AFVOA Newletters of Year 2005

Page 57 of 75 47. Because excess weight can creep up as a result of a slowed metabolism and decreased energy needs, older people should exercise regularly. Obesity poses an even greater health risk in later life than it does in youth. 48. In old age, a balanced diet is as important as at any other stage in life. Choose foods supplying dietary fibre, such as bread, fruit and vegetables, to help to avoid CONSTIPATION and other DIGESTIVE DISORDERS – which are common sources of misery in later life. AN APPETITE FOR LIVING: A meal always tastes better when shared with friends. Try to eat a balanced diet, whatever your age. 49. Stress Relief – Give it a Try. Major Vinay had sent a personal message to his Dad, with a note – “For U Daddy, Lighten up”. You may like to know who the ‘Dad’ is. It is Brig SP Balachandran. We feel that apart from him all of us need to know the contents – Read On! Lighten up! Try The 90/10 Secret 50. Millions of people suffer from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. There’s constant stress, lack of joy, broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 secret. It will change your life! 51. Ten percent of life is made up of what happens to you. Ninety percent of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10 percent of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane may be late arriving, which throws your whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10 percent. The other 90 percent is different. You determine the other 90 percent! 52. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light; but you can control your reaction. Let’s use an example. You are having breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. 53. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school.. Because you are late, you drive at 60 kph in a 40 kph speed limit. You still get delayed and you arrive at school, 15 minutes late. 54. Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started badly. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to going home. When you arrive home you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. 55. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those five seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, “It’s okay honey, you just need to be more careful next time.” Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive five minutes early at work and