Today, my eyelids hang slightly lower than usual without any apparent reason. The scale shows a kilo more than last week, probably due to the ibuprofen I've started taking again. I take it for the inflammation in my knees, which helps me sleep better. And that is worth a lot.
Still, deciding whether medication helps the body or causes more harm than good is difficult. Strangely enough, even though I live a relatively healthy life, I'm not always my own best friend. What I also find odd is that we often forget that we are part of nature. It's nonsense to say we don't have the money to protect nature because we defend ourselves, not just those butterflies or frogs. We are the nature that's threatened and that we need to nurture.
Our brains are wired to understand the world through contrasts; we are wired for contradiction. For example, when we see red, we become more sensitive to everything that isn't red, like green or blue—our perception changes. We even notice subtle nuances, such as a greenish tint. This ability to recognize differences was a useful simplification in our evolution.
My body is perceived as an integral part of myself, yet simultaneously, it holds a sense of mystery, similar to the nature beyond my physical form or inner self. If I were an alien, I would effortlessly merge these two viewpoints. However, perceiving them as a unified truth remains challenging as I am not.
Polarizing truths is often a way to get closer to the real truth. We see this in political debates between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, where we magnify the differences to influence voters. Just as our brains are best to notice contrasts, political debates tend to focus only on extremes. This polarization can lead to circular reasoning, where both parties repeat their positions without really listening to each other or making progress. Instead of focusing on oppositions, let's find balance and seek connection, just as I try to reconcile my body and the nature within myself. While it may sound difficult, trying to unite apparent contradictions within ourselves might be one of the greatest challenges—and wisdom—of being human.
And in the end, the best competition is the one against yourself. It's about overcoming your limitations, embracing them, and growing by challenging yourself. That is a victory that runs deeper than any other battle.
Weer tof! Miljaar.