Prevention is a Censored Word

pre·ven·tion /prēˈven(t)SH(ə)n/ noun: prevention - the action of stopping something from happening or arising.

Can we prevent all the bad things from happening? - No. If not, then why even try?

Well, with our newly formed prefrontal cortex, we know a lot. And we know, and have proven that prevention can go a long way. Especially when it comes to our health.

Is prevention a focus in health care? - No. Why not?

We love studies. We love studies that ‘prove’ that these foods reduce the changes of adult onset dementia. We love studies that point to certain types of movement being beneficial to our hearts. We love studies that show that reducing blue light in the evenings helps us sleep better, which in turn leads to better daytime functioning. We love studies that illustrate that a few minutes of deep belly breathing lowers cortisol, reduces stress and helps to regulate our nervous system.

So why aren’t these things prescriptions filled, given out as candy in the doctors office, or covered by insurance?

Prevention doesn’t make money.

[Full Stop]

Or at least as much money.

Sure, you can see a therapist for a while, but if you feel better and are able to lead a happy life.. where is the life-long customer in that?

Much better to need a prescription for life, and possibly another to counteract the side effects that the first one [or 10] are causing. Now that truly is a sustainable business!

And there is no need to just throw big Pharma under the bus. Big Processed and Fast Food can take a punch as well. Make sure all the addictive, formulated food flavorings are tucked into that morsel and slap a big dollop of pretty coloring to make it more enticing. Oh, and convince farmers and gardeners alike that a PRODUCT is needed to enhance growing and diminish those pesky pests. Oh.. fruits and veggies getting too much hype?? Why let’s create another PRODUCT to cover the apples and oranges and cucumbers and avocados in — but keep it on the downlow, so people aren’t allowed to ask to many questions and get too curious.

When we look at the myriad of systems that are currently failing us today- they all lead back to a PRODUCT. Something to be depended on, or the system comes crashing down again- and we become reliant upon it. These products can definitely support us for a time, but in the long term keep failing us, time and time again. And we’ve become so engrained to reach for more meds, or ask for another prescription, or buy the fertilizer for the lawn and garden that doing it differently often doesn’t even cross our minds.

- And there are plenty of people doing the good work and trusting and working with nature - as a society, however, we are not. -

And what I also know, is nature (as well as us.. because remember — We ARE nature herself!) knows how to return to balance if given what she’s asking for.

Is she asking for rest?

Is she asking for nourishment?

Is she asking for connection?

Is she asking for support?

Is she asking for joy?

Is she asking for sunshine?

Is she asking for non-structured time?

Is she asking for movement?

Is she asking to be paid attention to, heard, honored, loved and worshiped?

Maybe so.

Tuning in. Paying attention. Listening. - These are the first steps in prevention.

It’s not complex.
But it is a shift in how we’ve been doing it for a long, long while.