In today’s column I’m using the term osmosis as a metaphor. You will understand.

Recently I saw an advertisement for gummies filled with THC that are designed to reduce PTSD and allow for better sleep. Or there’s the clothes specifically designed to hide a poor physique. Are the manufacturers encouraging people to give up?

This is pretty much the same as believing you are getting some exercise because you drove past a gym. Life doesn’t work this way. In many ways people are being manipulated to take the easy route. Easy doesn’t cut it for those who aim higher.

I’ll admit, the older I get the harder it is to stay thin. It takes more effort than it did when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. But it is worth the effort. What we gain from exercising is more than just muscle. The mental health benefits are immeasurable.

PTSD doesn’t go away on its own. In 2010 I suffered from PTSD. You feel like a walking zombie. No emotions. You are just existing through life. Using a therapy called EMDR, I recovered. No gummy could have accomplished what EMDR did.

Today’s column might sound a little rough. This is not my intention. I want you to notice the subtle ways advertisers try to influence us. Life is a contact sport. Make contact…