Think: don’t just react………

All life is in here...

I have been a big fan of the New Scientist magazine for many years and often lament that many are deterred from reading it, thinking that it is too scientific or technical. In reality I find that the editorial covers a wide range of topics, many related to everyday life and issues that affect us all, even if indirectly.

Reading through some old back copies in the library the other day, I read an article on peoples reactions after the terrorist attacks on the USA on the 11th of September 2001, (old news I know but hey, good lessons are always relevant).

Basically the article explained that fear of flying after the events of 9/11 caused so many people  to travel by road, that vehicle related deaths went up by 1500 that year.

The irony is that 1500 is six times the number of people that were killed on airplanes during that terrible day.

I guess that sometimes ‘big’ and ‘new’ fears overwhelm the ‘everyday’ fears that we no longer think much about, even though statistically the risk goes undiminished. But unless your weekends see you cave diving; everyday tasks like driving or DIY, remain the most dangerous things that you are likely to do.

I guess that I am trying to say that we need to think more about everyday dangers, (after all most people meet their maker in fairly mundane manner). Think about the actual risk involved in daily tasks and don’t just react to seemingly ‘new’ dangers, some of which might not be much of a real risk to us anyway.

Oh, and don’t forget that what you have for your dinner is probably more dangerous for you than anything else, since the number one cause of death is still heart disease!

Stay well