Biology and Letting Go

Let go or be dagged. Zen proverb

We have a variety of ways to terminate the life of a cell within our bodies. Some of these are programed processes within the cells themselves, while other deaths come from external processes.

Autophagy, a catabolic process, is somewhat the equivalent to recycling, whereby cells are actively deconstructed and the parts repurposed for physiologic functions or the building of new cells.

Apoptosis is a form of programed cell death described as altruistic death, or a sacrifice for the greater good of the organism. For example, the formation of certain tissues and organs may start disorganized and then certain cells undergo active programmed dying to give a final form and function to the tissues and organs. There is no inflammation or frank destruction present within this form of death.

Necroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death. This is typically a process whereby the cell undergoes a strategic programmed death when apoptosis has been blocked, such as by a virus, in order to sustain the cell functions for its own reproductive purposes.

Pyroptosis is a grossly aggressive, inflammatory, lytic, messy and less organized form of cell death in response to infection of the cell by a pathogen. Within the cell death the goal is to kill the pathogen but also to alarm the system of the threat and mount a systemic defense response to destroy the threat. Collateral damage is common, but it's biologically acceptable in an effort to kill a pathogen.

In addition, our immune cells can be summoned and act as a defense force to seek out damaged and abnormal cells to be destroyed and cleaned up and, at times, in a frank assault on rogue and antisocial cancer cells, to kill them. This too can be accompanied by collateral damage to adjacent cells.

Biology outlines processes to deal with the no-longer-useful, the defective, the infected, and the antisocial at a cellular level. Deconstruction and repurposing is preferred, but sometimes the situation requires frank destruction.

The cellular deconstructive and recycling processes rejuvenate and reinvigorate the body and its physiology. When these processes work well, we are healthy.

The cellular destructive processes are necessary for survival, but this physiology makes us feel sick and, chronically, and ironically, makes us more susceptible to further infection and illness, as well as cancers. The defense strategies that are toxic to pathogens and antisocial cells activated relentlessly weaken us. The destructive processes can reach a tipping point into a downward spiral of chronic illness culminating in death.

The destructive processes are necessary for surviving, but they not only help us in surviving but are part of our thriving. Deconstruction needs to come early prior to the onset of illness and disease. In deep threat states, senescence surpasses quiescence; senescent cells resist apoptosis and initiate and propagate diseases including cancers.

This all begs the question that, If we need cellular deconstructive processes for our physiologic rejuvenation, health and thriving, what else needs such processes?

Our internal narratives and beliefs? Our societal narratives and beliefs? Our egos? Our policies? Our cities? Our governments? Our institutions? Our cultures? Our religions? Our illusions of control? Our wars?

What within these is obsolete, defective, diseased, antisocial, and detrimental to our health and happiness, and deserving of deconstruction?

Or, more worrisome, have we passed the point of altruistic autophagy and apoptosis. Are necroptosis, pyroptosis, and cell-to-cell combat not only our present but our future condemned?

Did we miss the window of deconstruction, repurposing, recycling, and sacrifice for our thriving to be marooned in a world of destruction, inflammation, aggression, and assault in a tenuous last-ditch effort for our surviving?

We can’t afford to ignore the questions. Our certainty of belief in faulty and failing constructs may be our undoing. Failure to deconstruct tends to lead to destruction.

Chronic Illness Essential Reads

How Chronic Illness and Masculinity Intersect

Cognitive Distortions Experienced in Chronic Illness

As the genome builds the cell, our thoughts build our constructs. The genome, the program, also guides the deconstruction and destruction of the cell. So too, we can deconstruct and destroy our failing and failed constructs.

Death feeds life. In the cold, dark quiescence of winter leaves wither, let go, and fall to the ground to be recycled and repurposed to feed the forest. With the return of sunlight, illumination, and warmth, growth and lushness return to the forest.

The holiday season has become one of tradition, acquisition, and consumption, when biology suggests it should be one of deconstruction, sacrifice and redistribution—a time not to hang on, but to let go.

The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn. Gloria Steinem

Stay Safe and Stay Tuned,