Hey Mr. RFK, Jr., with all due respect – “I drank out of a water hose every summer as a kid, and it never killed me!”.

Who hasn’t said that or heard somebody say it?  It probably wasn’t directed at the new nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, but I’ve made that exact statement, and I’ve made similar non sequiturs about ingesting other things that (let’s be real) are NOT going to kill a healthy human.  But these statements lack logic.  Public water will not contain toxins at high enough levels to hospitalize us, much less kill us, and we are drinking from the hose, not eating the entire hose (THAT may kill you).  Nonetheless, there ARE known toxins in tap water and in our food system that - over time - CAN harm us.  They can contribute to metabolic syndrome, cancer, endocrine system disruption, decreased reproductive health, and more. 

We often use flawed logic like the hose water statement, and it leads us to create false narratives that cause us physical or mental harm, and can lead us to adopt OTHER false narratives.  This is why it’s important to reflect, and to develop a stronger level of self-awareness.  One new practice I’ve become aware of is to ask those around you how you come across, how you are perceived.  Don’t do this weekly, but once a year ask a couple of people to give you feedback on how you communicate with others (do you speak kindly and do you listen when others speak, do you seem judgmental or closed-minded, and are you pleasant to be around?).  Note that you’re asking others to judge you – you’re seeking honest feedback, and this is a challenging thing so you need to pick people who you think have confidence to be honest and know you well enough (don’t pick a co-worker who reports to you, that would put them in an awkward position). 

Here's another example; my wife was told when she was young that if there’s thunder in winter, it will snow within 7 days.  I’m not saying there can’t be some kind of increased likelihood, but she grew up in South Carolina, where snow is very rare.  It’s likely that somebody made a casual observation and decided there must be a causal relationship – you’re probably familiar with the phrase, “correlation doesn’t equal causation”.  The main point here is that let’s stop assuming that we must accept what’s common practice as safe and healthy.  Just because something is “normal”, doesn’t mean it’s good for me to do.  Alcohol consumption is quite normal in our society, but I recently decided that it’s not for me anymore.  I may share a beer with my wife on a rare occasion, but the health benefits of avoiding regular alcohol consumption are more important to me than any reason that would lead me to drink often or in excess.  I’m not going to consume anything from the big food manufacturers.  I’m going to do my best to limit my exposure to microplastics because they are known to build up in our bodies over time, so I’m not microwaving plastic, I’m drinking out of glass and metal containers, I’m carefully buying personal care products, I’m cooking in cast iron, etc.

If I want better for me and my family, these are changes that can help us maintain our health.  They can extend our healthspan, and keep us from becoming dependent on the healthcare system.  They can keep us feeling great, and functioning well as we age, so we can enjoy life in community with others.  I don’t need to eat donuts to enjoy life.  I don’t need to drink 3 beers with dinner (or at all, for that matter).  I have clarity of mind, and feel better in my late 40s than I have my entire adult life.  Don’t let what is normal determine your behavior.  Don’t let long-held assumptions shape your perspectives.  Don’t let blind spots keep you from growing.  Trust the process of personal growth and development, and don’t neglect your physical, mental, or spiritual health.