WEALTH AND HEALTH

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

 

WEALTH AND HEALTH

(World Health Day - April 7)

  

In normal parlance, wealth means possession of moveable and/or immovable properties. Health means the well-being of one’s body and mind. While the former is tangible, the latter is somewhat intangible and can only be felt by an individual. While you can share the wealth, you can’t share health. Remember the oft-repeated proverb ‘Health is Wealth’. But the reverse is not!

 

Here, I don’t intend to undermine or downplay the power of wealth. Of course, both are needed for a comfortable living! But, always running after money or wealth can well be avoided, as it may even be counter-productive, at times, leading to ill-health.

 

It is generally observed that while people with physical activities as part of their core job live longer with robust health (than their other peers) - say, linemen, postmen, telegraph-men, persons on constant and extensive patrol/touring duty,  etc. (who are always on their toes), the white-collared lot with a sedentary way of life develops health issues to grapple with.

 

More often, seekers and/or keepers of wealth are possessed, rather than its possessors; a few escape a certain distorting influence stamped on it by its long seizure and perversion by evil elements.

 

A funny saying, yet laced with reality, is that wherever the father or forefathers had left behind a legacy of wealth - big or small - there is bound to be disharmony and fight among the heirs obsessed as they are with the properties and more particularly, each may like to grab as much as possible, even leading to ill-health to some of them. In short, wealth problems may, in some cases, lead to health problems.

Society lacked peace and harmony because the human intellect has fallen. The intelligence which was on the rise might enable one to gain power and wealth. But humans should develop their intellect to reason out, judge and understand so that they could control their emotions which can help maintain balanced and salubrious physical and mental health.

 

Before venturing into his 'world invasion', Alexander The Great, distributed away all his wealth. When asked what remained with him, pat came the reply "confidence including self-confidence." This drives home the moot point that the great King, who had amassed a lot of wealth over the years, was even ready to divest and distribute them to others as he had the nerve, grit, gumption and determination to assert that by retaining his confidence and self-confidence, which were part and parcel of his robust mental health, he could regain all that he had given away, and also target and secure more in the future.

Hard work with creative perspicacity, Dunkirk spirit, assiduous efforts, unflagging enthusiasm, and eagerness to contribute sizably are quintessential catalysts for a healthy ideal work warrior to achieve goals and objectives. Individual health consolidates into society’s health.

As a norm, power follows wealth, and wealth seeks power to protect itself and maintain the flow incessantly and interminably. Wealth gives privileged clout. But still, it can’t ensure good health.

 

Pelf and lucre, especially those earned through dubious means will not last or stay longer, as the possessor has a totally negative, corrupt and self-destructive mindset

 

One desire begets another in a never-ending spiral. Megalomania, an insatiable appetite for amassing wealth, power, etc., may not, sometimes, allow the possessor to have even sleep, which is essential for robust physical and mental health.

 

There is a Tamil proverb that says, “Only if you have the wall, you can paint a picture thereon.” It means, for all physical activities, wholesome physical and mental health is a sine qua non.

 

They say education and knowledge are waxing wealth but material wealth is waning one if frittered away or shared with others. Health shapes your life. True to these sayings, nowadays, house promoters lay stress on ‘happy living conditions’ in their newly built houses to lure buyers with apt advertisements. Here is an example:

 

‘X’ Residential Towers - where vast open expanses and aesthetically-designed home spaces welcome and greet you, irresistibly pampering you to own one. You can see it yourself!  Here, your soul would be able to enjoy the sunshine and good ventilation, and you can remain naturally healthy. And, where wonderful breeze wafts through the serene environs, serenading to the delight of your ears, and pleasantly embracing your body and soul - all to make your living comfortable. Happy and cozy living is an enabling and enriching factor for one’s health - both physical and mental.

 

In some industrial and trade establishments, working conditions are downright unhealthy, which have to be corrected and improved. After all, our workforce is the backbone of the country’s growth and development.

 

We should also make every child or youth contribute their bit in toddling towards a healthier next generation.

 

Besides an individual’s efforts, there are society’s obligations and the state’s responsibility to play their respective crucial roles. The areas in which their attention is required are - stopping or drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, environmental degradation, global warming, increasing vegetation, forest areas, organic farming, et al.

 

The general public is responsible for maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and a pollution-free atmosphere in public places, as far as possible. For example, in a Railway Station, purportedly a well-maintained place, it is for the discerning minds to take care of hygienic aspects for avoiding health-hazard-prone things. Passengers’ waiting room is supposedly self-contained if not a home-away-from-home. Nowadays, there are certain DO’s and DON’Ts prescribed for security and other related purposes, presenting some hassles. So, we have to be time-conscious, environment-friendly, and cooperative with the authorities for failsafe cooperation and safe-sail travel experiences, all for pro bono publico.

 

After a long service and the connected hubbub and hullabaloo it entailed, you retire. Let the relaxation begin with peace and good health in your sweet home wherein you get more time to spend with your family making up for the lost past. Retirement is when you stop living at work and start working a living, a little differently.

 

The quotes ‘The first wealth is health’, ‘Good health is true wealth’, and ‘The greatest wealth is health’ are inspiring. Obviously, you cannot enjoy wealth, if you are not in good health. This is more relevant in the present machine-like era where we are always on our toes, not relaxedly, but with tension levels always keep climbing up. Sometimes, even your physical activity may not help you health-wise, if you are too stressed.

 

Our children and students are national wealth, and their education and wisdom will enhance the health of our economy in due course.

 

“Faith and prayer are vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in good health without them”, observed Mahalia Jackson.

 

To have one foot in the grave is to be in poor health.

 

A spiritual maxim goes thus, “All wealth belongs to the Divine and those who hold it are only trustees, not possessors.”

 

Oliver Goldsmith said, “ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates and men decay.”

 

Let me conclude with the thought-provoking quote of Jim Rohn “Take care of your body; it is the only place you have to live.” Well said, isn’t it?

 

(R.SAMPATH)

9/4/2023

WORLD HEALTH DAY is observed on April 7 every year marking and celebrating the establishment of WHO (World Health Organization) in 1948.