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Risk
We take it all the time.
The food we eat. The roads we ride/drive on. The people we interact with. The way we funnel our money. How we spend or don’t spend our time on activity.
Risk never really goes away. Even in the most seemingly sedate choices.
And the risk feels heightened when there is a lot of discussion, debate or just noise around an issue.
And risk feels muted when it’s the norm.
In my experience, body fat levels over 30 percent are the norm. This should cause alarm bells to ring if longevity and joint health is the priority. It doesn’t. Simply because it is the norm. Vague diagnosis of ‘osteoarthritis’ is the norm. Seeing an active 70 year old doing push ups is cause for celebration. This skews our perception of the risk of inactivity and poor eating habits.
A friend narrating a tale of how their knees hurt after deep squats can dissuade you from trying it. Even if the actual risk is far outweighed by the reward of stronger legs and bones in the long run. Yet the recommendation to not squat or pick up things is the norm. The perception of risk of hurting oneself far outweighs the benefits. Even if that perception is entirely untrue.
If you feel very strongly about something, chances are you need to talk to someone who is ambivalent about it. If you don’t see the value of doing something, talk to someone who wishes they had done it much earlier!
Risk is skewed by perspective and anecdotes. Learn about rewards rather than fretting only about the risk.