Before information was rife, our parents were a good source. Mostly we dismissed their good advice because there was no evidence for it and we dismissed the source since it was only from their parents they learned it.
My generation were not the inheritors of the internet, like our children were, in the sense not born into it, just acquiring it during our lifetime. Therefore we must say to our parents who are long gone, a silent ‘mea culpa’ for all the good things they taught us but which we negligently cast off. For example my mother used to tell me to get into the habit of drinking lots and lots of water. The usefulness of that advice seemed doubtful to me but now I am able to read the evidence for the reasons, how it improves kidney function, removes the toxins of food, drinks and the medicines we end up taking, the avoidance of dehydration and the restoration of the lost acidity of the body. My father used to insist that I go early to bed and rise at a reasonable hour. Woe begone those frequent late night parties, or studying well after midnight or even watching TV or reading well into the night for leisure. We now discover that there is evidence of absolutely no substitute for a solid eight hours sleep at the right times of night. Lessens stress, equips us for an active day and even prevents Alzheimer’s at a later age. If I was a Zombie sometimes, it was because I didn’t listen to them. Thanks mum and dad, you did many good things for me. I could have appreciated you better while you lived and now it is too late. Roland Francis Toronto.
