H is for . . . Health

Image Courtesy: Raj Manchekar

Hi, darlings,
I'm delighted to see the enthusiasm with which you view our lessons. Today we come to H for Horse.

There was a time, when my grandparents were young, when the average hardworking person out there would take pride in the fact that he or she was as strong as a horse. Health, which is my H word for the day, was truly their wealth. They treated the body as a temple, and they took care not to abuse it or take it for granted.

How far we've regressed from the good example our elders set for us!

As your mother, I keep singing the Health song. I try hard to ensure that you eat healthy, drink plenty of water, play hard, outdoors as well as indoors, get your share of exercise and sleep well. If it weren't for my hawk-like surveillance, you, La Niña, would think nothing of getting your just desserts, all the time. Your idea of having a fun time today is drinking colas, eating pastries and junk food, with more chemicals than food particles in them.

The seeds for eating healthy have to be set when you are still young so that when you grow older, you will not depart from it. So that you reap the benefits throughout your life.

Eat healthy, but don't overeat. And don't tell yourself that vegetables are for the animals that can't kill their food or buy it in the supermarket. 

Food isn't just meant to be unwanted lumber that will fill the storage space in your middle. It's meant to be fuel, that will give you the strength to get out of bed every morning and live well and achieve your goals. How far do you think the car would get on a diet of cola?

The body is a machine that was designed to function like clockwork. And it did work like clockwork, until we got the body's needs and our wants mixed up.


Treat your body well. It is your home for the duration of your lifespan. Do not defile it with excesses or with substance abuse. You'll never find any brand new, unused spare parts for it.

Health is the pleasant weather that let's you get out there and have a good time. Too many people lose their hold on health, and then spend all their savings and their energy chasing after doctors, hoping there is some bottle somewhere that, when uncorked, will restore their vigour and bloom.

My wish for you is that you may always remember that if you look after your body, it will return the favour and stand by you.

Now doesn't that make sound horse sense?

We meet again tomorrow. I will be waiting. 


PS. Do show up on time. We can't keep I waiting.