Daily Lessons from Life 12 June 2010 - Health is a Personal Responsibility

"Health Minister Khaw's Concern as He Goes Back to Work on Monday 14 June 2010 - The Straits Times 12 June 2010 Saturday

His only worry, he said, is the impact of his ill health on a message he has pounded out with regularity in his six years as Health Minister: Staying healthy is a personal responsibility, and Singaporeans ought to observe good lifestyle habits.

Said Mr Khaw, who has led by example by exercising regularly and by being careful with his diet: 'People might ask, what's the point of a healthy lifestyle when a fellow as disciplined as I am still needed a bypass,' he said, with a frown creased over his brow."

It is good that he did not wait for too long to get his calcium deposit checked due to his high cholesterol level. It seems that his is genetic as he exercises regularly and watch his diet carefully too.

Lessons for me are:

1. like he said if it is the gene, then exercises will reduce the risk though cannot eliminate it. He hopes that people will not draw the wrong conclusion and decide not to do the right things - exercise regularly and eat sensibly. I think he need not worry as those who decide otherwise are perhaps not well informed or not wanting to take personal responsibility for leading a disciplined (initially it is taxing but will become habitual over time) lifestyle still have to take personal responsibility for the consequences!;

2. developing a new habit will require discipline initially. It involves changes that you did not anticipate initially. So, from being aware of the needs to change to the taking actions to change will pass through the stages of: agreeing that changes are needed, then accept them, then take actions to do them, and then do them repeatedly until it becomes a habit! It will required personal commitment and a lot of helps from others who care about you and the changes you are making to remind, encourage, chastise you when you slack, and taking a rest only when you are successful!;

3. someone in the forum said exercises must be enjoyable. I agreed though I must cautioned that that enjoyment will include the acceptance of a bit of pains as good exercise will mean your body worked harder than it used to so that when it recuperate, it becomes stronger. It is far easier to develop a bad habit than a good one. e.g. eating indiscriminately in our abundance society! So, enjoy the exercises and the foods as long as you are disciplined about it until it becomes a habit.

May Minister Khaw continues his disciplined approach to a healthy lifestyle so that his family will have him around for many more happy years.