’t this part of the Covid conversation?
Yes, that’s the question I wonder about so often…
“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life that chancehas placed us, but is alway the result of good conscience, good health , occupation and all freedom in all just pursuits “
Thomas Jefferson
OMG Kathryn: It’s 3:45 AM in the morning and I couldn’t sleep, so I got up, ate a piece of cold pizza and washed it down with a little of my wife’s Bota Box. Chardonnay wine. Then I read your rant. Now, in addition to having done exactly what you suggest a healthy human being shouldn’t do – I now feel guilty as hell. SO, I’ll go back to bed and hope sleep comes to comfort me in my guilt. Bob Kennedy
No rest for the wicked! Haha, thank you, Bob!
Thanks, I found your “rant” to be thought provoking and valuable.
Out of caution my spending habits have really curbed and I’ve found that I’m weighing health more now, in part as if I’m securing quality and economy out of my limited purchases. Surely my lifestyle choices have already been changing with age, but the pandemic may just have taken meat out of the picture for me. Also my sense of empathy and desire for community outreach is heightened. All good things and I am grateful that my family hasn’t suffered and we are in a position help in our small ways.
Only a handful of discontinuities have occured throughout the historic fabric of civilization and what emerges from this will be from the ground up. I’ll take this opportunity to take stock in my choices.
thank you, Bill. I always appreciate your input and comments!
Hi, Kathryn!!
My husband and I talked about our general shift to (almost) all home-cooked meals now. Hmm. Hasn’t been hard at all. We both feel better already!
One thing that SO bugs me (us) is seeing folks w/out masks AND they have their un-masked children in tow going through the stores. ??why??
What are your thoughts on that?
Thanks for all you teach in the name of aging healthy!
Tina
Hi Tina, I think it’s great that you’re cooking at home! I think my answer to your question would be complex and maybe a full article in itself. For now, let’s just say that we all have our own thoughts and opinions on what’s going on and nobody is proven right or wrong yet. It will be a look backwards from a future date that will give us the answers we’re looking for now.
You know I agree with you. 🙂
We’ll talk again soon.
Most people are not ‘mindful’ about what they eat and do not have gratitude for all they have. It is difficult for some to take the time to be grateful. I have tried to learn from you at the end of our strength and balance class to really be thankful and grateful. To take just a few extra minutes and really think about things. So, if you need to rant, its ok as long as you are still grateful and doing what is best for your body. I continue to try.
Annette McFarlin
so grateful for YOU and your sisters, too! You are beautiful examples and inspiration to others, and I know you don’t even know it!
I share your concerns and see the contradictions . What else can we do with all the rights we have lost since 911? With all the layers of government we let the legislators pass and the complicated supply channels for products like ventilators , what can we do???
Kath, THAT is the question… if only we had a crystal ball, right?
I believe the reason folks are eating junk food like the pop and ice cream is for comfort. They are depressed and scared and wondering if they have any reason to work hard at being healthy. Why be deprived of something that would taste so good on the tongue when they are feeling such a great loss of control? The big government intrusion into my I-guess-I-took-my-freedom-for-granted American life is chilling and depressing. I know of what I speak because I have succumbed to the malady myself and eaten things that have hurt me and piled pounds on me during this time. I am sorry to the LORD for allowing myself to get into that state of mind and have resolved to get back on track. I have completed on-line studies and hope to be employed soon . . . .even with faith in Christ and the knowledge that a beautiful, eternal future lies ahead for me, I succumbed to sadness and a bit of anxiety. I feel it for the world. How does one cope without the hope I’ve found in Christ? I want everyone to know Him, the One who loves us most.
Thank you so much for sharing how you have gone through a number of emotions and also how you’ve found comfort!
Beautifully written and thought provoking piece. Unique perspective. Should have wider distribution. The integration of these two contradictions is clever and something I’ve not seen before. In this crazy environment I’ve tried to avoid thinking…too painful… but this got me going again. Thanks. Brava!
Thank you, Glenn. Feel free to share the article with others.
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Ritchie Havens. (Woodstock)
It’s always the answer and a question at the same time, isn’t it?
I agree with your rant so hardily that I too have given this some solid thought, and I offer a mere excuse for the junkfood group. It’s the economy st… still. It is my own privilege that allows me to shop local farm stores, organic fruits and veggies, buy glass containers, not plastic, to have the leisure time to have gardened organically for many decades so I know how to build on the cycles of nature to make this affordable. Privilege has given me time and experience to learn and cook healthy without red meat. But the addictions of our time or money-crunched culture make the conveniences provided by big industrial agriculture rule over health. Many families caught in the addictive cycles of red meats, processed sugars and starches, plastics overuse got hooked on these street corners of fast food by over-scheduling, and the need to give it all for the small pay.
thank you so much for sharing, J.K. We’ve certainly grown accustomed to a good life, haven’t we!?
I whole heartily agree!! I say close the fast food places and let the restaurants that serve actual food be open. And why should ANYONE have to pay for a gym membership or yoga class or Y membership??? That should ALL be free! There should be a campaign and incentives to live healthy vs waiting for a vaccine. It’s the high cost of eating and living low that’s devastating our world. People don’t want to work for their health. They’d rather take a pill, wait for a vaccine, and watch TV than take their health into their own hands. I didn’t give up my personal freedom and sacrifice my livelihood to others could sit in quarantine and vape while they have COPD.
Oh yes, how easy it would be if we could just take a pill… or pay someone else to do the work for us!
Yes I agree on many points you have made. Its hard to do things perfect to stay healthy and safe from all viruses.
I have been practicing safe habits for years and have not even had the flu for 6 years. I guess I was a bit of a germ freak even before all this.
Good article and stay healthy ok?
Gary
thank you! Maybe you’re not a germ freak, but just practical!