Scarcely a day seems to go past without some reference to the latest health concern in the press. Diabetes. Obesity. Cholesterol. High blood pressure. ADHD. Sadly these are just a few examples. The list is a long one and getting longer by the day. 

 

Whichever problem is under the spotlight, the process seems to be the same. Experts are tasked with pinpointing THE cause.  

 

Treatments and medications are specifically developed for it. Lobby and patient groups are set up to bring it to people’s attention. 

And in all this minutiae, the bigger picture is missed. The common links running through so many of our modern health problems. 

We’ve always loved bizarre facts and snippets of information, particularly if they fly in the face of accepted wisdom. Even better if they get the old grey cells working as well. 

 

Some relate to the world around us. Others are health related. But our favourite are those about how our minds work. Or, in some cases, don’t work (!). 

 

And, even more so, people’s reactions to these new insights. Into what goes on between their ears. Well, not always between their ears, but that’s definitely a subject for another day! 

 

What fascinates us is that people tend to assume they know exactly what’s going on in their heads. And that they are fully in control of it. Oh, and it’s the same for everyone. 

As traditional as the Christmas festivities, breaking of new year’s resolutions (!) and January blues; is the upswing in coughs and colds as soon as everyone gets back to their normal routine. 

 

Every January, around this time, we hear people making the same comments over and over again. About all the bugs doing the rounds. How generous people are in passing them on. And how bugs are “lurking out there” – wherever “there” is – just waiting to get them. 

 

As traditional as the December madness – eat, drink and be merry – are the New Year resolutions. Usually made during those heady days between Christmas and New Year, each year we set ourselves long lists of things we’re definitely NOT going to do this year. Drink. Smoke. Eat junk food. Drink coffee. Vegetate on the sofa. And so the list goes on. 

 

Have you ever stopped to wonder why these annual good intentions are always about what we’re NOT going to do? About the things we’re going to deny ourselves. 

 

What a way to start a new year. Is it any wonder that the beginning of January feels so miserable? 

 

Or that few New Year resolutions last any longer than 12th night? It’s already gone by the way, in case you’d missed it… 

 

Surely there must be a better way to start a bright shiny new year.