A blogger’s dilemma…
2012
(…sigh…)
You know what? Sometimes I don’t really feel up to the task of blogging. And sometimes I just wish I blogged about other things. I sometimes wish I was the crafty blogger with posts of beautifully homemade dresses that I created for my daughter. Other days I wish I was a photography blogger – a master at capturing priceless moments for the world to see. Sometimes I wish I was a food blogger with delicious food that inspired and delighted. Honestly, there are some days where my little heart sinks at the fact that none of these things are really my talent. (But if you check out these links you will see how talented my friends are.)
I love seeing beautiful things. I love daydreaming about a beautiful home, a more stylish wardrobe, or my own bakery. Yes, some days I wish these were the things I blogged about. Fun things. Things that make people smile. Things that make people happy.
image by Jamie Ferraioli, Flickr
Instead I find myself far too often writing about things like the dangers of toxins in your normal household products. Or about the fallacies of diet and fat that have been perpetuated by a money-making food system. I find myself pulling back because who wants to read a blog full of facts and figures about the increase in chronic disease in an over-fed and undernourished society? Who wants to hear about the dangers of their favorite beauty products? Who wants to fight a corrupted system that is so networked, funded, and powerful?
Sometimes I ask myself, “Why do I do this?”
Generally speaking, I’m a pretty happy go-lucky type gal. Most people who know me would probably describe me as mellow and fun. But truthfully I find myself far too often internally angered or depressed by so many of the things I am learning about concerning our food system, the pharmaceutical industry, or how our basic human rights (and health) are being threatened in countless ways.
And that’s when I feel torn. I am torn because my desires to fill the world with pretty pictures, crafts, and desserts are pushed aside by truths that may be perceived as fear-mongering, “hype,” or even quackery. Information that is hard to hear. Information that sometimes makes us feel like there’s nothing we can do. Information that is scary.
But guess what, guys. These things are happening.
Things like sweet newborns being taking away from their parents because they dare to question the need for a certain vaccine. (I don’t care what your viewpoints are on vaccines, the point is parents are losing their rights.)
Things like a mother who weaned her daughter off a drug with numerous horrible side effects only to have the Children Protective Services accuse her of “failing to administer a drug prescribed by her doctor.” Her home was taken siege by tanks and a SWAT team (I can’t make this up) and her daughter eventually taken to a psychiatric facility where she was held for nine months before charges were finally cleared.
Things like a family who choose not to risk another round of dangerous treatments for their son after his tests for his cancer all came back clear. Apparently his oncologist disagreed with their decision because it’s “standard of care protocol” to continue with this $60,000/month treatment. So their family has been in and out of court for parental negligence.
Things like patients who are forced through horrific cancer treatments despite the fact that there are less harmful (and more successful) treatments.
Things like hearing that the rate of autism has increased 78% since 2002 (23% since 2009). Or that 1 in 3 women will get cancer and 1 in 2 men.
Things like states being threatened with a lawsuit if they pass a bill to label GMO’s. (Heaven forbid people know what’s in their food!)
Yeah, those type of things.
Guess what? These things suck. And sometimes it’s a whole lot easier to just be thankful that none of these things have happened to you. Sometimes it’s easier to just go bake some cookies and post a recipe online. Sometimes it’s easier to just put on a movie and enjoy the freedoms you do have.
And you should do all those things. (Really, I mean it. Those things are important.)
But we also need to realize what’s happening in the world and do something about it.
Sometimes it’s easy to feel depressed because the problems seem too big or too far from our own reality. But the truth is that unless we are willing to fight for our freedom, fight for real health, and make our voice heard we will all be affected by the problems plaguing the world today. You can count on it.
But what can we do?
First, we can be informed. Rather than taking everything at face value (including the stuff I post here), do your own research. Don’t shut out the information just because it’s hard to hear. Listen. Learn. Share.
Second, make your voice heard. Know what sort of things are going on in your own state. Contact your elected officials on the issues important to you. Spend some of your Pinterest, blogging, or Facebook time to share this information.
Third, use the power of your “buying voice.” When it comes to our food we have a powerful option for making change. Stop buying the garbage that’s out there. Stop supporting companies and their products who aren’t aligned with your beliefs. Again, it’s not always easy but our consumerism ways can make one of the biggest changes.
