Luxury of choice is something we are fortunate to have. Not everyone does. Lifestyle change is a luxury of choice to consider – and we can choose to act, or act to choose. We are lucky to even be able to consider lifestyle changes, after all.
Luxury of choice: Choose to act or Act to choose
The act of choosing is key to ‘lifestyle change’. Every individual has to take responsibility for these choices. No one but you can decide to start (or re-start) something. With more clarity on how health, wellness and lifestyle is connected, why is not everyone choosing to feel better?
STOP! When we read about lifestyle and change, it is implied that this is something 
everyone simply has to do – and therefore can do. It is not so simple. I feel this is a luxury decision. It is a fact often ignored when discussing lifestyle and changes. Not everyone has the possibility to choose – really choose. We are so very fortunate that we are placed in such a dilemma.
Interestingly enough, when placing the word ‘lifestyle choice’ into a search engine – you find reference to ‘Lifestyle disease‘ – i.e. the presence of illness and disease as a result of a ‘choice of lifestyle’ and it is directly linked to those living in ‘western’ societies – where an active choice is available on how to eat, exercise, sleep etc. The fact that many in the western world do not choose well – or know how – brings us right back to the beginning and the World Health Organisation definition of health. Many do not feel good because of choices made or imposed. The luxury of choice is one we have. Many do not.
The Luxury of choice
In a developed society, with access to food, water, health facilities and technology – choice is actually something we have. We may not have access to time, status, fame and fortune – but we do have life basics available.
Hunger is not a choice
A very large part of this worlds inhabitants do not have the luxury of choice – especially not when it comes to ‘what to eat’? It is simply a luxury ‘to eat’. Every day is a struggle to find basic needs such as food, and water. When understanding who the hungry are we also need to drill down and look at the specially vulnerable:
An estimated 146 million children in developing countries are underweight – the result of acute or chronic hunger (Source: The State of the World’s Children, UNICEF, 2009). All too often, child hunger is inherited: up to 17 million children are born underweight annually, the result of inadequate nutrition before and during pregnancy. via Who are the hungry? | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme – Fighting Hunger Worldwide.
When opening our eyes to this reality, the fact that we do have choice – and what a luxury this is – it makes us think again of why we fall prey to ‘illnesses’ we need not have. We are so very fortunate after all, right?
Luxury of choice – Choose to make a contribution
If you want more information about the work of aid organisations, UN and NGOs – who work with people around the world with needs so much greater than ours – follow the links and make a contribution. You can feel good – by doing good 🙂
Humanitarian workers
Many of my readers will already be well aware of this , because you already work directly
Remote Living
with beneficiaries under challenging conditions. If you belong to this field focused group – your choices are also limited because of where you are based. But – access to lifestyle choices you do have with a little more planning. Under the “Do Good” section of this site you can find more information to assist you make choices based on living conditions, access etc.
Now that we are placed in this luxurious dilemma – what do you choose ? Do you choose to act – or act to choose?
Inspirational
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Recommended and Related:
- Hunger a global issue – United Nations
- The revolution hunger issue – revolution hunger campaign
- World hunger statistics – world hunger.org
- NGOs worldwide with links
- UN organizations – with links
Are lifestyle changes a luxury of choice? Please comment:
Nu förstår jag vilket enormt arbete! Att få med alla delar som slutligen bildar en helhet för världen att ha som modell! Fantastisk sådan!
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