Idealism: the word alone sparks so many reactions in so many people, for some, it may even be a "trigger word." Today, while reading Susun Weed's "Breast Cancer, Breast Health!" book in my tent for an hour and a half, I realized that sometimes we isolate ourselves with our own idealism. Ok, don't get me wrong, I think people who preach their ideals help all of us raise our own standards and live better lives, but at the same time, we have to be careful not to polarize people. I'm gonna pick on Susun Weed for a minute, just because she spells out her idealism in her books so clearly, that sometimes, it almost hurts. I love Susun Weed and I'm especially grateful for her Healing Wise series (if you are interested in health at all, I recommend at least leafing through one of Susun Weed's Healing Wise series,) but sometimes her idealism borders on preachy blame. I haven't really experienced that as much in her other books, but in "Breast Cancer, Breast Health," her idealism starts to make me feel guilty about the way I live. She says that everything from chlorinated water to underwire bras, to lack of love cause breast cancer. While I'm sure all of this probably contributes, I start to feel helpless reading her book, like there is nothing I can do right to take care of my breasts, which is not what Susun meant at all writing the book I'm sure, since her books usually focus on self-empowerment in regards to one's personal health, but when everything from microwaves to coffee are to blame for my future case of breast cancer (which seems inevitable when you are reading a book like that,) you don't really feel self-empowered. Ideally of course we'd all eat only organic foods, not drink chlorinated water, fondle our breasts daily, eat nourishing herbs, get enough love, exercise regularly, live without electric lights, never microwave our food, not live next to nuclear test sights and nuclear dumps, not work in dangerous environments, never blame ourselves for problems that we can't fix, not wear bras, never use underarm deodorant, etc, but unfortunately, we all live in environments we have little to no control over.
I realized, while I was reading, that I probably sometimes isolate people in the same way; without meaning to, of course, but still...sometimes, rather then empowering folks, I probably preach at them. I sometimes feel a little self-righteous when talking about my dumpstered/roadkill/foraged diet, my life without a car, my growing self-reliance without the need for much of a cash flow. I'm realizing, reading Susun's book, that there are gentle ways to say "look, here are other options for ways you can live, but everyone is individual and no one should simply copy another person's lifestyle, without giving real thought to why that person lives that way." Sometimes I probably hit this gentle education right on the mark (as does Susun,) when I just lead by example, or practice what I preach, but I see a lot of separation between so-called "radicals" and "liberals" and I wonder if a lot of that separation is because of self-righteous idealism getting in the way of real learning from each other. I mean, I personally am willing to try to help bridge gaps between republicans and even the Christian right as well...some of my favorite family members are the very Bible-thumping hillbillies that I often hear so-called radicals and liberals mocking....I think, at least for myself, it is time to let go of our holier-then-thou bullshit and find the things that bridge those gaps.
Love ya,
Carrot
