Angela recently asked me the following question within the context of potential food contamination from Fukushima Radiation:
“Would love to hear your thoughts on this at Defiant Wellness. How do we ‘defy’ environmental and health impacts that are beyond our control?”
This is a question that is rather thought provoking, particularly within the context of such an ecological disaster.
As I thought about it, I gave thought to the title of my blog: Defiant Wellness. Clearly Angela had picked up on my “defiance theme” within her question. So let’s examine what defiance is, and why I latched onto that as a key element of why I write and why my life is evolving as it is.
de·fy diˈfī verb To openly resist or refuse to obey.
Defiance is a reluctance or refusal to submit to someone’s authority, regardless of whether they wield real power over you. A political protest is defiant. Refusing to follow orders from my commanding officer or boss is defiant. Ignoring or challenging my doctor is defiance.
Determining how I may choose to respond to a disaster such as Fukushima, is not whether to defy, but whether or not I deny.
de·ny diˈnī/ verb To state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of.
Do I believe the nuclear meltdown in Japan is a threat to the environment and the human food chain as reported by scientists? That is to accept or deny.
Since Angela’s question is framed within the context of issues that are “that are beyond our control”, that will vary from person to person, as all of our situations vary. Let’s consider cheap grain. I do not eat grain. Why? Because I believe there are better food sources, and because I can afford those better foods. Therefore that choice is “within my control”. If I was feeding a family of six on my present income, the game changes. In such a scenario, choices are constrained: I either have to find more money, cut other items from the household budget or compromise on my food choices.
Large scale disasters, such as Fukushima, clearly reduce our choices. The closer one lives to such a catastrophe, the more they may be impacted and the fewer alternatives they may have.
Coming full circle to the question that was posed in the opening sentence: the philosophy of Defiant Wellness is to constantly reassess one’s situation, gathering new and evolving information, to provide the opportunity to make the best possible choices available to you under the existing circumstances. Nothing is constant. Everything is a moving target. Defiant Wellness is Dynamic Wellness so choose wisely and move ahead.
Thanks for the question Angela.
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