Finally, don’t forget to love your life, friends, and family right now. Hug your children. Spend time with those who are important. You never know when someone you love will be directly affected by these things. Start fighting the battle now for those who have lost someone in this war, but not without showering more love on the people you have right now.
What else can you do?
Enjoy a good movie. Create something beautiful. Watch the sunset. Bake cookies. Remind yourself why we are all fighting to keep our freedom: To live the life we want.
(top featured image by Www.CourtneyCarmody.com/, Flickr)
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Great post Robin, really. I look up to you in so many ways.
Thanks, friend. Right back at you.
no kidding. i’m finding that my family is thinking i’m pretty weird because i’m not just buying what i’ve grown up using. it’s tough, because i’m learning about crazy things i had no idea was happening – one day i was curious and information started pouring into my brain – and now i know how i want to live and how i would like to make a difference in the world. but humans are creatures of habit, and so when you question what your family and friends are doing, they may get offended – even though they are the ones who asked why you’re doing something different.
not everyone is negative, but it’s crazy because i feel like our society just accepts whatever is thrown at them. and corporations and government do what is best for them over what is best for the people, it’s just fact. a scary fact.
i didn’t realize i had gone off… well basically, thanks robin for sharing what you’re learning, and for trying to make a difference. because you ARE making a difference when i read these. (i just read “the butterfly effect: how your life matters” last night. coincidence? i think not.)
Thanks, Cassia. I really appreciate your words.
I looked at a few of your links…man o man. These kind of subjects always make me grateful that someday Christ will come again and fix everything. But until then, we do have some work to do.
I think it is interesting where this information is coming from. Not the news and not the .med type websites that I used to go to for research papers. I wonder if that makes them any less credible in some peoples POV. These days information can come through the internet so fast it is sometimes hard to know what to believe. I sometimes think that the blogs are more credible then the medical journals, but sometimes not.
Is this making any sense? I have just noticed that it is hard to know what to believe and to find good strong facts that back up cases going AGAINST the corporations and hospitals that we have been taught to trust. Of course, they are the ones putting out the “offical” statements so it’s not like they would go against themselves.
I think I’m trying to figure out my own opinion as I type….but I am also noticed this A LOT with politics.
I totally know what you mean about “who can I trust”? Keeping in mind that anyone can hit “publish” and post online, it’s definitely worth taking the time to really research before believing anybody.
For example, I’ve seen several articles lately about the rise of autism. Some bloggers/experts/researchers are blaming it on vaccines. Others are blaming it on toxic stuff in our plastic. Others on the pollution and toxins in our environment. I personally think it’s a number of things. But the point is that it was the CDC (Center for Disease and Control) that published the stats. And the fact that it has jumped 78% in ten years or 23% in three years is more than I can handle. (And that Utah has the highest rate with 1 in 47 boys having Autism!) Clearly something is not right. No healthy community should be dealing with numbers like this.
It also reminds me of a TED talk video I saw a couple months ago where a PhD reversed her MS by food. She said something to fact that “The doctors didn’t know how to heal me, but the internet did.” Is it any wonder that the government keeps trying to pass bills to limit our freedom online?
But mostly I agree with your statement about the Savior. Thank goodness there is so much hope in a world that can sometimes be depressing.
Yes those autism stats are scary. I don’t think it is vaccines, or at least on their own (not that I am in total acceptance on vaccines). With Autism rising as fast as it is I think the most logical answer is to look at what else is rising like crazy in our society. Processed foods, drugs that are seen as “not harmful” but not necessarily safe, toxins etc. I didn’t know Utah was the most influenced. Maybe it’s our terrible air quality. ? Who knows but it is worth getting rid of what I can just in case.
It is interesting that you said “the government is trying to pass bills to limit our freedom online” which is true. But I know people who would read that and think. “No their not, the government is protecting us” In some ways yes, but in many ways no. Sometimes I am more frustrated by people who have so much blind faith in “the system” that they don’t open their eyes a little wider and see another side.
I’m glad you have this blog. Way to get your messages out there!
I just found your site, not new to this type of info though. I totally get where you’re coming from about “feeling torn”. Sending a big THANK YOU for sharing the stuff that is “hard to hear”, you may be saving many of us from significant health problems in the future! Plus, I’m one of those people who find this info worth my time