Good intentions, bad outcomes

We love to feel good about making the people around us or those significant to us, happy. We buy flowers, perfume/aftershave, jewelry, clothes and then comes the chocolates, sweets, pastries, doughnuts, cakes etc. The person recieving the gifts is often grateful and happy to be getting them. Who would not love a "family" bar of chocolate all to to themselves? What about that pack of four delicious, lovingly wrapped  box of doughnuts? "My partner really cares and loves me, so thoughtful "

As a vegan' yes I said it, people always get me vegan treats of chocolate, crisps, beers, cakes, sweets etc. etc. etc. "What! They do vegan, ultra glazed,  toffee sweetened, hundreds and billions of sprinkles, doughnuts?" Damn, I am so glad you got me a box of 6, you must really love me and want me to be happy.

What about giving sweets, chocolates, crisps and soda drinks to youngsters? Yes, you want them to be happy with your very "thoughtful" gift of a large Easter Egg with 2 bars of chocolate inside. What says I love more than a beautiful large chocolate egg with a multiple of extras? What about those sumptuous chocolate Christmas stockings? All filled with a variety of chocolate bars and sweets. 

In the UK : "50% more children being treated for type 2 diabetes" (Diabetes UK 14/06/22)

"Around one in eight children aged between two and 10 in England are obese, an NHS survey published today found." (NHS England UK, 24/09/24)

These are just two statistics about the prevalence of non communicable diseases affecting the younger members of our society.

So what does this all mean to me, and why do I give a damn? Firstly it makes me ask the question why do we buy items that are linked with poor outcomes? Are we really making our loved ones happy when we give them a chocolate egg even knowing they have type 2 diabetes or are pre diabetic? If we do love them why would we even take the risk that the shit we are giving them may be a contributing factor to one of many unnecessary health conditions? Are we making them happy or is it really that we want to be happy by making them happy? Why would I give anyone, let alone someone I care about, a box of chocolates or doughnuts if they are obese? That, to me, is sick, I would not give a recovering drug addict or alcoholic a shot of heroin or a bottle of vodka. 

I don't want to die early, I don't want anyone to die early, although that second part  is not entirely true. I am fucking obese, I have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, why are you buying me chocolate, cakes, pies, sweets, beer? Think about it. Your intentions may be good but my outcomes will be a shorter life, a life in pain, a life with illness, possibly death. If I do it to myself then so be it. But do not be complicit in my own poor choices, don't enable me to an early grave. 

As the Green Cross Codes person used to say "Stop, Look, Listen". If the gift is thoughtful then make it so (Star Trek Next Generation). Get something that is not a potential health risk, and not something the person should not be having anyway. Give flowers, get art and crafts stuff, make beautiful cards with photographs, anything but the boring, meaningless, self serving crud of chocolates, doughnuts, sweets, beer etc. I am sure the parents of children can manage their own children's health concerns and don't need someone else piling up the pressure with a box of 1000 soft centred pralines. 

And why would you buy your 30 stone partner a box of beer and a tub of quality street? 

Give a gift that means something and will be a positive or a potential positive. 

"The Times They Are A-Changin" (Bob Dylan ) or they need to be A-Changin.