In 1960, smoking 4 packs a day and having a couple of martinis at lunch was perfectly acceptable, along with some accompanying horrid behavior. Not so much the case anymore. Can anyone imagine going to lunch with people who were smoking and pounding back liquor like that? Yikes. We are an adaptable species; we learn, and hopefully we do better, although not always and not as quickly as some would hope. When presented with enough information over a long enough period of time though, we evolve.
New information can be disconcerting, as it means that things we think are true may be discovered to be less true. It could be incredibly comforting to think that everything we believe true today will remain that way. Adaptation and adjustment can require effort, and there is the ego issue of: “What do you mean this thing I am doing is killing me?” I remember my mom smoking in the car with us kids with the windows rolled up — didn’t want to mess up her hair — and seatbelts, god no, they would wrinkle her dress. Ah, the ’60s; wonderful era.
All this brings to mind that there are no doubt things we are doing which we consider completely normal and socially acceptable, and in a few years may not be seen as being so awesomely wonderful. Back in 1960, if one had refused to smoke or drink, had exercised regularly, and focused on their sleep, they would have been labeled a freak. Even in the mid 1970s, pre-Nike, running was really weird. Why would anyone do that?
The rate of change these days can be blindingly rapid, which is mostly good, and often disorienting. The best we can do is remain open, consider new information on its own, rather than “back in my day…”, and give it a try. As Jurgen Heitmann says, we need to try to be expert learners. Try to keep in mind a few things. We are much stronger and more resilient than we may have been told. We absolutely have agency over our health. And lastly, and most importantly, we are worthy of living longer and healthier.
Onward and upward,
David
