Here's my reply to her and anyone born since 1989-
the year American kids' health took a nosedive:
First, I hear you. Yes, we’re in a toxic soup, and our nation's the sickest in the world - most horribly evident in the state of our kids and youth. But my dear, you’re way too young to throw in the towel and abdicate your best life.
This may be news, but life isn't supposed to be about managing illness and mental health problems.
It doesn't have to be this way.
I invite you to start small. Here's an easy one: ditch poisonous scented dryer sheets and conventional perfumes with ingredients illegal in other countries, but not in our corrupt regulatory landscape. Or maybe tackle your addiction to (fill in your toxic “drink” here) that American industry pushes to make us fatter and brain-addled. End the nonsensical bottled-water habit or your fast food fixes. Toss your toxic makeup and poison floor cleaner. Get off the phone and out into nature. Move your body. Explore what makes you want to be here at all. Get support that eventually motivates you rather than simply lets you vent for years in stagnation.
If you don’t care to do it for you, do it for your pets or a child you love or anyone you wish well.
Because my dear one - what you do matters.
I'm certainly not a purist - not (yet) protecting myself from the toxic hair dye that keeps my Titian tresses, for example. But small changes over the years have progressively moved me away from toxic exposures and fake food and the resulting chronic illness that plagues our nation. And if I can do it, you can, too.
Your generation now faces an existential choice.
You can fall into the strong temptation to keep doing what keeps you sick and miserable, feel sorry for yourself that your grandparent’s cohort created this mess and avoid what IS with (fill in your favorite indulgent behavior here).
Or, you can take courage and realize that this is your moment to move into your untapped power.
You can free yourself from lies you’ve been told, take advantage of today's burgeoning revelations, connect with others who refuse to take this lying down and for God's sake - start watering your own dang flower (but not with bottled water).
In today's toxic world, thriving is truly up to you.
