There are stressors in your daily life that you control and can avoid : neighbours, family members, friends, social events, family gatherings, unpleasant holidays, pointless meals. The list is long and you generally know when you can avoid something that stresses you out with nothing useful to show for it.
Then there is your everyday environment: urban chaos, pollution, road rage, work hour traffic, work place politics, unsavoury environment at home. Things that are incredibly hard to change or manipulate. No easy answers. Someone has to make very hard decisions to opt out of this. It is economically and emotionally challenging.
I personally know. I decided 11 years ago, I could not commute on Indian roads on a daily basis to make a living. I found a space for my gym 150 meters from my home. It is a relatively peaceful neighbourhood. Not everyone has that privilege. But we have to start somewhere. And these choices matter more than you imagine.
At some point, the economic advantages of living in a dense, commercially vibrant urban environment will be far outweighed by how much harm
it inflicts on our health and need for quiet and space.
Our person tolerance for this harshness varies. But make no mistake. We pay a price for this literally and metaphorically toxic, mis-managed and ill-planned environment.
