Back Pain

What Causes Back Pain

 

Not A Believer

 When I look back as a child, I was indoctrinated (I guess that's a word to use, hope it's not too loaded) in the Catholic faith. I went to Catholic private school from 2nd grade through the 9th grade.

I did all the perfunctory requirements, first communion, the Eucharest (forget what the hell that even means), going into a small booth and saying confession to a priest. All done without giving it a second thought. I mean "NO SECOND THOUGHT". That's just the way things are, and this is how the world is shaped.

Whether it's Islam in the Muslim world, Hindi in India, Mormonism, Scientology, Jehovah's Witness, and all the religions throughout past history, everyone of us is atheist. The big difference between atheists is this one thing--most atheists believe in their one true God, all the other gods are false. The other atheists go one step farther and say your god is not true either. 

One can blame our parents, society, culture for indoctrinating children into believing in any religion. But even without all that, as children we need to give agency/purpose to life. Even if it's not with our conscious mind. What's a river for--for boats to float down. What happens when you lose a tooth--the tooth fairy puts money under your pillow. And we all know about Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.

Ever wonder about the Easter bunny? When the Roman emperor (at least this is my interpretation) wanted to convert the masses to Roman Catholicism, he incorporated pagan holidays. So, while Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ, it was also a pagan holiday celebrating the goddess of fertility, hence the eggs.

So perhaps, and I admit, I very well could be wrong. Also there's a certain comfort in being part of a tribe. It would be wonderful to believe I'm going to heaven when I die because I believe a certain thing (and of course all you bastards who don't believe the way I do are fucked), but I can't do that. I somewhat envy those who believe that. But at the same time, I used to be a believer and know the reality--and that is, I wasn't sure I was really "saved" and I asked God to save me probably over 1000 times. (And of course when I talk to Christians, oh they have no doubt whatsoever, they absolutely know the truth).

So, cognitive dissonance becomes part of the equation. And most, no matter how obvious, cannot look at simple facts and try to figure/reason within one's own mind. So one can look at a religion, especially if one has read/studied it, say Scientology, and know it's a cult, but to me all religions are cults.

Low Fat

 I'm getting older and I (hopefully) gain more wisdom as I do.

A great part of that wisdom is derived from Nathan Pritikin.

When Nathan Pritikin wrote "Live Longer Now" and many of his other books, he had doctors add to them or write the introduction. He realized that as a layman, not a doctor, people would not listen to him regarding health, so with the names of doctors on the cover, it gave him more legitimacy.

But read any of his books, and the meat of the book, the genius of the book, I will bet my life, those writings are Nathan Pritikin's.

"Live Longer Now" was published ~ in 1975. If you can get your hands on that book, read pages 17-70. It's pure Nathan Pritikin genius. And try to remember: This was written 50 years ago. It says diabetes can be cured, heart disease is irreversible, and a low-fat diet is designed for humans.

So can better health be achieved through diet? Can living a life be free of chronic pain? 

The answer is yes, but I'm beyond even mentioning the ideas of the great Nathan Pritikin. Everyone now is an expert on nutrition and health. Keto and a carnivore diet is the diet (I would guess) over 99% think is most healthy.

Her's a link to lectures of Nathan Pritikin. 

Getting Old--Philosophising

 So, I recently had my birthday--turned 71.

While at dinner celebrating my birthday, I mentioned that I now realize I'm becoming an old man. My BIL piped in and said 71 is not old, 80 is old. And he gave a few reasons. And I agree with him, especially if one is in "good" shape with no ailments.

Something I've done over the last 30 years is focus on what I eat. For the most part, I'm definitely not mainstream in my eating habits by any stretch of the imagination. Though lately I've loosened up on my dietary strictness. Where before I was mostly vegan, now I eat meat occasionally, without regret.

Also, with my diet, my main focus is eating mostly carbohydrates, and low-fat. Again, not mainstream. Most believe in a carnivore type diet or even keto. Not me, the opposite. It's my belief that fat is one of the worse things we can put into our body. Again, not to go into it too deeply (for that's another article for sure), but excessive fat causes liver disease, HBP, heart disease, brain issues to name a few problems.

Though I'm getting laxer in my diet protocol, I still want to maintain my focus on what I believe is a healthy diet, exercise and rest. Though I may be leaving lots of gustatory enjoyment on the table, I'm willing to make that exchange for what I hope to be a longer life with less health issues.