Saturday, July 20, 2013

You Are Amazing And So Say All Of Us


July 3rd 2013 12:02

What amazing creatures we are! Whether you believe we are a biological entity that has evolved from thousands of chaotic mutations—against all odds—that have overturned the mathematical probabilities of reason and managed to foster and maintain complex systems of reliability and conformity, or whether you are a creationist who believes in intelligent design, the fact remains: humans are amazing creatures.

One of the reasons we are remarkable is that, like all biological forms of life, we can demonstrate metabolic growth, reproduce, respond to different circumstances within our environment, and make the necessary adaptations required for our survival in a world fraught with danger and destruction. This process occurs even as we mature: to maintain a state of homeostasis, an internal genetically coded mechanism of a biological nature must adjust physiologically to environmental stimuli day in and day out. This may mean that, at the cellular level, much is happening of which we are not aware—except, as is usually the case, in the event of a malfunction, that is, an illness.

Somehow, our genetic makeup has enabled us to maintain our humanity as we know it, distinguishing us from other creatures and life forms on this planet. This does not appear to be a consequence of random occurrences; rather, it seems to stem from a continuation of a designated formula that appears to be imprinted within our genes. At this point in time, we assume these genes are the governing forces that predetermine our gender, height, eye color, skin complexion, and hair and body type. These six differences play a major role in determining our physical appearance, but they are not conclusive in having the final say. Diet, activity, and lifestyle choices also significantly impact our bodily appearance and, when the truth is known, rule the day.

Our diet can affect our natural physiology in numerous ways. This is evident when short people from countries with low protein diets immigrate to countries where protein is freely available, resulting in their children being naturally taller. The effects of diet are also evident in photos taken of people in the United States during the years prior to the Second World War, where members of the general populace appear more gaunt in their faces than those in photos taken at random from the years since the 1960s. Obesity is much more evident in post-war photos of the general population than it was prior to World War II. The major difference between the generations is the diet consumed and the activities engaged in.

Activity, from an overall perspective, has dramatically decreased in proportion to the number of children who watch television or play computer games. Sedentary activity—if you can call it activity—plays a major role in the lives of people in Western countries and other affluent societies compared to communities where the need for every person to scratch out a living from whatever means possible is paramount. Consequently, there are more obese individuals found among the affluent than among the non-affluent. However, this has qualifications, as the poorer members of affluent societies tend to have a higher prevalence of obesity than the wealthier members. Unfortunately, the poorer members of affluent society are often derogatorily referred to as the "effluent society" or "white trash," rather than being recognized as part of the affluent society. Whether this is due to a lower standard of education, a tendency toward obesity, a lack of morality, or lower living standards in general, you can be the judge.

Lifestyle choices play an important role in our appearance, regardless of gender, height, eye color, skin complexion, hair type, and physique. Not everyone is born tall, short, thin, fat, or muscular. Eye color can vary from black or brown to blue, green, yellow, or even pink. Skin complexion, regardless of the amount of melanin present, can be dry or oily. Hair, irrespective of color, can be kinky or straight, and it can also be frizzy, curly, or wavy, long or short. Physique is likewise not restricted to genetics; those who eat without exercising will gain weight, while those who do not eat will lose weight. The middle ground is to exercise and build muscle—how much is a matter of choice but is also restricted by genetic parameters. An ectomorphic individual will not look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Terminator," no matter how hard he tries, and an endomorphic individual is pushing uphill if he fantasizes about becoming an ectomorph and living a healthy life.

Overall, what we eat, what we do, and the lifestyle choices we make will affect our appearance. Sadly, our interpretation of the image in the mirror does not have the final say. Death reigns on the last day. Life on planet Earth is but the blossoming of a flower that sends out its fragrance to attract the bee, continuing episodes of activity that we will never see in our biological form. Pass on we must, regardless of all the fuss. Just as the book says: on we go, dust to dust.

Surely, there has to be more!

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