💭 Today’s thought bubble... health mindset and advertising.
Did you know that, apart from the US, New Zealand is the only country in the world that broadly allows direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines? 💊📺
There are a lot of people sick at the moment, and I understand how terrible it is for them. But as we head out of winter and into spring, I know it’s unlikely I’ll pick up any bugs. I just seem to be immune from most ills. And I’m always on public transport, in offices, out and about, meeting and talking to people, so it’s not that…. 🚌
I come from the Brady Bunch generation (a TV show from the early ’70s 📺) where life seemed just a little less worrisome and anxiety wasn’t as prevalent. That’s another story….
I saw an outtake from one episode where one of the kids got the measles and he was happy, and then the whole family were happy because once they’d caught it, they didn’t have to worry about it again. 😁 🌱💪❤️
I had most of the childhood diseases. Some were a bit grim at the time, but what I remember most was staying home, hot soup on the stove 🍲 and Mum supplying treats like crayons and paper. 🖍️ It wasn’t scary. I felt safe and knew I was going to be OK. ❤️
Fast-forward to today and everywhere you look there are messages that feel like: “If you don’t do this… you’re going to unalive!” 😱 Or advertising that basically says: “Oh no, it’s winter... you’re definitely going to hell in a handbasket this season!” 😱
A couple of things about the modern world….
1. Because two parents often have to work just to survive, nursing your children at home has become a stress no one needs. Illness becomes associated with stress, juggling work and that feeling of “hurry up and get better!” ...so guilt gets thrown into the mix as well. 😩
2. My memory of illness wasn’t fear, but safety and a time to heal. So I don’t associate common colds etc. with something terrible. I see them as a time to take the pressure off the pedal of life for a bit. 🛋️🍵
What Mum would tell me if I did come down with something was: “That just means you’re growing. All is well.” 🥣❤️
So really, one of the ways I keep myself well today is pretty simple… I ignore the advertising and the fearmongering. 🙉📺
My mindset is: I trust my body to heal, and I am just growing... (unfortunately outwards and downwards now though!) 🤣🤣🤣