The Skeptic In All Of Us
August 21, 2020
Bradley Erickstad
When I was a teenager, and even as a young adult, the only over-the-counter medication I recall using was aspirin. Although I came down with colds just about every year, I do not remember using any cold medicine or antihistamine. And what was my reasoning for this? Well, it was not because I was against medicine per se.
I had never tried a cold medicine. Had not I always recovered from the common cold? So, why bother with something that in my opinion had questionable results? Think about all those commercials on television in the 1970's that said you should buy a better and stronger cold medicine. I just figured they were all suspect.
It was not until I was in my late twenties and down with another cold that I finally tried a cold medicine (at the suggestion of my sister-in-law, of all people). And let me tell you: It worked wonderfully! All my drainage and pain stopped within an hour. I took the same cold medicine several more times during the next day or two until my cold was completely gone. Amazing.
Now here is the nagging thought that I’ve had ever since then. Why did I allow myself to suffer through dozens of colds over fifteen or more years when I could have very easily treated myself with an OTC medicine? I mean, that was a lot of unnecessary pain that I endured.
So, what was the reason? Well, I was highly skeptical. I simply did not think that cold medicines really worked. Why was I so skeptical? I’m not sure. I had never talked with anyone about cold medicines either for good or bad. It was just one of those things that I was skeptical of when I was young and never bothered to research.
Another thing I was skeptical of was French onion soup. It just sounded bad and therefore I never ate any. Finally, about 15 or 20 years ago I was talked into getting a bowl at a restaurant that had French onion soup as part of a four-course meal. Talk about life changing events! Forget the steak. Bring me more French onion soup, please. I sure missed out for a lot of years because of my skepticism.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Skepticism is a healthy part of our make-up. You need to have an inner skeptic. Healthy skepticism will keep you from getting injured or killed. Being skeptical of illegal and dangerous drugs is an extremely healthy skepticism. And in my humble opinion, everyone should be skeptical of anything made with bleu cheese.
On the other hand, our individual, petty skepticisms can keep us from being productive, starting new relationships and just enjoying the life given to us by God.
Brad Erickstad is the President of Coastal Corrosion Care LLC and focuses on Fluoramics products engineered with PTFE, including lubricants, corrosion inhibitors, sealants and greases.
Brad can be reached at [email protected] , www.coastalcorrosioncare.com or 214-316-4924.