Short and sweet … here’s what you need to be well:

Think for yourself. Skip the status quo. Don’t listen and take as gospel anything anyone says at any time.

You can’t keep your head in the sand and make decisions that will keep you well. If you don’t investigate what some bigger ticket (in effect) items mean for you, you’ve just put yourself at the mercy of … marketing.

That’s like buying whatever the ad says simply because it says so. And, unfortunately, we do that. It’s strong, persuasive stuff. It’s meant to be. Profit is the game. And profit also is the game in much of health care. So, it’s pretty dangerous if you blindly listen to whatever recommendation comes down the road at you.

Make your decisions. Your body; you decide. I don’t give a damn what the “normal” recommendations are. You might decide to follow that. You might not. But, please … decide. Really decide. Not just put the blinders on and follow the other sheep to the slaughterhouse.

I’m frustrated as hell with a lot of the current standards that are out there. A lot that don’t really have scientific evidence, even, to back them up as smart wellness choices. But they’re put out there as if they do. And, you, the unsuspecting consumer, feel like you’re being smart listening to these. That’s what they want from you. Not thinking.

So, instead … think. Stop. Read. Find different viewpoints. Toss out what you think you know and open your mind. Might something else be better? Does what you’re reading/hearing making sense? Or are you starting to wonder?

Use that brain and wonder — it’s a good thing. Dare to be different. It might save your life.