Don’t underestimate me, and don’t devalue me, just because I live with limitations.
Nicole Cody
Hey, Lovelies.
I received a newsletter in my inbox yesterday, that really p*ssed me off.
It was written by a friend who has a huge following in the entrepreneur and wellness industry, and it began with a photo of athletic, beautiful people and then this quote:
When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.
Herophilus
The writer then went on to talk about health, fitness and nutrition, and how without good health our lives have no meaning. They said we must do everything to create ‘peak fitness’ in order to give our best to the world.
Second best? Well, second best was not an option.
They then went on to say that those people who were overweight, unwell and/or suffering from illness were simply lazy and unfocused.
It made me angry, because it’s not true.
There are so many people in the world who live well WITH ILLNESS or despite illness. We survive and sometimes even thrive while living under the shadow of cancer, auto-immune diseases, chronic fatigue, degenerative illness, aging, loss of a limb or a sense, cystic fibrosis, transplants, mental illness and all other manner of physical or mental health issues.
Despite our lack of perfect health we can still make art, or apply our intelligence, we can still make money, we can still love, create, function, amass wisdom, share our gifts. We still matter. We still contribute. And yet we may never know good health.
In fact, I love this Leunig cartoon, because I think it speaks so truthfully of the real state of the world:
Here’s to all of us who are a little bit unwell, or a long way from ‘peak fitness’ and yet are living meaningful lives and getting things done.
We matter. Don’t ever let yourself forget that!
Much love (and just a little big of indignant cranky), Nicole xx
Herophilus may have been a great pioneering physician but he had his limitations when it came to philosophy. He was simply wrong on this.
As Aristotle, an authentic philosopher, said “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
I absolutely reject what Herophilus said!
How conveniently narrow minded of the writer who has obviously never suffered with a lifetime of ill health and Doctors visits and multiple Hospital stays. Indeed oftentimes getting up in the morning or indeed waking up in the morning is a feat in itself. You know the old saying by Aristophanes
‘Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, drunkenness sobered, but stupid lasts forever.’
People should try a little empathy because the majority of us are doing the best we can
I believe many a shaman has encountered endless illnesses and yet they are the ones who heal others.
. . .a clear lack of maturity. Good to have this reminder of yours to contemplate all the ways the Herophilus quote is not true for us. Now that’s a useful exercise in this extraordinarily gorgeous moment. ♡
I have psoriatic arthritis, I cannot take any meds because I also test positive for TB. I have dealt with this since I am 18 years young. I am always exhausted, hurt all the time, BUT, I work full-time, I have volunteered, I have rescued dogs, rabbits and an Iguana! To state because one has an illness they cannot live or choose not to live a full life, pi**ed me off too! What has happened to our world? I could list many people right now that have lived full, wonderful, contributing lives, and they were in wheel chairs, confined, sorry to go on, but this just struck a nerve. Couldn’t agree more with Nicole.
So if you’re “suffering from illness” you’re “lazy and unfocused”, eh? I wonder if anyone told Stephen Hawking! 😉
Dearest Nicole,
Quite Strangely ,my conversation with my mother was on a very similar context. That my plate might not be ” Full” in societal terminology of success. That it might not look “tempting” or might even look ” undesirable”. But its my life and its worth living every moment of it , figuring out the “What Next’s” or simply enjoying the ” This is it”s of each chapter.Its profound to me because its my journey and the way I live it is a huge example to my girl. ” Because I said so” has long been known to never work with anybody including me.
Guess that’s today ‘s lesson for all….
Loads of love , hugs and prayers,
Some people amaze the hell out of me. And I’ll be they think they’re all inclusive and woke. Obviously, they’re immature and haven’t been around many times. Everyone has value. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I’d suggest that whoever wrote the newsletter hasn’t had to every deal with much adversity in their life and are rather intolerant. Fuck ’em. We know the more adversity / the more inclusiveness, empathy and understanding. And as a Virgo who is supposed to gravitate toward “perfection” (which I think is a misnomer in the astrology books – we analyse) – what the hell IS perfection? One person’s trash is another’s treasure – it’s in the eye of the beholder. Some people should have their typing privileges taken away 😉
Thanks! That kind of body-hate message infuriates me, as well. Bloody hell! I am a strong, heavier woman who walks daily, does a regular workout and stretch and I FEEL great. I hate the body shaming shit.
So, thanks.
WE are all uniquely us and I agree with Sarah. I know plenty of skinny, narcissistic, unhealthy people.
💖💖💖 Lovely 😊
Hi Nicole ~ I couldn’t agree more with your reaction to the newsletter in question. Its contents were actually extremely rude, arrogant and totally untrue, as you say. In fact, I feel myself frothing at the gills, so to say, at the wording of the contents. That’s the sort of thing that could potentially cause someone to feel utterly worthless, and to lose hope & self-esteem and to even spiral into depression. Thank you for bringing it to your subscriber’s attention. I hope you replied to it? Stay safe and wishing you many bright blessings and lots of love, Sue xx
I hope you sent that back and pointed out it’s massive failings. So thoughtless. Seems to be a feature of that kind of media. They forget their humanity in this endless struggle for percieved perfection. Seriously needs to be pointed out. Brightest and gentle blessings.
I totally agree with you Nicole. Especially because there are a lot of lazy people who are skinny and a lot of people who are skinny and not healthy. There are so many illnesses which we don’t contribute to… I have rheumatoid arthritis and I had to remove my thyroid gland, which affected my weight and had nothing to do with laziness… Stay strong Nicole 😘❤️