1435 Numb-ers

We get assaulted ‘til we’re numb by numbers claiming this or that. It’s a pretty basic vulnerability of the psyche to be convinced by numbers rather than emotions. We don’t trust our heart. We think our head ought to know better. And what more head-like than a big bunch of pure mathematics?
Unfortunately, the numbers we often hear are mere digits pressed into service to leverage an emotional reaction. Archimedes of sales as it were.
But still they make you wonder. Like the statistic I heard the other day. One organization found that 63% of people were either overweight or obese, but only 1 in 10 thought they had an unhealthy diet.
Well there’s the problem right there. We need to convince more people that they’re eating unhealthy. Or more hearts and minds.
It’ll be tough though, because one of the biggest proponents of that direction unfortunately died recently. Jack LaLanne. From age 21 in 1936, he promoted healthy eating and physical culture. He was the original fitness guru. Sadly, the jumpsuit-wearing weight-lifting carrot juice drinking Jack LaLanne has passed away peacefully from complications of pneumonia.
Jack LaLanne was also 96 years old, so it’s fair to say natural causes are a contributory cause.
Funny thing though. The same day Jack LaLanne died, Ernest Borgnine celebrated his 94th birthday. If you’ve ever seen Ernest Borgnine, especially from his TV McHale’s Navy days, you’ll see the amazing contrast in health and body styles with Mister LaLanne.
So the big question, even if Ernest Borgnine were to die tomorrow, all Jack LaLanne’s lifestyle bought him was 2 years. And 2 years beyond 94 to boot. Not your peppiest.
So was 75 years worth of carrot juice worth it?
Or are our days just numbered?
America, ya gotta love it.