If we lose our aim in life......

The other evening I received a call to help a man who was getting his wife, relatives and friends worried that he might end up doing something stupid, like committing suicide.

So, without thinking about the matter further, I drove over to have a look at the man. He was an old man, very thin, weak and according to his own admittance, have not been active or exercised for a very long time. In fact, certain movements of his were limited. It was awkward when he had to go down onto the floor to lie down. Other than that there did not seem to be anything amiss. He complained that he found it difficult to sleep and in his sleepless state, thought of all kinds of things. Everything that he had done in his life returned to his mind vividly. He believed he could be going mad.

So the first thing I did was to assure him that he had many more years to go; that God did not need him back there yet. I believe he lacked sufficient movement, no exercise and therefore poor circulation and metabolism resulting in bad appetite. His joints were getting stiff as a result. Without the exercise and no mental activity, his body did not need much rest. With very little sleep and nothing to do, the emptiness in his life plays havoc on his mind.

To help his circulation improve, I massaged his body thoroughly, talking to him and telling him everything would be fine. I gave him physiotherapy, moved his arms and legs for a start. In fact, even before I finished with him, he was feeling better and was asking when I could go to see him again. I told him not to worry, that i would see him in three days' time. Finally, I gave him some exercise to do.

I told him that he was weak and needed to strengthen his body by exercising which would lead not only to better circulation but also improved metabolism. When the body is tired, there will be sleep. So, I got him to walk briskly for a short distance, stroll back to the starting point and repeat that for ten times, three times a day; once in the morning, another time in the afternoon and finally in the evening but at least two hours before bedtime.

With that initial start, I hope to put some strength and life into his body which would lead to overcoming of his problems.

Next, I would be asking the family to get him some reading materials so that he would also be mentally tired and life would not be so boring. I hope to have the cooperation of his family to get involved with happenings and work in the family. Give the guy something to do so that he would find meaning in life. Life is to be lived, not survived. There is so much to do to ensure a fulfilling life. All we need to do is to live it. Just do it!

Peace of mind.

I have told about the shrines people build to pay respect and homage to a spirit who has been able to assist a sick person on the road to recovery.

However, not all shrines come about as a result of such homage and faith. Sometimes it is built for the peace of mind of the residents in a particular area.

People throughout the centuries have desired peace of mind and this could be achieved through living in harmony with the environment and other inhabitants of the place such as other living creatures and spirits. People have always understood and respected this kind of harmony and therefore are willing to do anything to achieve the very essential peace of mind with which daily life could go on smoothly without any undisirable event or happening to disrupt their lives.

So, upon venturing to a new piece of land, the Chinese believed certain elements of nature could have been disturbed and to overcome any possible consequences, they would be wiling to pray to God for assistance, be friendly to the neighbours and whatever spirit which could have been uprooted from its abode in the course of constructing their homes.

To do that, they built shrines for the spirits and thank them frequently for their generousity in allowing them to live in the area in peace. Whether such spirits do exist or not is immaterial. What matters is the peace of mind as a result of having done all they could to appease anything or anybody whose ire could have been aroused by them. With such peace of mind, the residents would have better sleep, good rest, good health as a result and ensured happiness in the place.

As such, government authorities should allow such small shrines to exist as they, in no way dirupt anyone's lives not cause any obstruction to anything. Such shrines merely enhance the happiness and peace of mind of the people, something any authority should give encourage.

The importance of correct healthy thinking.

Recently, a political secretary to a state assembly man was found dead near the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) office. The death raised a lot of questions as this political secretary was in the MACC to assist an investigation into the country's opposition politicians when his death occured. According to evidence known to the public now, he was questioned until past three o'clock in the morning. He was too tired to even go home after the questioning although he had his car and so, according to the MACC, had slept on a couch in the MACC building. Apparently he was even too tired to request for his handphone. At the time of his death, his handphone was still with the MACC.

Before I continue, I wish to stress that this is not a political view that I wish to convey, though I realise it does, considering the circumstances involved, sound like one. There is nothing wrong with having a MACC. There is nothing wrong with investigations and getting reports from witnesses. What has happened was due to the choice of officers in an important government body, in this case an anti-corruption agency.

To have capable officers in such a body, they must be courageous in the performance of their duty, able to perform with integrity irregardless of what their boss may think. They have to be disciplined and fair to all those who need to be investigated or questioned. They must never be biased. Above all else, they must possess a healthy mind and body. Yes, these are of utmost importance when dealing with matters such as corruption.

In fact, if our children were to possess all the above qualities, then the parents have no fear that they will perform well no matter what position their capabilities have placed them.

Coming back to the political secretary, what kind of officer would subject a person who is to assist an investigation to such a torture as sleep deprivation to the extent that he could not find the energy to return to his own comfortable bed to sleep? Would it not be normal for anyone assisting an investigation be allowed to rest by midnight and return the next day to continue? Was it an order from the top? Was it an indication of a sadistic streak in the officer concerned? That would mean un unhealthy mind. Could such a person rightly be allowed to perform in such an investigative post?

Well, it looks like a lot of questions which need answers.

Perhaps, the officer concerned was not totally wrong. He could just be doing a duty obeying orders to torture the person until a tired mind would agree to anything just to find relieve in sleep.

Whatever it is, the person who chose the officers is responsible. How are these officers picked? Were the best of Malaysians elligible for the posts picked? What was the criterion for the choice?

I am sorry but I have no alternative but sound racial when I question this: With so many brilliant Malaysians from the various races, how is it that the choice-maker(s) could not have an investigating team comprising of all the races in Malaysia. Are the citizens from the other races inferior to those chosen? Was the mind of the selecting committee biased?

As we can see, a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Wrong thinking can lead us astray, leading to problems which can never arise if leaders or bosses are courageous, disciplined, fair and unbiased in treating people.

Sleep your way to healthy growth.

In today's world, there is so much for the child to enjoy indoors. There is the television with its many channels of films, entertainment and numerous interesting advertisements. There is the computer and the numerous games our children can play. These games which enterprising people have created so ingeniously as to lead our children's interest on and on, day after day, forever and ever.Before long, our children are addicted. Sleep is no longer important. Addiction overcomes sleep.

When this happens, parents find difficulty getting their children away from the television or the computer. We get tired zombies early in the morning going through the process of preparing for school. Their minds too tired to concentrate, these children doze on their desks, forced every now and then to peer at the teacher and put on some pretense of studying, the body waiting for the time to go home for a much needed nap.After the nap, the cycle repeats itself and the growth and health of these children deteriorate. Of course, their studies deteriorates too!

Growth especially depends upon sleep. Sleep gives the body the opportunity to mend itself, to develop and strengthen. Without enough sleep, the body not only does not develop well; it weakens!

With a weakened immune system, sickness charges in. One of the first indication of a weakened immune system is an attack of cold.

The powerful effect of sleep on our immune system and health can be observed through the quick recovery from cold merely through having sufficient sleep.

It is noted that the importance of sleep does not easily come to our senses. Knowledge and parents' role as models are the only way to get children to understand.

When my children were young, i put aside everything else to be with them at about 8.00pm. to read stories from the Ladybird Reading Programme and, later, other short stories. Usually by a little past 8.30, the lights would be out. I would lie down with them, communicate softly with them and then pat them to sleep. This part of the day is structured so as to assist the body to fall asleep at a certain time. They fall asleep easier because they do not nap in the afternoon or evening.

This worked for my children and they awaken to each new day fresh with sufficient replenished energy for another day of learning.