Mind and Body
By Thomas Paul
"Health?
My dear, that's what money is for!" my busy, corporate ladder ascendent
friend would quip. “Why worry about
little aches and pains when you have specialist doctors to fix the
problem?" He genuinely believed that health was a commodity, something
that could be purchased, repaired, or outsourced with enough financial muscle.
He represents a large captive clientele for the hospital industry – their
reliable revenue stream .
We
often speak of "my body," a phrase that suggests absolute ownership
and control. We believe our bodies are our personal property, to be used and
enjoyed as we see fit. Yet, a closer look at biology and genetics reveals a
truth far more profound and humbling: we are not the owners of our bodies. We
are merely their temporary custodians, entrusted with a vessel built from a
genetic blueprint thousands of millennia in the making. This body, a tapestry
woven from the DNA of countless ancestors, is a loan—and it's a loan with
strict terms.
Our
physical form is a masterpiece of evolution, the culmination of millions of
years of adaptation, struggle, and survival. It is a biological archive, a
library of traits passed down through a chain of millions of ancestors. Within
our DNA lies the genetic code for our physical attributes, and also our
predisposition to certain diseases. It is a complex mixture of qualities, some
advantageous and some detrimental. We may inherit the quick wit of a
great-great-grandmother, the athletic prowess of an ancient hunter, or the
propensity for heart disease from a recent ancestor. We are, in essence, a
living museum of our genetic heritage, and this heritage is both our greatest
asset and our most significant challenge.
The
body we've been given is a programme "unspooling" according to its
embedded genetic instructions. Without our conscious intervention, this script
is inescapable. We can either fatalistically let go and let it play out its
genetic blueprint, or we can choose to do something about it. This is where the
concept of the "will" comes into play. We can forge our bodies in the
fire of our will. That is done through a daily commitment to exercise, proper
nutrition, and healthy habits. Physically, each day’s health has to be earned
through a regime of exercises. Unless you have exercised in the last
twenty-four hours, the negative imprint of that day will catch up with us later
when we least expect it. The debt of
inactivity always comes due. Skipping today's workout borrows from tomorrow's
health. Health is a daily tax; the penalty for non-payment is steep.
Our
bodies are not our ‘friends’ in the way we might think. They are not lenient
companions who will tolerate our indulgences. Instead, they are strict
disciplinarians who operate on a simple, unforgiving logic: cause and effect. A
consistent lack of exercise will lead to muscle atrophy (use it or lose it) and
poor cardiovascular health. A diet rich in processed foods and sugar will lead
to inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and weight gain. The subtle shifts begin
in our fourties. The spring in our steps
turn into a noticeable drag. The mental agility starts to falter, replaced by a
frustrating fog. The blood pressure readings begin their steady, upward march.
The pre-diabetic diagnosis which felt like a personal affront is now an
unwelcome permanent resident.
The body
keeps a meticulous ledger, and will show no mercy for our dietary excesses and
laziness. This is a tough lesson that many learn too late. They believe that
they can outsmart or out-spend the consequences of their actions.
No
amount of money can save a body that is going downhill due to a lack of
discipline. The world's most expensive medicines and treatments are often just
temporary fixes for problems that could have been prevented with simple, consistent
effort. You can't buy your way out of a lifetime of poor habits. The most
expensive gym memberships, the latest health gadgets, and the most exclusive
personal trainers are all worthless if you lack the will to use them.
We
are the choices we make every single day on nutrition and exercise. All other issues of our lives pale in
comparison to a debilitating health
issue. If
we neglect to prioritize our health, our priorities will
be dictated by hospital visits.
Published in The Hindu Open Page [05.10.25)
MORE ON THE WEB section
Comments
Post a Comment