Thinking outside the box - respectfully

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.

~ Mark Twain

Over the past couple of weeks, I have watched a growing number of people admit defeat and comply with public health measures that do not necessarily resonate with their inner wisdom.

One after another, friends and family have succumbed to the pressure, some having come to place undue trust on habitual offenders.

All I can do is listen to their stories, help reframe stress to facilitate a less vulnerable state upon treatment, and encourage better dietary and lifestyle habits. Anything else is beyond my scope of practice.

A divided world has taken a toll on our collective well-being

Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars.

The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars.

...

When the Star-Belly children went out to play ball,

Could a Plain- Belly get in the game…? Not at all.

You only could play if your bellies had stars

And the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars.

~ Dr. Seuss

Negative thoughts have spiralled through my mind and my ability to control them has escaped me at times.

So, I set the intention to look for the hidden gift in the challenges I perceive. Following are a few examples.

The election

As mentioned in last week’s blog, the snap federal election raised concerns for me. Although results are not yet cast in stone, I have made peace with the outcome. Democracy works. For that, I am grateful. A socially progressive, fiscally responsible government is what we need right now. More checks, balances and compromises are best for the time being.

The power of plants to prevent infection

As I’ve written about repeatedly, fear and shame make us more vulnerable to whatever is going around. When we have to resort to eliciting such emotions to achieve compliance, something is amiss. We create patients for life when we disempower people by telling them that lab-made chemicals are necessary to prevent death and transmission.

Looking for the hidden gem in research that converts plants into edible, spike protein-coding factories, with the potential for collateral damage, I confirmed that food can prevent infection. The studies linked show that ginger, holy basil, black pepper, spices, and I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol) from cruciferous vegetables help maintain health.

Because we can’t patent natural remedies, such research does not yet make headlines. The media needs funding. Monetizing what nature provides is not ethical. But, clearly, the research shows that our food choices can help switch genes on and off, and impair viral spread.

Increased transparency from the media

Propaganda is as powerful as heroin; it surreptitiously dissolves all capacity to think.

~ Gil Courtemanche

The momentum of biotech and government expenditure, combined with media rhetoric and narrative to reduce hesitancy and get compliance, raises alarm bells for me. The effort to manage perceptions about any leaked safety concerns or adverse health effects from treatment is telling of the investment to move forward at any cost.

Having been involved in advocating for health-related policy change in the past, I recognize propaganda when I see it. When coercion, ridiculous incentives, fear mongering, manipulation, ad nauseam advertisements, silencing of dissenting opinion and experts, slandering of alternative health care approaches and protection from manufacturer liability become necessary to sell drugs, there is collateral damage. Propaganda stirs up hatred, violence and complacency. It’s disempowering. We risk becoming slaves to an elite few.

Government-funded CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Association) has been a trusted news source for Canadians. The one-sided reporting and manipulated headlines as of late has been unprecedented. But, this week, to my pleasant surprise, a compelling story about someone ineligible to get the star upon thars was posted, offering a glimmer of hope, while eliciting in me compassion for her predicament.

Closing thoughts

I aspire to write content that evokes higher frequency emotions such as optimism, compassion, love and gratitude. Such feelings elevate our state of being, promoting a healthy response to any perceived challenge.

I attempt to plant seeds that nourish. Readers can choose to water or weed based on need and current readiness. My objective is simply to promote curiosity and self-sufficiency. Awareness is the first step in creating sustainable change.

Serendipitously, I have guided people in their quest to overcome major health challenges recently. This has prepared me well to see what others may be missing in our health care system. For that, I am grateful.

Under current circumstances, I have featured content that may elicit some angst. I do so because I care. Awareness helps prevent harm.

Standing up for what I believe is right, and advocating on behalf of those who need to make more informed health care decisions, has become part of my mission in life. But, please disregard anything that does not resonate and always consult with a trusted health care practitioner.