The power to perform makes the difference.

There was once a little boy who steps timidly to the back behind the crowd each time some activity needs to be performed. With a skinny body weakened by rheumatism at a very young age, this young boy knew from experience that he lacked the strength to perform the task well.

Knowledge of his weakness caused him sadness in the realization that he had to take a back seat and not be able to live life to the full. Yet it was the same knowledge that lead him to do something to reverse the lousy start fate had tossed at him. He ran. He read about Charles Atlas who pioneered the idea of developing strength through dynamic tension of the muscles without the use of equipment; using the left hand to give resistance to the right hand as it uses the biceps to bend at the elbow. With his well-sculptured body, Charles Atlas won the world title. This little boy used the same kind of training to improve his body. Later, he took up weight training and developed his strength. It was tough. It was a process that took approximately ten long, lonely years. Obviously, he was not made of championship stuff. But, he did persevered. He did gain strength gradually and muscles too when he finally graduated to weight training. His friends who have known him as small and weak were surprised at his development at the last stage. He did so well that he played rugby with the big, tough guys. He became good at gymnastics because of the power in his arms, shoulders, back and legs; and the spring which came with that power.

During those ten long years and some years thereafter, rheumatism did attack once every two to three years.

There was one stage when rheumatism did strike during a period of fatigue. When he approached a doctor for medical leave, the doctor took a look at the strong-looking guy and refused to allow him the leave. The next day, his body still wreaked by pain, he again went to the hospital for some medical leave. The doctor who listened to his heart did it four or five times, and he thought, “Oh, my gosh! This doctor does not even know how to use his stethoscope.” Anyhow, he still requested for medical leave, upon which, the doctor said, “No.”. He was on the point of bursting out with anger when the doctor shocked him with, “You are warded!”

Then, he was told to rest quietly on a bed, after which he was taken for an ECG, an examination of the heart. The result, according to a nurse, was he had a rheumatic heart. As he had been studying about health and nutrition, he knew a rheumatic heart patient has only six years to live.

Well, that young man lives to be more than sixty-two years old. I know because that weak little boy was me. Since the age of twenty-five, there was no more incidence of rheumatism. And because I practice yoga very often nowadays, there is also no pain anywhere in my body.

With exercise and the strength I gained, I had not only overcome weakness, I can truly say I live life to the full.Nowadays, there is still so much to learn, so much to do. Sometimes, twenty-four hours are just not enough!