The Story of My Life

Most people want what God wants them to have, but don't want to be who God wants them to be.

Joyce Meyer

Nuff Said. Stay Real.

Media Emersion

Have you ever noticed that in commercials the people eating dessert, fast food, snacks, etc are never overweight? And the people taking drugs are always happy and attractive--hanging out on a beach or dancing in a field full of flowers? And the women wearing cosmetics are unnaturally beautiful?

Is that fair? Do we ever think about what we are watching?

I just saw a commercial for some sort of delectable looking chocolate delight. All of the women in the commercial were skinny, sexy and having quite a bit of fun with that dessert.
We all know that one too many of those concoctions will put us on the other side of skinny real quick, but those ladies sure looked like they were really enjoying themselves.

Who looks like that, anyway? Some statistics indicate that 63% of Americans are overweight; with %37 percent of them being obese. What are those people eating?

Anti-depressants are the most prescribed pharmaceuticals in the United States. I don't know about you, but I don't really associate being happy and attractive with depression. And how often do you actually end up dancing in a field of daisies?

And the cosmetics thing. C'mon! It should be unlawful for cosmetics companies to show models with false eyelashes in a mascara commercials.

A few years back there was a commercial about a test for a certain type of cancer that was supposed to be one of the most difficult types of cancer to detect and one of the deadliest forms of cancer in women. Maybe it was ovarian cancer.
So, of course, me, being the super hypochondriac that I am, asked for the test at my very next routine OB/Gyn appointment. You can never be too careful.

When I asked the doctor for the test, her whole countenance changed and the color pretty much drained from her face. She took me through a serious interrogation. Why did I want the test? Is it inherent in my family? Do I have any symptoms? Any changes in my menstrual cycle?

No, I exclaimed. I saw this commercial on tv and, well, you know the rest.
The doctor looked somewhat relieved and like she wanted to slap me upside my head, all at the same time. She kind of muttered something about stupid commercials under her breath and continued on with my exam.

All of this because I was brainwashed.

Think about that the next time you want to go out and buy a snuggie.

Nuff said. Stay Real.

Marching Toward Decrepitude II

I am becoming more and more concerned about my growing concern with aging. There. I said it. I can't believe I'm really thinking this hard about how aging is affecting me, but after yesterday, I can no longer live in my own little world of denial. After all, my motto has always been that I will live to be 150 and look and feel like I'm 50.

I'm not so sure about that anymore.

Yesterday I took a day trip to New York. Driving, the trip would take about an hour and forty-five minutes. No problem. Go in, do some work and get out, right?

Riiiight.

I got up at the crack of dawn. That's no biggie for most people. Not for Her Graciousness. I hate to admit it, but it's been a few dawns since I've seen the other side of 7 o'clock.
But, really, no problem. It doesn't happen that often, so I'm not complaining.

So, I'm up and I'm out. Up the turnpike. Clear highway. Great tracks. Plenty of caffeine.
For some reason, though, I'm tired. Driving UP. Dang. The day hasn't even begun and I'm tired. What's that about?

So I get to the place and everything's cool. It's a pretty easy day. Sold a few young ladies some lipstick. A mini-makeover, a couple of consults. Nothing too strenuous. A good day.

The drive home, though, was no reflection of the ease of the day. As soon as I jumped back onto the turnpike, I had trouble keeping my eyes open. I thought, maybe I went to bed too late. Maybe I didn't eat enough. Maybe the day wasn't as stress-free as I thought.

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm getting OLD!

Well, that thought was confirmed later on in the day. That evening, after slipping out of my coma, I realized that I maybe can't do the things at 44 that I did when I was 24. Well, do it and not be exhausted. Like driving to New York and back in a day.

Because I work in the Anti-Aging industry, I'm pretty much up on the tricks of the trade to help people look and feel their best. I know that diet, sleep, stress, aging, etc. have a direct affect on performance. I know this. I've seen the results of people taking care of themselves.
I can tell you, in the blink of an eye, how to drop a quick five pounds. Or how to get rid of those pesky little frown lines. Or how get relief to those crickity-crackity joints.

My refusal to apply these principles to my own life, however, is quite baffling. Getting enough sleep. Eating the right foods. It may not be a game anymore.

Nuff said. Stay real.