Subj : "Shoulds"
To   : James Bradley
From : Ardith Hinton
Date : Fri Mar 02 2018 02:36:56

Hi, James... happy Twelfth Night, Epiphany, Feast of the Theophany, Gregorian 
Christmas, or whatever!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

AH>  [...] I recognize that I come from a long line of people
AH>  whose philosophy Elizabeth the Queen Mother explained quite
AH>  succinctly (IIRC) as "You just carry on."

JB>  Stalwart, stoic, good little soldiers are we to follow
JB>  the Queen Mum!


           And do our duty, of course....  Q-)



JB>  <chuckle> Likely, the better lesson is how to tune into
JB>  those warning signs to better be *able* to "carry on".


           I was a slow learner in PE... but I'll get there eventually.  :-))



JB>  [...] should we walk differently to develop more blisters,
JB>  or stop to dress the wound and put on a pair of dry socks?
JB>  (BTW, two pairs of dry, clean socks almost eliminates
JB>  blisters on the feet for those reading.)


           Hadn't heard that one.  I've made a mental note....  :-)



AH>  If it hurts when I try to do such-and-such, maybe I need
AH>  to back off for the time being....  :-)

JB>  But, licking our wounds is seen as a negative trait. <G+D>


           Yet I've read that saliva... dog saliva in particular... has healing 
properties!  Seriously, though... there are various ways of accomplishing tasks 
which need to be done without shopping for sympathy or dumping them on somebody 
else.  If my body objects when I persist in doing what I've always done without 
devoting much thought to it, a closer examination may be in order.  :-)



JB>  I used to be so encouraged that I inherited mom's low BP.
JB>  Now, I learned about all the other things I am likely to
JB>  have inherited from my parents.


           OTOH, if you need medication for these things which raises the blood 
pressure as a side effect you'll have one less side effect to worry about.  ;-)



JB>  I suppose I *should* stop smoking, and cut down on the
JB>  sulfides and other bad foods. <...>


           Ah... the tyranny of the "shoulds"!  Although I'm tempted to write a 
long diatribe here, I'd like to get back to you within the current century.  In 
short:  Who is telling you what you should do?  Have they any idea what's going 
on in your life right now?  And are you aware that generally accepted ideas WRT 
"good" or "bad" may be influenced as much by the whims of fashion or by a lobby 
group as by an increase in scientific knowledge?  I much prefer Bernie Siegel's 
attitude... you'll do the above if & when you're ready.  Meanwhile there may be 
benefits from your standpoint which others have not taken into account....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

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