I Choose – Therefore I Am

Dr Shirish Patwardhan

Choice – Whatever you and I are to-day is due to the Choices we make. This applies to our health too. Being in good physical shape is the first step towards ‘Get Set Glow.’ If I were weighing 83 kg in 2006 it was because of the choices I was then making. However I would always blame the circumstances for it. We are always served 2-3 deserts in a conference. And in 2006, I would say to myself that being a true Indian I must see that I ‘attack’ all the deserts at least twice if not thrice. If I weigh 77 kg now, again it is because of the choices I have made. It is a harsh truth and difficult to digest, since it puts the whole responsibility on you. However the sooner we realize it, the better our health would be.

Simplicity – Screening tests for diseases are well known. Experiment and experience this Universal / Global screening test! Choose to take the test right away! Imagine that you have got up from your seat facing the wall. Walk up to the wall and gently bang against the wall! Which portion of the body touches the wall first? If it is the forehead or tip of the nose, then things are under control! If it is the belly, then it is – “S A V A D H A N !“ Fortunately every house has a wall. And walls are still straight in spite of changing fashions. Other tests for self audit are Breath holding, Resting Pulse Rate and 1 km walk. These Simple tests give a red signal when things are reversible.

(L) Earning – The real glow comes from being Young eternally. Youth is related to the mind and not the chronological / biological / legal age. To remain Young for Ever, keep on Learning. By doing so one remains functional. And being functional means being received by one and all with open arms and a welcome smile. To make this happen, one requires an open mind and a child like approach. Say yes to as many things as possible. Silence is the key to Learning. Spare at least 30 min daily to practice the art of being Silent! If you face a difficult problem, take it to the class room of silence and let the solution surface on the stillness of mind. Look within and not outside for a solution! Try out Silence for yourself and then only believe whatever is written.

Alignment – Check whether you are enjoying whatever your work is! Unless one is totally aligned to his / her work, there will not be joy and the Glow would be absent. Alignments keep on changing. So, pause for a while. Find out what you love most. And do it! Realign yourself, if need be. Then you are out of the orbit. A free bird. A glowing human being and not human doing! Your presence would be a motivating factor for others.

Relationship – There are four arms to personality, namely – Physical, intellectual, spiritual and relationship. Out of all these relationship arm is the most important and requires Quality time. Full stop. If the relationship angle is not cared for there is a constant nagging worry. This hinders Learning! And if there is no Learning, there is no joy read ‘no glow.’ The golden rule in Relationship is to accept yourself, others and situations as they are. Trying to understand a person creates maximum misunderstanding and sours relationship. Once you accept this principle and apply it in day to day life, you will experience bliss! Again do not take my word for it, apply it in your day to day life!

Action – Knowledge put in to action is Pure Gold. Full stop. Go ahead and apply these principles in your life and experience the magic. No one is too old or too young to experience and benefit form the magic of Get Set Glow. Let others too benefit from your glow!

(Dr Shirish Patwardhan is a Pune based Gynaecologist & Obstetrician. His focus is Preventive Medicine through his books namely “Artharjan Konasathi? Swatasathi Ka Doctoransathi? – “Haemoglobin V Buddhi” and Karodpati Passbook (English),workshops, lectures & Kayapalat tours. His motto “Put everything into practice before preaching.”His passion for fitness & pedaling was combined with a social message – Anemia Chale Jao. He has cycled all over the country – right up to Khardung La pass (highest motorable road in the world) & abroad. Conducting Workshop for Seven days in Leh every year is his favourite activity. The latest addition to these is excellence @ Pune.