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    Pets guard our health, helping with allergies and heart health.
    Blog 8 min read

    Pets: The Unexpected Guardians of Our Health, From Allergies to Hearts

    Last updated: Tuesday 14th April 2026

    Quick Summary

    This blog is about how our pets can surprisingly help our health in many ways. It's interesting because it proves that the furry friends we love might be doing more than just offering companionship; they could be actively improving our well-being, from reducing allergies to supporting our heart health.

    In a hurry? TL;DR

    • 1Freedom is your conscious reaction to life's constraints, not the absence of them.
    • 2You're defined by your choices and how you respond to past events, not by traumas.
    • 3Sartre emphasized accountability; even in hardship, you choose your mental response and actions.
    • 4Our humanity lies in how we 'play the cards' dealt, not in escaping circumstances.
    • 5We are constantly evolving, similar to a river, and can physically reshape our brains through new reactions.
    • 6Cognitive reframing can reduce anxiety and depression by restoring a sense of control over events.

    Why It Matters

    Sartre's idea highlights that our freedom isn't about escaping difficult circumstances, but about how we actively respond to and reshape them.

    Jean-Paul Sartre’s famous provocation suggests that while we cannot control the hand we are dealt, our humanity resides entirely in how we play the cards. It is an argument for radical agency, asserting that freedom is not a gift or a circumstance, but a conscious, ongoing reaction to life’s inevitable constraints.

    • Responsibility: We are defined by our choices, not our traumas or limitations.
    • Agency: Freedom is an active verb, not a static state of being.
    • Context: External forces exist, but they do not have the final word on who you are.
    • Resilience: Modern psychology echoes this through concepts like cognitive reframing.

    Why It Matters

    This idea shifts the focus from victimhood to authorship, providing a blueprint for personal autonomy regardless of how messy or unfair the starting line happens to be.

    The Misunderstood Architect of Choice

    When Sartre wrote that freedom is what you do with what has been done to you, he was not offering a Hallmark card sentiment about looking on the bright side. He was issuing a cold, almost heavy demand for accountability. To Sartre, existence precedes essence. You are born into a world you did not choose, with a body you did not design and a history you did not write. But once you are conscious, the "done to you" part becomes the raw material for your next move.

    The most common mistake is thinking Sartre was ignoring systemic oppression or hardship. He wasn't. He was a French Resistance fighter during World War II; he knew exactly what it felt like to be trapped by history. His point was that even in a prison cell, a person chooses how to relate to those walls. They can choose to despair, to plot, or to find a mental escape. The "doing" is where the self is forged.

    The Evolution of the Self

    We often think of ourselves as finished products, but philosophy suggests we are more like a river. Just as no man ever steps in the same river twice, we are in a state of constant flux. The person who suffered a setback yesterday is not the exact same person deciding how to move forward today.

    This relates to the biological reality of neuroplasticity. According to researchers at Harvard University, our brains are not hard-wired circuits but evolving networks. When we choose a new reaction to an old trigger, we are physically reshaping our neural pathways. We are, quite literally, doing something with what biology did to us.

    The Courage to Leave the Shore

    Taking Sartrean freedom seriously requires a specific type of bravery. As William Faulkner noted, you cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. The "shore" represents the safety of blaming our circumstances. While it is comfortable to say "I am this way because of my parents" or "I am stuck because of the economy," that comfort is a cage.

    Swimming for the horizon means admitting that even if you didn't cause the problem, it is now your responsibility to solve it. This is the difference between "facticity" (the facts of your life) and "transcendence" (your ability to go beyond those facts).

    Biological Constraints and Behavioral Triumphs

    Sometimes, what is "done to us" is purely physical. We might feel limited by our size or speed. We see this in nature constantly. Take the hippopotamus. Despite its immense weight, hippos can reach speeds of 30 km/h on land, outrunning most humans despite their build. They do a lot with the physics they were given.

