It occurred to me recently that junk food can be found in more ways than what we eat. I was flipping through TV and I saw Jerry Springer. A lady with pink hair and 3 kids from 3 different men was yelling at someone. ESPN had basically the same type of “entertainment” except it was two men in suits, yelling at each other and arguing over some banal sports topic. Both channels are mental junk food. I get to the news channels and I hear identity politics- the “other” is wrong, not because a serious debate has taken place and one side has won the debate, but the “other” is wrong because of who he is. Junk food. I check out at CVS and see People magazine, or GQ, with the latest celebrity gossip or fashion trend. Junk food. I see fashion mags and car advertisements, and Facebook posts, about meaningless things with phony outrage. More junk food. I hear music produced in computer factories by algorithms which are proven to draw me in, like a slot machine draws in a gambling addict. More of the same.
Am I ever encountering structures, institutions, or people which make me a better person, healthier, more fit, and more aware and conscious of what’s going on? Am I encountering people who encourage me, who are positive, and who want the absolute best for me? Who am I surrounding myself with? Are they feeding me “junk food”? What am I taking in to my system? The #3 Burger with fries and a coke and other fast foods are not the only type of junk food I can consume. I can consume all sorts of junk food, getting my dopamine fix, and instant gratification high in all sorts of ways. I can easily consume enough junk food so that I never leave the lowest common denominator of existence, or ever question anything I’m doing or the people around me are doing. Junk food comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms, but it all has one thing in common- it’s completely lacking in nourishment.
Read Next: Movement is Motivation
Like the blog? Pass it on!
