Like I Said, Thinking About All This Stuff Can Be a Whipping.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” –Aristotle

Again with this quote. The issue is that I like it. I repeat it often. I say it often. I write it often. Sometimes I write it just to see it because the words inspire me so much. They inspire me to want to continue to grow and learn and seek and inquire.

Sometimes, though, all that examining is such an ass-whipping.

Now I have to formulate an opinion on the use of chemicals in personal hygiene products and stuff like hairspray. I mean, I sort of had an opinion, but now…now I’m getting sucked in and am REALLY starting to form opinions.

When I was talking to a friend a few months ago about the carcinogenic nature of animal proteins (such as meat), he said, “Yeah, just like everything else that causes cancer.” I hear that a lot, so I just moved on in the conversation. The problem is that his comment has been bouncing around in my head. Why does it seem like everything causes cancer? Can it be that cancer is simply a reality of the natural world? That’s where my mind always goes.

But…how freakin’ stupid is that? Cancer as a part of the fabric of the Universe? I don’t think so. How about cancer as a part of the fabric of modern human life? That sounds more like it. Of course there’s a carcinogen every time you turn around because we live in an artificial world where CARCINOGENS ARE PUT INTO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING AROUND US! How about THAT?!?!

As far as I can tell, that’s the truth. And I can’t just deny the truth; I can’t just ignore facts. So, I have to formulate opinions on stuff, constantly, like all these chemicals in my deodorant, toothpaste, and hairspray. There is ALWAYS something about which to be concerned.

Like I said, thinking about all this stuff can be a whipping.