Escape, retreat, repair. For all its uplifting and life-affirming claims, wellness speaks in a defensive, cautious, feeble tone.
The message: “we are under siege”. Constantly assaulted by external forces beyond our control and ability to defend ourselves – real and imaginary. Bacteria, virus, microbes, toxins, stress, pollutants, allergens, not to mention all things gluten.
Anxious, frail, vulnerable, wellness comes to the rescue.
Close your eyes. Breathe. Deep inhale, long exhale. Let it all go.
Cue in the visuals. Warm, cozy room, soft lighting, scented oil and fresh, crisp cotton sheets. Subtext: “surrender”. You’re in good hands. Expert, expensive, polished and manicured hands.
Enter the Babushkas of Chernobyl – a group of elderly survivors, mostly women, of one of the worst environmental disasters on the planet. Refusing to leave their homeland and thus exposing themselves to a level of radiation 400 times that of Hiroshima, the babushkas (grandmothers) of Chernobyl not only survived, but outlived those who left the “dead zone”.
We are resilient. Stronger than and capable to withstand and defend our selves against any external forces, biological and systemic attacks, as long as we work with our bodies, instead of against it.
We are built to thrive. So, get on with it.
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