Staying Healthy

April 24, 2008  --  Got something to say?
Print This Post Print This Post

By Rene C. CalandriaBy Rene C. Calandria
I have personally witnessed the death of my mother in June of 2000 that even four years of rigorous study on Existential Philosophy is not enough to understand the philosophical underpinnings of death and the experience of anguish. Soren Kierkegaard, the Father of Existentialism, has a great discussion about existential anguish and death in his book “Either/Or”.

It is in this manuscript where Kierkegaard lengthily and in great detail discussed the passion that an individual has to face in order to attain authentic existence. He farther argues that it is in the constant experience of anguish, uncertainty and the thought that death is real that we develop the courage to confront the “faceless and the unknown”. It is a choice of either/or and such choice involves a “leap of faith”.

I have written three philosophical papers on Existentialism using the underlying principles behind the philosophies of both Soren Kierkegaard and Martin Heidegger, two of the best Existential German philosophers of our time. These existential papers define the very essence of my understanding of Existentialism as a movement in the study of Philosophy and they are now kept “en eternam” within the pages of my book on “Readings in Philosophy of Man”. But all these philosophical exercises did not lift a “finger” when I was confronted with the physical death of my mother. It took me years to realize that the anguish of death is right “on our table”. It is this experience of anguish, which motivated me to live a good and quality life. It is only then that I am encouraged to enjoy every minute of life’s existence because it is too short to miss. After my mother’s death, I started to abandon my excessive indulgence into the “world of vices” (if I have to call it that way). I quit drinking alcohol and only make a sip on some important social occasions. I totally abandon the insanity of smoking and abhor the smell of a cigarette.

After that horrific experience of Kierkegaardian “angst”, a 360 degrees healthy resolution preoccupied my ontological existence. I started a gym program on a daily basis except on weekends. I tried to religiously follow a 4:30 A.M. wake up alarm and be at the gym at 5:00 in the morning. I always do a variety of cardio exercises for two hours and hit the weights’ room after that. I find the early morning schedule very convenient because Gold’s Gym at Tysons Corner is not crowded except for some professionals who are also into healthy living. By 8:30 in the morning, I am ready for work and a treat at Panera Bread lightens up my day. Much as I want to exercise on weekends but the gym is full of “homo sapiens” who are “gymaniacs”. As an alternative, I hit the bike trail along George Washington Memorial Parkway. I started making friends at the gym. I realize that having casual conversations with people with the same health objectives in their lifestyles have become more fruitful and interesting.

I treasure their company in as much as exercise and healthy diet are concern. I look forward to another early morning exercise in order to learn some tips about healthy living. I may sound like a paranoid “specie” but if we look things in perspective there are enough reasons to live healthy in order to enjoy the things, which will come ahead of us. How can we enjoy the company of our grandchildren if we are suffering from arthritis? How can we enjoy the unfolding of history if we are confined in our bed or wheelchair due to problems in our heart, liver, blood pressure and the list goes on? I cannot emphasize enough the famous adage, “You are what you eat”.

I educated myself on proper diet and good nutrition, staying away from too much carbohydrate, eating brown rice instead of white rice; whole wheat bread instead of white bread; water or cranberry juice instead of coke or sprite; splenda in lieu of white granulated sugar; frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream; dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate; soymilk instead of regular milk; fish especially salmon instead of pork or steak; yogurt instead of gelatin or flan and the list goes on. It is not a zero tolerance as others would think but I give some moments of deviation especially during parties. Again, it goes within the famous ethical dictum “moderation of everything”.

My friend in the academe, once e-mailed me with one good question, how do I manage to do all these? I thought about it for a second and I can only find one word that best describes my answer, that is, Attitude. I believe it is the right attitude that keeps me focus on things I wanted to do and accomplish. It is this attitude which allows me to see and recognize the reality of life and at the same time keeps my goals and ambitions burning and within sight. I have done it because of the right attitude and you too could do the same. Not a sermon, just a thought.

Share This
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Posted by News Team | Filed Under Head Strike 

  • No related posts.

Comments

Got something to say?





Authentic Diecast Model Cars
Close
E-mail It