Tiger And The Camel Should Have Said “No”
26 Mar 2010
How much straw should you agree to carry each day? I’m not talking about spending time on a farm. But recently the problems of several patients reminded me of the famous story about "The Camel and the Straw", of the merchant who kept insisting his camel carry another straw. Finally one straw broke the camel’s back and he slumped to the desert sand. These are several ways to prevent the same fate.
One
Some people never learn to say "no". But like the camel we have only so much energy and time to do our daily tasks. The obedient camel never complained or tried to strike a compromise with his master. People who always say "Yes" to every family, social and business request can end up like the camel. No one can solve all the burdens of the world.
Two
Joseph Stalin, one of the worst despots of all time who killed millions of Russians, is hardly a role model. But he gave good advice when he remarked. "One has to learn to live with the devil until one reaches the end of the bridge." Every week in my office I see family, emotional and work problems that trainload of psychiatrists could not cure. There is no remedy for some people unless a demanding employer retires or dies. Or an end to financial problems unless they win the lottery. And if a partner has run off with their best friend only tincture of time will ease the pain. So play for time rather than try to solve unsolvable problems.
Three
Learn to live with less. Alexander Hamilton, a brilliant U.S. politician and economist, remarked over 200 years ago that the "progressive accumulation of debt is the natural disease of all governments". Personal debt, like public debt, is also a curse as has been demonstrated in the last couple of years. Many sleepless nights could have been prevented if people had realized that it was not necessary to have the latest electronic gismo, or be tricked by unscrupulous ads into believing that "play now, pay later’ was the road to financial minerva.
Four
One of the smartest businessmen that I’ve known once said to me, " I have only one problem on my desk at a time’. I’ve often remembered his wise counsel when faced with multiple problems that suddenly arise. It’s much easier and more effective to tackle and solve one situation at a time than fly off blindly in all directions to handle several issues simultaneously.
Five
I often write a prescription for massage to prevent that extra straw that causes patients to buckle under the stress of modern life. Massage, unlike many of the drugs that doctors prescribe to fight stress, is free of side effects. Today, many companies recognize that massage is a form of stress management to ease fatigue, headache and back strain often related to long hours at computer screens. Massage also helps to remove lactic and carbonic acid, the toxic products of metabolism. It’s why boxers and other athletes routinely get rubdowns.
Six
During the week find something you enjoy to temporarily remove your attention from the stress of everyday life. For some it’s playing solitaire, meditation or being engaged in various forms of exercise. But whatever it is, make it a habit.
Seven
Remember the value of sex. It’s one of the best forms of psychological and physiological relaxation. Who doesn’t sleep like a baby following "amour". A study at Scotland’s Royal Edinburgh Hospital of 3,500 people concluded that frequent sex also slows the aging process. This report included a person of 102, so there’s always hope! But even if the Scotch are wrong you have nothing to lose unless there’s a bit of "Tiger" in you. Then you have plenty to keep you awake and regret. But in thinking about this tragic matter I’m reminded of Aristotle’s remark, "There is a stupid corner in the brain of every wise man". And that’s when overindulgence in sex breaks the back, with disastrous consequences.
