Greatness is achieved through sacrifice.

Eating Disorders and ADHD in Western Culture

Eating Disorders and ADHD diagnoses are mainly a western culture problem. Thoughts?

Western culture is socially motivated to individually conform to societal standards. Meaning since society is constantly changing and people themselves also change, the culture in which people live changes them as they change it. Eating disorders are direct evidence of changes in self-perception and societal demands for the pursuit of physical perfection. Will eating disorders completely go away ever? I do not believe they will. I do believe that they can be minimized. If people chose o disregard the societal demand for stereotypical physical attraction and create their own path or simply try not to attain what others perceive as the perfect image eating disorders will be minimal. Know your body. A problem contributing to the desire to conform to physical attraction/perfection is a sense of belonging. While some enjoy solitude, no one enjoys being lonely. Loneliness and a lack of attachment lead to social conformity. I am overweight by governmental standards (27 years old, 5’11” @215lbs) and by some social standards, but fit is also a state of mind and action. I would not say I have an eating disorder, I would say I have an exercise disorder that is easily overcome with proper time allotted to regular exercise. I am the 3^rd most “overweight” people on our work crew, but I perform as any 18 year old @165lbs. On the job we are constantly moving and I am surprisingly agile and utilize flowing & fluid movement through every task. That is where knowing your body comes in; I know my limits, which are few.

As far as ADHD goes, I have touched on this before. I am probably classified as ADHD, just never diagnosed, and I never care to be. There are many schools of thought on this and many have validity. One school says ADHD always was and with modern medicine we are now able to diagnose and treat it. Another school says that ADHD is non-existent and the “effects” that seem so prevalent are either based genetically in various genome types or are contributed to the hormones we eat in our genetically altered food or the lack of laborious exercise we used to get as an agrarian culture. I think all are applicable. I believe that hyper activity is hardwired in many of us for basic survival. In today’s culture we cannot exert that energy as we once could and have no direct place to channel that energy that is socially acceptable and when it is exerted it appears that we are just a nuisance. Not all aspects of life need a pill to explain them.

Political & Philosophical Leanings

Many people wonder what my political and philosophical ideals are and to which direction I tilt during a debate. While I do not outright engage in a debate, oft times I am caught at an impasse and must detail my view. I do not engage in personal attacks as they are a useless and underhanded tactic in a debate. The only use they serve is to antagonize and frustrate. Why would a person of honor and moral character engage in information-sharing with such a retort?

I consider myself a free thinker with a moral base. I was raised a good Christian as many are, but have fallen from the purer faith. We fall to learn to pick ourselves back up. Falling is not failure. It is failure when refusal to correct it follows. Christianity has taught many things that others take advantage of. The turning of the cheek only leaves you with two swollen cheeks, no answers, and more questions. The only information to be gained in such a situation is that that person is not willing to negotiate or communicate amicably.

Though I align myself with no political party, I am more of a conservative in most issues, but I understand a great deal of the liberal view and I am receptive to the thoughts and discussions I have had with liberals over the years. Obviously, there are things that we agree on and things we don't. Isn't that how life is anyway? In my direct opinion, I think liberals are turning into Marxists and I think conservatives are mutating into liberals. Over the past few years the shift or roles between the two parties has astonished me. Republicans have no spine to call liberals on their bluffs nor defend their beliefs and actions and Democrats are trying so desperately to shy away from anything conservative that they are so far left the only direction to go......is left. Personally, I think that the Republicans will return to their roots eventually, but it will take Democrats a much longer time to recoup and regroup that a power vacuum will need to be filled for those in the middle like myself.

I believe in history. It provides insight and structure to all systems of government and beliefs throughout the world. The best way to see where we are or where we are going is to know where we've been. Patterns are seen throughout history to the rise and fall of many nations and governments. It is only natural that ours will one day fall as well. It is the way of the world. My questions are....how and to what end? How far will we go as a people before we fall? What will be the cause? The way it looks to me, laws will be our downfall. We have a legal system that protects us through laws and regulations. We have shied away from moral law and now live judicial law. Judicial law has too many loop holes an comforts for everyone. Moral law protects smaller societies by the beliefs they all share communally. An example is Texas. What a great state! An express lane to the death penalty if you have 3 credible witnesses. California....lethal injection is too inhumane for a man that has raped and murdered over 70 women. Well...if we go with a punishment to fit the crime...we could make sentencing easier. We could sentence him to life in prison without parole as the sole "sexual frustration outlet/receptical" at a maximum security prison. Or in the late, great George Carlin's words, "an unwilling sperm recipient". At least the punishment fits the crime right?

I believe that if you take someone's rights from them, they , in turn, have the inalienable right to do the same to you. You can consider it the "do unto others..." law. Live and let live. Infringe and be infringed. Justice is determined between the parties affected in a confrontation. An agreement between all parties is justice in Moral Law. In Judicial Law retribution is paid first to the courts....and then to the parties affected. So much for "for the people, by the people". Seems more like "for the government, by the government". The courts care not for the issues of the individual. It must protect itself from individuals. The courts were originally set up to be a median between disputes. Now it is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. Think back to Roman times. Your word was your bond. Disgrace was not an option. Your family name was your credit and in some cases you discredit. None of this matters anymore. It is all legalized to ensure that commitments are followed through. Why? So the courts can get their cut. It's called job security. It's all business now, not common good and security.

I'm sure these rambling remarks gave you much insight as to what my thoughts are and my system of determining what is acceptable to me and what is not. I always give the benefit of the doubt before we speak. I know that first impressions are important and are a staple of your image to another. But I believe that second impressions are the most important. The person is in a more relaxed state, not trying to portray someone he/she is not, and is more comfortable with themselves, me and the situation. Expectations are lower on a second meeting and therefore I see the person for who they are and not who they pretend to be. Which is not a bad thing either. We all have our masks we put on. Some we wear more than others while some we use in certain situations or even once in our lifetime. I like seeing the masks people wear. You can learn so much by seeing what lies underneath and on top.