Comebacks are nearly impossible
Set your priorities right.
Two days of rain was such a big relief in the scorching heat. We all longed for this respite, though we never thought it will happen. It was a lazy morning with myself still in bed cursing the early sunrise and I wanted to sleep a little more. Whew, my routine alarm blared that it is time to get up and be ready for work. With great difficulty I woke up and placed myself on the nearby couch. Coffee please…
The mobile breaks the silence. I always felt uneasy to attend early morning calls since it generally brings not so good news. Just like what I presumed, it was a call from my friend and he conveyed an unpleasant message about our common friend, Shri. X. Wait, let me name him Shri. Rajesh instead of X. Shri. Rajesh was a leading industrialist, President of Town club and a very popular personality in our city. Just a few minutes back, he was admitted on emergency to the City hospital. I was told he is in the intensive care unit (ICU) and having a critical medical problem. Half an hour later, I accompanied my friend to the hospital. We stood outside the ICU along with a lot of bystanders of critical patients.
Before continuing,
I should say that I am not very comfortable with hospital atmosphere for many reasons. I can’t face pain and hardships to a large extent and also manage the stressful atmosphere inside a hospital. Bystanders are supposed to be around the ICU for they are frequently summoned in connection with the treatment of the patient. The calls to the bystander can be of emergency or routine nature. But every time an announcement comes, your heart stops. During the three hours I have spent, I have witnessed at least seven patients being admitted into the ICU. My thoughts started swaying to a not so happy feeling of pain and agony of the patients and more importantly got reminded about the vulnerability of life.
Shri. Rajesh was synonymous with the term success. A great orator with a flamboyant personality and above all an entrepreneur par excellence, he used to be a show stopper in most of the social functions in the city. In fact most of us use to envy him for his meteoric rise from a middle-class family to a multi-millionaire in a very short time. In fact, there was a general talk to emulate life of Rajesh, if we mean success. The print, visual and social media was always abuzz with news and pictures where Rajesh used to be point of discussion. Now in his late fifties, he is in hospital bed fighting for good health and more importantly life.
The very reason why I am here in the hospital is because of my long association with him during his early life as an youngster. My memories of Rajesh was as a great friend always brimming with energy and positivity and he used to persuade each one of us to bring out the best in all walks of life. Coming from a middle-class family under the guidance of wonderful parents, Rajesh epitomised great behaviour and character that makes a gentleman. He used to help people and friends who are in financial trouble and also had a pious mind. He was good in studies too and thus came out successful in getting an early job. He also succeeded in marrying a wealthy and beautiful girl, the so called dream girl and was always proud about it. His penchant for achieving success and fame continued throughout his life. However, this did not sustain for long and we all saw him wearing a different garb at later stages which I felt was not good in the long run.
The circle of friends and well-wishers who continue to move with Rajesh changed according to his financial status. He became a spend thrift to retain his larger than life image, success and fame. He was always surrounded with the elite class of people including business magnets, film stars, politicians and so on. He had significantly reduced his support to philanthropic activities and started spending money on business gambling and throwing extravagant parties. I should say that the most important wealth for us is good health and that took a back seat in his life.
Back to ICU, I thought about my good friend who is under going treatment inside. I could only pity on the sad state of affairs and trauma he is undergoing. The doctors have informed that there an urgent requirement of major organ transplantation for Rajesh which can be done only abroad and also costs a fortune. It was also informed that the success rate is very poor. The matter has been informed to him and his family. Rajesh came to know about this and he himself insisted on early treatment of his dreaded disease irrespective of the cost. He wanted some how to get his health back at any cost. By excessively abusing our mind and body on not-so-necessary things, people unknowingly lose their health. I had a silent prayer for his good health and early recovery.
As I write this, I remember Steven mentioning about his views on health on a podcast
As I watched that in March 2020 through the screens and watched Italy be ravaged by this pandemic and watched it come over from Wuhan and then start to creep through Europe, I realised very unforgettably that there is this tectonic plate called my health which I'd never seen shake before and I was witnessing it shake globally vicariously and everything I'm pursuing and care about, actually sits on top of it. It's my girlfriend, my dog, my cat, my businesses that I've built, my podcast, everything I care about, it's on top of that. So the tectonic plate of my health is my first priority. If you remove my health, you remove everything. You can take my other stuff, it doesn't impact. There's no relationship between them really, but the health is the number one thing.
— Steven Bartlett, The Diary of a CEO
There are certain things in life where comebacks are nearly impossible. However setting priorities with an understanding of the requirements of life shall give you sustained happiness and health. Friends, let me summarise a few thoughts now…
Health and Wealth are more important in comparison to glamour and fame. They should be used in a sustainable manner throughout our life. We should be aware that many a time, our entire wealth cannot replace or support our health requirements.
Spend as much time possible with your spouse and children. This will add to your health by giving you and all members of your family a good night’s sleep.
Use your digital distractions moderately. Do not allow mobile phones and social media to make or break your life. Set schedules and limits of use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.
Practice mindfulness and gratitude to appreciate the blessings of your life and what you already have. It is a great blessing to live a life full of gratitude.
We should learn to live a frugal life to meet our essential needs and not our wants. Avoid impulse purchases that upset your budget. Build an emergency fund to avoid unexpected financial stress.
‘A day is microcosm of life’ which means every day reminds us of birth and also death. Be wary of our total lifecycle and the requirement for maintaining good health and lifestyle through out. Spend each day accordingly.
Practise regular exercise. A useful tip for this shall to use public transport, walk or cycle whenever possible.
Take food as if its medicine. The family should practise cooking and eating at home with all members. Be grateful for each meal and acknowledge the hard work of many that brought food to our table.
Ajith kumar K
Newsletter link:Comebacks are nearly impossible
Sir, very well written. You have brought out the reality of life.