Stressed Out

I'm really confused on what to do about being health conscious... I recently got a free 1 year subscription to a magazine called Health. Even though I didn't actively pursue a subscription (it was complimentary with a purchase I made) I was looking forward to getting this new magazine each month.

Right before our vacation a few weeks ago I got my first issue in the mail. I decided to read a little, but saved most of the reading for the plane. As I began reading I was really liking the magazine. It has tons of ways to get healthy, be healthy, stay healthy, eat healthy etc. I was really excited, because I felt healthy just reading it!!

As I continued reading it, all of the information started to become overwhelming. Eat this, but don't eat this. This has been known to cause cancer, this food fights cancer. This exercise can prevent arthritis. This herb can help you sleep better, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! I mean, this is really fascinating stuff, but how can an individual possibly follow ALL of the suggestions in the articles? You can't!!

So I've been torn on whether or not to keep reading this magazine, because I actually feel that it's causing me stress! A Health magazine causing stress?! That was the last thing I figured would happen when I started reading it!

Actually, I got a new issue yesterday and on the cover there was an ad for "CANCER ALERT! The DANGER in your bedroom." So, obviously I eventually went to read what might be causing cancer in my bedroom. BAD MOVE! The article was titled "The Most Toxic Places in Your Home" -- I'm probably going to die soon of cancer from my mattress, my lawn, my kitchen cleaners, and the dry-cleaning hanging in my closet! Oh, but if I want to replace my mattress with an organic mattress without all the chemicals it will only set me back a few thousand dollars! And if I stop using lawn treatments to make my lawn green, my lawn will be weedy and yellow... and the neighbors will only hate me. Are the editors trying to help people or scare the crap out of them?!?!

I think I'd rather be oblivious and happy than full of health knowledge and stressed out beyond my comprehension! I'm just going to stick with my guilty pleasure magazine from now on --Hollywood gossipy US Weekly. Would anyone like my Health subscription?? I'll have it forwarded to your address!!