By the way, I disagree heartily that wellness has
suddenly become an idealogy...one only has to look at the
thousands of years of Chinese medicine or the thousands of years of Native American, shamanistic, and other healing traditions of so many civilizations!
When you go to china you go out to any park in the early morning and there are all these older people outside doing their Tai Chi.
Wellness has
always been a cherished practice, even to the point where the "healers" of all these civilizations have been revered and respected as wise men, etc.
That is because health IS the greatest wealth. This hasn't changed for thousands of years.
From the article: "But the incident demonstrated how pronounced the wellness obsession is. “I am reacting against the smug, self-righteousness people can have as others around them say: ‘Look at me – if everyone exercised like me, the world would be a better place,’” he says."
Gosh. I react against the smug, self-righteousness "I got mine, who cares if you get yours" attitude in some wealthy people have who can definitely afford better medical treatment and all the trainers, high priced food, etc. and don't realize how fortunate they are but seem to have no sense of largesse that privilege should bestow generosity (well, in the best people, it does).
However, I also don't live in denial. I think it is true that people who participate in good lifestyle choices, whether rich or poor, DO exhibit a higher level of "self-discipline".
Because running a triathalon, swimming or hiking on a regular basis DOES require commitment. I mean, it is a LOT easier to eat pizza and snacks out of bags and sit around watching TV.
Maybe I see things differently than some others......I believe that there was a certain amount of stupidity and also letting down my self discipline that allowed me to start smoking in the first place. And similarly, I have been overweight before, and I have to admit that it was because I ate indescriminately (things I wouldn't eat now) and didn't exercise.
I mean, I'm just not in denial about the things I do/did, and how they impact my overall health picture. I am responsible for that.
I knew I was pushing the envelope....my mom, unfortunately, is paying for pushing the envelope with advanced COPD.....she never even tried to quit smoking back in the day when there WERE many people who were. (and most said it WAS the hardest thing they ever did in their lives [this is before there was vaping])
BTW, I find almost an equal amount of discrimination going on from unhealthy, overweight, etc. people against those who are vegan, or who run or workout, hike, do yoga or meditate, or eat a healthy disciplined diet...... As if doing things that make you feel good or healthy is *weird* or something to be ridiculed?
So I think it goes both ways?