Has COVID19 changed our perception of the world?

The pandemic driving the global economy out of gear

The pandemic COVID19 is the current global headache that is driving the traffic of the world economy out of gear. The trade impact in India alone is estimated at over $348 million. All the major business sectors where China played a key role, either as a supplier of raw materials or as a wholesale dealer have been affected by this sudden coup d’état. For example, the automobile and the pharmaceutical industries, Electronics, Solar power, IT, Shipping, Tourism and Aviation, Textiles, etc. The panic is reflected in the share markets all over the world.

The outbreak has become the global outcry 

The virus associated with the outbreak originating from Wuhan, China, and which is termed as COVID19, has spread all over the world. It causes infection through spike protein. It is called spike protein because it sits on top of the spike, as the structure of the coronavirus and connects with the molecules of the human cells and leads to the infection. According to Mr. Yogesh S. Souche, Head, National Centre for Cell Science, "In order to infect or attack the human cell, the virus has to enter it and attach itself to the cell. The receptor is the molecule of the cell to which it attaches. Then it goes inside and takes over the entire functioning of the cell." This is how the entire human body gets affected. 

Four stages of the disease

Experts at the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) said there were four stages of the disease. Stage 1 is getting imported cases, stage 2 is the local transmission, stage 3 is community transmission and stage 4 is when it turns into an epidemic. While India is at stage 2 now, experts said stern precautions were being taken so that going to stage 3 could be halted. “The virus will behave the same way it has behaved in China. It will follow the same pattern,” said the Director-General, ICMR, Mr. Balram Bhargava. He further said, "India has a 30-day window to halt the beginning of community transmission. If we manage 30 days, if community transmission doesn’t happen in the next 30 days, we may be at a good wicket.” To read more, click here. 

The blame game doesn’t help

These terrifying facts and figures will not help. Neither will blame-game. Investigating whether China spread the disease on purpose as a reaction to the tension it had had with the US, or whether Russia had spread the virus because it is so far unaffected is irrelevant and way too distracting, if not naïve.

A force majeure?

The WHO has identified this as a pandemic, but this is worse than any natural calamity as it has affected the whole world. As viruses like these spread like wildfire, they need to be taken seriously right from the word go rather than being in denial. At this time of crisis, scientists, caregivers, spiritual leaders, healers, nurses, medical practitioners and, above all, leaders need to look at this crisis with due diligence. People from different faiths and beliefs, professions have to unite and fight this together. For sure, this too shall pass.

The positive side of COVID19

Does it sound shallow if we strive to look at the positive side of COVID19? I don’t think it is; this sudden outbreak has put the whole world under one umbrella as we are now looking at the cure of the global village as a whole. We have once again realized that external differences do not really make us different. In fact, it brings us together. So has the domino effect helped in changing the way we look at the world? From the index of the map, as shown by the WHO, it is clear how this malady has united the world as one single body whose various parts, metaphorically the countries, have been affected by this widespread disease that is not restricted to any particular place. 

Driving home a message

The domino effect is driving home a clear message; that we are not separate from each other. While meaningful researches are going on to find out a remedy, we, as responsible citizens of the world, can also take all the required steps to combat the deadly virus. For the moment, let us think of the world as one, let us shelve our material differences for a while so the world where we live finds its rhythm and gets back on track.

9 simple ways to say ‘NO’ to medicines at 50+

Are you approaching 50? Or near-about? Or are you a senior citizen? Are tablets and capsules a part of your daily routine? Do you wish to get rid of them?

Nine simple healthy behaviors can keep your pills free. Of course, this cannot be achieved overnight, these ways need practice. They can go a long way to keeping you healthy, can lower the risks of dreaded diseases like cancer, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, skin ailments. They can also reduce stress levels and depression.

1.    Control quantity of food intake

In maintaining a disease-free body, this is of paramount importance. Do not overeat. Watch your portion sizes. Watch the number of servings.

Tip: If possible, practice fasting at least once a week. This helps cleanse toxins and rejuvenate your body.

2.    Replace fast food with real food

Anything that doesn’t come prepackaged is real food or slow food. For example, whole grains like cereals and lentils, vegetables and fruits from the farmer’s markets instead of from supermarkets. However, if you must satisfy that craving for fast food, you may do so once a month.

