Britton’s Burning Question

As the semester comes to an end, recurring topics have been surfacing in Human Growth and Development, one of which is that choices people make when they’re young affect their later years. Examples discussed in class include exercise (or lack of it), smoking, drinking, proper diet, stress management, and so forth.

To supplement and reinforce text information, I added some tidbits from a new book entitled 127 Things You Need to Know. Information included the importance of exercise (at least 30 minutes five times a week), the harmful effects of smoking, and the perils of a diet high in fat. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable premature death, and yet people continue to light up. Obesity has almost reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and yet old and young alike continue to drink sugar-loaded soft drinks and eat double cheeseburgers. AIDS is the #2 killer (after accidents) of young adults, but somehow young people aren’t heeding the message.

 Britton spoke up and asked a question that probably most of her classmates were thinking (paraphrase): “So how do we change? We know what’s good for us and what isn’t, but how can we get more motivated?”

I once read an article entitled “Change or Die” in which the author spoke of how scaring people into safe health practices didn’t seem to be that effective. He proposed that the message be changed to “Change and Live.” Saying, “If you stop smoking, you’ll add seven years to your life” could be more effective than, “If you don’t stop smoking, you’ll going to decrease your longevity and increase the odds of dying a slow painful death.”

What do you think? Would that work? Answer Britton’s question and tell us how to get young people to take heed to what the experts are saying

Britton’s Question

As the semester comes to an end, recurring topics have been surfacing in Human Growth and Development, one of which is that choices people make when they’re young affect their later years. Examples discussed in class include exercise (or lack of it), smoking, drinking, proper diet, stress management, and so forth.

 

To supplement and reinforce text information, I added some tidbits from a new book entitled 127 Things You Need to Know. Information included the importance of exercise (at least 30 minutes five times a week), the harmful effects of smoking, and the perils of a diet high in fat. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable premature death, and yet people continue to light up. Obesity has almost reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and yet old and young alike continue to drink sugar-loaded soft drinks and eat double cheeseburgers. AIDS is the #2 killer (after accidents) of young adults, but somehow young people aren’t heeding the message.

 

Britton spoke up and asked a question that probably most of her classmates were thinking (paraphrase): “So how do we change? We know what’s good for us and what isn’t, but how can we get more motivated?”

 

I once read an article entitled “Change or Die” in which the author spoke of how scaring people into safe health practices didn’t seem to be that effective. He proposed that the message be changed to “Change and Live.” Saying, “If you stop smoking, you’ll add seven years to your life” could be more effective than, “If you don’t stop smoking, you’ll going to decrease your longevity and increase the odds of dying a slow painful death.”

 

What do you think? Would that work? Answer Britton’s question and tell us how to get young people to take heed to what the experts are saying.

Stages of Loss

We completed the chapter on death in Human Growth and Development this morning, and one of the concepts we discussed was that of the stages of loss developed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Although Kubler-Ross initially related these stages to death, she agreed that they can be applied to many types of loss that people experience. For instance, the break up of a relationship might bring denial, anger, bargaining, and depression before the person finally accepts it and moves on.

Although this theory makes a lot of sense, it isn’t without its critics, some of whom claim that dealing with death and loss isn’t so clear cut. Others say that a person might go straight to depression while another person might get angry and stay that way. In other words, the order of the stages has not been universally accepted.

What do you think of this theory? Have you been in or observed a situation in which the stages were experienced? Was the situation “orderly” in that the stages followed one another in the way Kubler-Ross predicted? In general, just share your impressions and/or experiences related to this theory.

Lizzie’s Longevity

Longevity is a frequently discussed topic in Human Growth and Development. What are some factors that enhance the chances of living a long and happy life? Is it diet? Do friends make a difference? And what about the importance of belief in a higher power? While these and other topics are bandied about, almost everyone agrees that a person who lives a long life is probably tough and emotionally hearty. She is proactive in making choices that affect her development and self-actualization. Not a couch potato, the person takes chances, lives life to the fullest, and is not afraid to get out of her comfort zone.

Last week I read an article in “The State” about a woman, Lizzie Clark, who could teach us a thing or two about the secrets to longevity. For starters, when she was only 13, Lizzie left Virginia for South Carolina in her search for a better life. Did I mention that she traveled on foot? No cars or trains for this strong gal who is now 107, seven years younger than the oldest recorded person in the world. According to Lizzie, the key to her longevity is prayer. “Pray to the Lord to let you live that long,” she told her well wishers. By the way, among her gifts was a box of snuff, which she is known to use daily.

So what do you think is the key to longevity? What would you advise to those who’d like to reach 107?