Rediscovering Life – Reboot and refresh

Since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), there has been a reduction in traffic flow in many areas especially Kuala Lumpur as people are either working from home or sad to say, simply not working anymore.

Many have taken time to start exercising such as taking up cycling. In Bukit Antarabangsa, for example, cyclists are taking up the challenge to ride up the hill to enjoy its cool atmosphere and the view of the city. For the majority who stay home, they are being bombarded by messages in social media and WhatsApp about food offerings delivered by GrabFood or foodpanda.

Some friends of mine are starting to put on weight as eating has become a past time and therapy to beat the boredom and anxiety caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Healthwise, this is a “dangerous” activity, what with the calories and sugar levels moving north. It is probably more dangerous than Covid-19 itself.

The dangers of overeating cannot be over emphasised. Take the advice from our own oldest doctor in the country –Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. His staying power at 95 is simply due to his mother’s advice of not to overeat. His mantra is when the food is nice, one should stop eating.

The body can only take so much as the concept of eating to live means to ensure minimum sustenance instead of indulgence in your daily lives.

Staying active also means involving the whole system of using the brains all the time and not just muscles.

How to stay active

Most people start a typical day in a rush, some with or without breakfast, drive or ride to work and for most of the day, will be in air-conditioned comfort before returning home in the evening for dinner. This is where the problem lies as most seem to eat rice for dinner before going to bed. And of course, some even go for the late “teh tarik” sessions at the mamaks.

It is little wonder that obesity and diabetes continue to rise in our population.

A politician’s life seems to be super active. I for one, can never keep with the pace of some of my politician friends, especially those above 60 years who are still leading their parties, serving their communities be in the cabinet or state governments.

Retiring poses the danger and potential of one losing the capacity of the brain which can lead to Parkinson’s disease and forgetfulness. My mother lived till 92 and father till 82, and he was still playing golf. But what sustained their mental agility was reading (especially the interpretation of the Quran) which continued to stimulate their minds. There was never a dull moment to exchange intelligent ideas with them.

Living a fulfilling life

With social media and WhatsApp, my 60 going on 70 year-old classmates continue to engage in useful conversation on many topics. Some say it is rubbish, especially on politics, but I notice that the active ones can dwell on many aspects of each topic be it health, society, religion and sports. Those who simply repost messages blindly and without comment will surely be bombarded with criticisms but in a healthy and friendly banter.

In the light of our current political situation, and within the constraints of the pandemic crisis, it is interesting to note of the changes in attitude by some of our classmates who were otherwise strong supporters of certain political parties and personalities.

We also remind each other to also take care of our nutritional and exercise habits if we wish to continue living a fulfilling and exciting life. While every birthday is a gift of a year in our lives, it cannot be achieved if our daily lives are filled with old bad habits that die hard.— The Health

Adi Satria, a veteran of marketing communications, continues to adapt to the changes and challenges in today’s world. He discovered that good health practices and mental stimulation activities, assisted by the digital driven world, can help one to achieve the goal to live a fulfilling life.