    Similarly, we often look at animals and see simple instincts, but there is a level of social agency there too. Male gentoo penguins present pebbles to mates to build nests. They take the random stones of the Antarctic floor and turn them into a domestic strategy. If a bird can use a rock to change its future, a human can certainly use a setback to build a new perspective.

    Practical Applications

    • Professional Setbacks: If you are passed over for a promotion, the "doing" is your response. Do you update your CV, start a side project, or sharpen a skill? The rejection was done to you; the response is your freedom.
    • Conflict Resolution: When someone is rude, the insult is done to you. Reacting with identical vitriol makes you a mirror. Reacting with calculated indifference or curiosity makes you the author of the interaction.
    • Health Challenges: Chronic illness is a massive "done to you." However, pet ownership has been shown to slow cognitive decline, showing that small, proactive lifestyle choices can mitigate even the heaviest biological hits.

    Framing Your Freedom: A Comparison of Ideas

    Concept Philosophic Origin Core Logic Practical Outlook
    Radical Freedom Jean-Paul Sartre Your reaction is the only thing that defines you. Total accountability; no excuses for inaction.
    Constant Flux Heraclitus Life and the self are always changing. You are never trapped in a permanent version of yourself.
    Deliberate Detachment William Faulkner Growth requires leaving the comfort of the known. Focus on the future horizon, not the past shore.
    Proactive Adaptation Gentoo Penguins Using available resources to build a better environment. Even small tools (like "pebbles") can build a foundation.

    The Conversation Starter

    Use it when a friend is complaining about something they cannot change: "You know, Sartre used to say that freedom isn't about what happened to you, it's about what you do next. If you can't move the wall, how are you going to paint it?"

    Interesting Connections

    The etymology of "freedom" comes from the Old English "freodom," which links to "priyo" in Sanskrit, meaning "dear" or "beloved." Originally, freedom wasn't just about the absence of chains; it was about the state of being a "beloved" member of a tribe with full rights. This suggests that freedom is inherently social. When you exercise your Sartrean freedom, you aren't just acting for yourself—you are demonstrating to the "tribe" what a human being is capable of.

    Does this quote mean I should ignore my trauma?

    Absolutely not. Sartre wouldn't suggest you pretend a trauma didn't happen. He would argue that the trauma is part of your "facticity." Acknowledging it is the first step toward deciding how it will—or won't—dictate your future actions.

    Is this just another way of saying "pull yourself up by your bootstraps"?

    No. "Bootstrapping" is an economic myth. Sartrean freedom is a psychological and ontological reality. It isn't about becoming a millionaire through sheer will; it’s about maintaining your dignity and agency regardless of your bank balance.

    How do I start "doing" when I feel stuck?

    Action often precedes motivation. Change one small reaction to a recurring problem. This proves to your brain that you are an agent of change, not just a recipient of circumstances.

    Can everyone really be free in this way?

    In an existential sense, yes. Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist who survived the Holocaust, famously noted that the last of human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.

    Key Takeaways

    • Freedom is a performance: It is something you do, not something you have.
    • Avoid the "shore": Growth requires the discomfort of leaving old labels behind.
    • Your brain is on your side: Neuroplasticity means you aren't stuck with your initial reactions.
    • Use your "pebbles": Small, proactive adjustments build the foundation for a new life.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Sartre's quote emphasizes that while we cannot control life's circumstances, our freedom lies in our conscious response and actions in reaction to those events. It's about personal agency and accountability, not passive acceptance.

    No, Sartre acknowledged the existence of external constraints and historical hardships, even serving in the French Resistance. His point was that even within limitations, individuals have the freedom to choose their attitude and response.

    Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt, supports Sartre's idea. By consciously choosing new reactions to old triggers, we can literally reshape our neural pathways, demonstrating how we actively 'do something' with our biological and historical 'done to you' experiences.

    This metaphor, used by William Faulkner and applied to Sartre's philosophy, means having the courage to let go of the comfort of blaming circumstances for your situation. It requires moving beyond citing past events or external factors as the sole reason for your current state.

    Sources & References