Tip: Roasted nuts taste as good as packet chips

Eat seasonal fruits, do not drink fruit juice. Fruits recommended for all, including sugar patients, are apples, avocados, berries, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, and kiwi.

3.    Have a morning routine

Whether you go for a walk or stand at the balcony taking in the freshness of the morning sun, devote the first half-an-hour after you wake up to your very own morning routine.

Tip: Drink a cup of warm water before you eat or drink anything else. Do this for the rest of your life

4.    Try home remedies before reaching for that tablet

For minor ailments like headaches, cold, fever, running nose, stomach flu, worms, etc. try home remedies.

         Tip: YouTube is a great place to look for home remedies.

5.    Sleep

Seven to eight hours of sleep is mandatory for everyone. Sleeping is of clinical help for any disease, it is both preventive and curative. It drastically improves skin health, helps prevent premature aging. If you are busy, then sleep in parts, but you must sleep for seven to eight hours a day.

Tip: A hot shower relaxes the body and helps in sleeping

6.    Say ‘NO’ to 5 white poisons

We might be surprised to know that unknowingly we are consuming 5 white poisons in our daily meal. Forget getting nutrients from these items, we end up troubling our health by consuming these food items which are not at all good for our health and increase the risk of developing diseases like cancer, hypertension, bone health issues, and diabetes. These poisons are pasteurized cow milk, white or refined rice, refined sugar, refined salt, white flour (maida).

Tip: Adults do not need to drink milk. Replace white or refined rice with red rice, try grated apples/jaggery/palm sugar for replacing sugar, rock salt for replacing salt and have whole-wheat/ragi/bajra flour instead of white flour.

7.    Control your spice levels

Indian spices have a lot of medicinal values. However, in excess, they do more harm than good. Besides, less spice will automatically reduce your intake of cooking oil.

Tip: Use a non-stick pan to cook

Get no/less spice cooking tips from YouTube

Go more on vegetables than on red meat. Fish is okay

8.    FgF

This is perhaps the most important one. It’s called FgF, or the feel-good factor. Take good care of your skin and hair, and overall grooming.

Tip: Simple. What you can put in your mouth (things from the kitchen) can be used for skin and hair

Also, invest generously in manicure and pedicure

Go to the dentist regularly

9.    Wash your hands frequently and keep your feet warm

Whenever there’s an epidemic, you would have wondered why doctors suggest that we wash our hands regularly? It is because hands are the carrier of germs. Therefore, to keep us away from diseases it is imperative that we wash our hands regularly. Use hand sanitizers, if possible. If you cannot, please rinse your hands with running water.

Keep your feet warm, wear socks. Do not walk barefoot, it is risky because worms enter through your feet. Besides, irrespective of whether you are indoors or outdoors, well-protected feet give you a sense of balance.

Tip: Soak your feet in warm water after a tiring day

Conclusion

Listen to your body. A minor skin irritation, if ignored, can lead to something major. A small itchy sensation in your throat can develop into severe soar-throat. Your body always gives you a signal; act immediately, refer to point 4.

The premise of this post is to remind ourselves that the body can heal itself. If you follow all of the above, you will not need to visit the doctor or take medicines. You would have noticed that through all of the above, I am arguing for a change in lifestyle. Diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension are all lifestyle diseases. You might have noticed that there is no mention of exercise or meditation in the post. Those two are of tremendous benefit but the point I am trying to make here is that even without them it is possible to keep fit and healthy. If you are successful then suggest your family do the same to bring about a holistic improvement in the environment.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to dissuade people from taking medicines for chronic diseases. It is meant as lifestyle advice only.

Differently-abled organisation

Only when managers consider layoffs as a shame rather than as a natural process will worthless poets like me take them seriously. Until then, I will overlook their brilliant careers, golden degrees that are designed to cause havoc, by fostering backstabbing, unfair competition, nepotism, groups within teams of the organizations. They have made themselves so indispensable, with their PowerPoint presentations, their ornamental jargon that it's impossible to imagine an organization without managers, while the fact is, that they are absolutely redundant.

