Your Body and The Revolution

I love post cards. Especially the funny ones with a vintage feel. I was in an INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE the other day looking at some amazing and witty cards, trying to choose some good ones to send to my brothers, and to my surprise, I found one among them that kinda freaked me out. It stated in words and pictures that most perfumes contain petroleum and other ingredients that are quite damaging to the human body. 

I mean, I am not a perfume lady. I don't wear cosmetics. I bathe infrequently. I use unscented detergent. So..it is not like this is a surprise as much as it is a confirmation, but I immediately accessed my body positive mind and decided to do some research. Because, hey, why not freak myself out even more than I already have? That's my motto. My other motto, which I use less frequently, but in its own way, is even more profound, is:

If I can't smell you, I can't trust you. 

I have, in my short time on this planet, dated a lot of people, and in my many experiences, I can tell you, most often, if someone is masking their breath with gum, or their body odor with cologne or perfume, it is a red flag.

I know what you are thinking. You love the way that shit smells! You love smelling the lavender or rose or whatever you spray on yourself every day! I get it, I really do. But unfortunately, if you are using any kind of commercial perfume or cologne, you are also poisoning your body. 

​As part of my research, I stumbled upon this article in Scientific American, which outlines pretty broadly some of the damage that the chemicals in perfumes can cause, and what's more, due to a "secret recipe in perfume" law enacted in the 70s, (I know it sounds ridiculous, but it is true), the destructive ingredients don't even have to be listed. I then went to safe cosmetics dot org and found a great resource on poisonous stuff in make-up. 

The reality is that you very well could be putting stuff in and on your body without having all the information that you need to make a good decision. You see something on a grocery store shelf, and you trust it, because of the FDA and whatnot. The reality is that there is no protection. And much like my rule about dating, whatever is in your food, your beauty products or your cleaners that is emmitting that lemon or lavender or that victorian rose scent might just be masking something else that will disrupt your hormones, cause some type of cancer or degenerative disease, destroy your sperm count, or keep you from getting an erection. 

I know what you are thinking. You could just as easily be hit by a bus. You could just as easily choke on a piece of organic chicken. These things are true, I will give you that, but there is one explicit and important difference: Choking on chicken or getting hit by a bus are not events orchestrated by The Man. Yes, you could die of anything else just as easily, but the reality is that ingredients are kept from you because it is more profitable for you to eat them and use them, because then, you are also someone who will need to have health care, which is outrageously expensive in the US, as is any type of medication or any type of insurance covering these things. You see, they are all related; you eating toxic food and using toxic chemicals on your body, and the "medicine" required to treat the symptoms. 

It is horrible to even think that you are more profitable when you are sick, but that is what this system, the USA system of exploiting the little people, is all about. The Man does not want you healthy because there is no profit in that. 

This is why I have chosen the things I have: where I live, how I get around, what I wear, how I clean, how I eat. Because I know that my body will not be cared for unless I am the one doing the caretaking. So the next time you decide to use anything on or in your body, it might be worth considering where it came from, who made it, and what is in it. 

Your body is yours to care for, and it is capable of yielding great things for you if you do so. But is also an instrument that The Man will use to enslave you. If you don't believe me, consider that one in five working americans has problems with medical debt. One in five. I found that statistic, along with many others, HERE.

So when considering how to love your body, remember, the best way to express love is care. Make choices that show your body that you care. Eat well. Use cruelty and fragrance free products. If you want to smell good, use essential oils from reputable companies. Those will not only not hurt you, in many cases, they are actually beneficial in one way or another.

And always remember, the best way to Stick it to The Man is to not play his game. His game is dirty, underhanded and manipulative. The less time, energy and money you put toward that game, the better.

Power to The People. Love your body fiercely, and by any means necessary.

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Hard to believe, but true. The time has come to make more informed choices about our bodies. Your body can and will be used against you as so many others can testify. Do your best to care for your body as you would your own child or pet, and you will be doing yourself a great service, all while Sticking it to The Man.
VIGILANCE.