There are so many things that are essential for our body and we all know the importance of exercising, then why do we keep putting it off? Is it the word itself that makes us so tired just thinking of it?
We are Dads, moms, daughters, sons....we are busy with office, home, school. But why are we so busy? We are trying to make a career, make money so we can all live comfortable lives. How can one be so sure of comfort when the body inside is facing discomforts such as stress, obesity, high blood pressure or cancer?I always hear doctors say that Exercise is as essential for our body and health as food or water. But exercising does not mean heavy weight lifting or running a marathon. Taking a 30 minute walk around the block is counted as exercise. Dancing and moving around is exercise too. Exercise could be as hard or as easy as you make it.
First lady of United States of America, Michelle Obama quotes, "We are living in a time where we just don't have enough time. People are rushed. They're over worked, over scheduled. Not enough resources. ...But the thing that I want people to understand in this campaign is that families can make small manageable changes in their lives that can have pretty significant impacts." –Let's Move live web chat, 7/13/2010
We can do so much for our body by changing our habits that lead to lazy behaviour.
Get up...get going. It can save your life. :)
Thursday 13 October 2011
Friday 7 October 2011
Why now?
I have been asked this a lot of times ever since I started working on spreading awareness about Breast Cancer and started lending a hand to all non-profit organizations that I work with; that "WHY NOW?" . And I am sure I will be asked this question again a lot of times in the future as well, since I wish to do my Masters in Health Communication and make a career out of my passion.
I feel that I am very good at public speaking. I have great communication skills and I am very social and like to reach out to people. I guess I would have applied those skills somewhere if not towards spreading awareness on this particular cause. I am very proud to say that I went through my Breast Cancer treatment with a positive attitude. I fought like a warrior. I did whatever I could to stay alive and help my family by being here, and not on the other side. Unlike some who choose to stay quiet about their illness, I chose to do something about it. Some people are proud of what they see and others tell me to keep it hush hush. Some say that I have another reason now to participate in social gatherings. I do! And I deserve to! I am one of the very few South Asian people who have a voice and I am not afraid to use it. If everyone went about their treatment staying quiet, where will the awareness come from? Where will you find survivor stories from people like you? These are real life incidents and can happen to anyone. Who will prepare you and support you when you have to face something like this?
It is people like me who have had a first hand experience with this disease who can talk about it. Once you go through it, you know whats it is like.
I pause to think about people with a weak or a sensitive heart who face hardships during their time in treatment. Some people are not comfortable to open up about their conditions, their suffereings, their stories. I respect their privacy. They are survivors too.
I pause to think about people with a weak or a sensitive heart who face hardships during their time in treatment. Some people are not comfortable to open up about their conditions, their suffereings, their stories. I respect their privacy. They are survivors too.
But when I see people die without proper treatment, or misdiagnosis or ignorance; I am not going to stay quiet.
So, to people who ask me, "WHY NOW?"...I should ask them: "WHY NOT?".
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Awareness????
It is October and the world is celebrating Breast Cancer awareness month. There are pink decorations, cup cakes, donuts in pink ribbon shapes everywhere. People are wearing pink bands, pink pins, pink head gears and I myself went around the town putting up pink ribbons in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are so many products that are packaged in pink boxes or are sold in pink color, the proceeds of which benefit some or the other non-profit organization.
One of my friends told me that they were asked to wear pink on the first working day of October and everyone was very supportive and did accessorize with pink jewelry or wore pink outfits. Their office was all about pink. They ordered a pink icing cake and gave away pink goodies. My questions to her were, "Did you discuss why you were doing all this? Was there a speech about the awareness on breast cancer? Did you learn about where the proceeds from such fundraisers go? Do you know what kind of research are people doing with the money they raise? Do you know what is Breast Cancer? Do you know how to do a self exam and have ou ever done one on yourself?". The answer, as I had expected it to be, was "NO".
How do people help in spreading awareness about breast cancer by just dressing up in pink or by purchasing pink products or chewing a gum in a pink packaging, the proceeds of which will benefit a reserach program that they have no idea what its all about? How do you support the cause, when you are a part of why we need this awareness?
There have been so many supporters to my cause. There are so many people who cheer me up or tell me how proud they are that I am so positive and survived this disease with a brave heart. I can actually count how many or how few of these people, family and friends, have actually done their own breast exams or gotten a mamogram after the age of 40. It is shocking that people who motivate me in what I do to spread a word about breast cancer have not yet learned why I am actually doing this. It saddens me to know that my very close friends and relatives who have all the means to get their regular health exams fail to do so. Is it because they are too lazy or scared of what they will learn about their health. If they are so scared now, then what will they do when they are actually faced with something that they fear happens to them?
I feel like I want to shake these people, open up their mind and shout in their ears!! Wake up!!
Yes, its October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but what are you doing to make sure that this is not a month that you want to support because you or you family member/friend is going through it. Leave apart October and the cause attached to it, how about just a regular physical exam?
Stay in tune with your body. One life, one body - Respect it and Love it!! Its your own!
One of my friends told me that they were asked to wear pink on the first working day of October and everyone was very supportive and did accessorize with pink jewelry or wore pink outfits. Their office was all about pink. They ordered a pink icing cake and gave away pink goodies. My questions to her were, "Did you discuss why you were doing all this? Was there a speech about the awareness on breast cancer? Did you learn about where the proceeds from such fundraisers go? Do you know what kind of research are people doing with the money they raise? Do you know what is Breast Cancer? Do you know how to do a self exam and have ou ever done one on yourself?". The answer, as I had expected it to be, was "NO".
How do people help in spreading awareness about breast cancer by just dressing up in pink or by purchasing pink products or chewing a gum in a pink packaging, the proceeds of which will benefit a reserach program that they have no idea what its all about? How do you support the cause, when you are a part of why we need this awareness?
There have been so many supporters to my cause. There are so many people who cheer me up or tell me how proud they are that I am so positive and survived this disease with a brave heart. I can actually count how many or how few of these people, family and friends, have actually done their own breast exams or gotten a mamogram after the age of 40. It is shocking that people who motivate me in what I do to spread a word about breast cancer have not yet learned why I am actually doing this. It saddens me to know that my very close friends and relatives who have all the means to get their regular health exams fail to do so. Is it because they are too lazy or scared of what they will learn about their health. If they are so scared now, then what will they do when they are actually faced with something that they fear happens to them?
I feel like I want to shake these people, open up their mind and shout in their ears!! Wake up!!
Yes, its October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but what are you doing to make sure that this is not a month that you want to support because you or you family member/friend is going through it. Leave apart October and the cause attached to it, how about just a regular physical exam?
Stay in tune with your body. One life, one body - Respect it and Love it!! Its your own!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)