America Peals

On my back, with Nurse Jackie out of the house and off my back, I am reading an article on why Americans eat too much. To be perfectly frank, there is nothing revolutionary in this piece. One needs to sleep well, eat whole foods and not get stressed.

Yep, got it. However, I do take issue with the stress component.

Stress is the American way of life. You can’t put a BandAid on stress. For example, ” I will take hike this week, listen to acoustical music and spray myself silly with Ayurvedic options designed to wash immediate tranquility over my person. ” And, if read another word on dating sites about hiking, I will pop. If all the people who report “hiking” as their favorite activity were actually hiking, Blue Hill Reservation would look like Tianenman Square. That goes the same for “kayaking.” Why don’t people ever speak the truth?

Dr. Paul J. Rosch writes:

Increased stress increases productivity – up to a point, after which things rapidly deteriorate, and that level also differs for each of us. It’s much like the stress or tension on a violin string. Not enough produces a dull raspy sound and too much an irritating screech or snaps the string – but just the correct degree of stress creates a beautiful tone.

I like what Rosch says. One needs to find a balance. Otherwise, productivity and most importantly, health deteriorate.

I am here to tell you that finding balance and leading a less stressed life is a conscientious decision we each make daily. I would like to argue that our culture is completely overrun by Ayn Rand’s capitalistic overtones, but it’s not true. You alone make the decision to be stressed or not and that is why I think BEFORE one thinks of losing weight, becoming strong or healtier, one has to actively choose balance. I did. I left a lucrative job. I left the greatest city in the world. I left a milieu where I was ascending in importance and impact. Why? Because I couldn’t stand another bloody day without seeing trees. I could not fathom working another 14 hour day at an office where no one saw their families. I could not justify working hard and feeling that life sucked and that technically, I SHOULD BE FEELING grateful for the job and the money.

It reminds me of a great quote: I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying.

Look at this hogwash: