I love a good story! It’s one of the many reasons I’m a Netflix fan (commercial free is also critical for me!)
I’ve been enjoying Madam Secretary, and working my way through new episodes lately. I am inspired and encouraged to see a strong woman navigate highly complex and heated situations with expertise, calm and grace.
But one episode really bothered me, and I can’t get it off my mind. Then I realized how well it illustrates an important issue you should be aware of.
The episode goes through the story of two children who develop the measles. One has been vaccinated and the other has not. The Mom of the vaccinated child is told that the vaccine is only 93% effective, and why her daughter was still susceptible. This young girl becomes very ill but recovers.
The unvaccinated child also becomes seriously ill. Her Mom is told that she will suffer irreparable damage from having the measles for the rest of her life. She is heartbroken (of course) and expresses dismay over having chosen not to vaccinate. She is portrayed as following the opinions of others that have had trouble with vaccinations, as opposed to making an educated decision. She decides to publicly share her story (as offered by the governmental offices pursuing high vaccine compliance) to warn others that the risks from measles are even more dangerous to anyone who has not been vaccinated.
Each of these scenarios is possible, but there was a lot of important information left out. There was only a quick nod to the fact that vaccines are not possible for some people with certain medical conditions.
There was no mention that it’s often not known if you’ll have a reaction to a vaccine until said reaction occurs. And that irreparable damage can happen with just one dose.
There was no mention of safety issues with vaccines, that the full list of ingredients in a vaccine is not offered and that preservatives, heavy metals, etc., contained in a vaccine can be problematic. There’s much more to consider about vaccines, but that isn’t what this story is about.
It’s only meant to provide an example.
When it comes to your health, there are often many possible angles to consider. There’s a lot of misinformation, withholding of information and intentional manipulation. And lately, there’s been outright censorship. Popular search engines are removing “alternative” websites and some social media accounts have been shut down without warning.
This means that your ability to see the many sides that deserve your consideration is compromised. And that the powers that be are making decisions about what information you should and shouldn’t have access to.
This makes it even more important for you to step into your own power, respect and trust your common sense, intellect and instincts, and feel empowered to choose your own path. It can be scary; I’ve been there. And I continue to navigate the unusual path that has led me to amazing health, better relationships and much more joy, fun and fulfillment than I knew was possible. It hasn’t been without doubt, frustration and lots of trial, error and second guessing.
I long to see an end to the division that has recently expanded. I’d love to witness collaboration where we ask intelligent questions that serve more people. Going back to the vaccine example, that might look like this:
Protecting people from disease is a brilliant concept. Are vaccines truly effective in doing so? If not, what could we do different? If yes, are they safe and effective for everyone? If not, is there a way to make them that way? What other things can we do to support health and disease prevention?
I hope that day comes sooner than later. For now, know that I am always here for you. I don’t have all the answers, but I’ll tell you when I don’t know something, why I think and recommend what I do, what my personal and professional experience has been, and how it might serve you.
You are the only one who can decide what is right for you, with your health and every other aspect of your life.
Your health and your desire to live an amazing life matter to me!