When managers throw their horrendous hats and start working, like ordinary mortals, it'd be the most cost-effective for any organization. Magic, a miracle can be experienced in the business world, a poem could be written.

Most organizations are sinking like the boiled frogs because of these white elephants.
Till now it's a hollow world, replete with shallow words, that is making everyone's lives, including those of managers, miserable.

If ever one founded an organization without managers and functioned as a differently-abled organization, it would truly be special.

Eat, drink and be merry

If you want a disease-free body and mind (I will not use the word spirit to make this more inclusive), follow the simple steps while eating food and drinking. In less than a fortnight you will experience the magic and the miracle. You will feel light and rejuvenated. It can cure any disease from the root. If you make this your lifestyle,nothing like it! Please try it. This time around, I will let the experts speak. Listen and follow the simple steps if you please.

What you should do before eating? Click here

Why is water important? Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.

Listen to this carefully my friends; those who are not religious minded can at least listen carefully until the end. See for yourself what words can do, simple words like Hitler, Mother Teresa, I love you, You are a fool, I will kill you, Love, love, love…and so on. Here is Dr Masaru (or Marasu, what’s in a name) Emoto for you! To listen, click here


If you are interested to know about the mechanism of the best gadget ever (the human body), listen to what Sadhguru has to say by clicking here



Eat, drink and be merry!
Here's to a dis-ease free world!

Tell me

Tell me

I am a fool. That's why growth and development doesn't attract me.

When rich become richer, poor poorer for years on end, I don't see any growth. Trust me, I see a design, a pattern, but no growth. Which car you drive, which version of software you use, how digital you've become, what chandrayan 1 and 2 can or cannot do doesn't mean anything to me. What political parties do, not do, how patriotic you are or you aren't doesn't mean anything to me.

Tell me when you, with your science and technology, growth and development, can remove pollution from the face of the earth. Tell me when you can convert sea water into drinking water, tell me when you can grow plants in the vast acres of land just lying unused, unexplored, when you can purify the waters of all rivers, when you can put plastic out of use, when you can function without wars, when not an inch of land is scrapped as infertile, when no human being on earth has to starve for one square meal.

You see we have an engaging work ahead of us, work that needs understanding, work that needs foolproof scientific framework of the highest order. Tell me when you're ready to work.

Health is wealth

Health is wealth

Anger is the deadliest grass you can ever have. It hits and hurts you first. You get diseases like indigestion, insomnia, migraines, skin diseases, cancer, arthritis, depression and many more unwanted maladies.
Ways to avoid anger.
1. Don't use harsh words
2. Don't abuse anyone, not even in your thoughts, remember thoughts kill, thoughts heal.
3. Don't judge, love. Believe in this... "Love me the most when I deserve it the least." This will help you have a sound mind in a healthy body. Remember your mind creates your body, not the other way around.
How to avoid anger.
1. Breathing exercise
2. Walking, jogging, running
3. Daily dosage of positive self-talk. If you have any specific challenge, share... I will help you have a customized self-talk.
4. Meditation. Take help from YouTube: sadguru, brahmakumaris, Deepak Chopra, Art of living,and so on.
5. Doing something you really enjoy, e.g. planting, singing, writing, reading, playing... doing which you feel good.
6. Surround yourself with people who empower you. Avoid those who don't, but never ever curse them.
Here's wishing you all the very best! 👍

Change your mindset

Change your mindset

Do not get into a job. All family members will disappear into different locations sooner than you realize and then say you spend quality time, you don't look for quantity. Nonsense!
I know of a family, all achievers and high performers where the guy works in Bangalore, his wife in Seattle, his son in Venice and his daughter in New York. The couple is planning to marry their children, the would-be daughter-in-law works in Toronto, the would-be son in law works in Sydney.
I also know of a Gujarati family, and a Punjabi family, big ones; while the gujju family, all of them are settled in Essex, the Punjabi family are enjoying their lives in Jalandhar.
The working family, totally at the mercy of their respective organisations, spend their lives alone, submerged in work, partying, social networking, while the two business families are enjoying life together... they say that every meal they take together is a feast for them.
My message to the younger generation is to change their mindset of working for others. Work for yourself, with your family members... you'll never regret.