good habits

As children we are taugh to:

- wear your seatbelt
- look both ways
- finish your vegetables
- wash your hands
- brush your teeth
- don't talk to strangers

Life long habits soley designed to keep us safe and healthy.

Habits that now are so second nature, when i crawl into bed without brushing or ride in a cab without buckling up, i actually feel a bit guilty.

But where or what, I ask, are the lessons and habits being instilled that teach us how to protect ourselves against all of the other forces of nature.

- getting picked last
- being cheated on
- getting dumped
- being bullied
- failure
- rejection
- not being in the 'in' crowd

(the list i'm sure could go on and on)

It is far more likely that the impact of low self-esteem or lack of confidence is more damaging than a few cavities or uneaten brussel sprouts. The seatbelt one is arguable - but even then I'm sure many would agree emotional injury, the dissolving of one's spirit and the inability to live your best life could be considered far more tragic than being tossed through the front windshield.

And as sad and futile as this realization is, I fully recognize that often it is those teaching the good brushing habits who end up doing the most damage.