My exercise holiday

For many years now I have been exercising every day almost. Have tried many things,for the first few years it was hitting the gym,and only the guilt of having paid so much for the membership kept me going. After four years of doing the same thing with hardly any results (I continued to be the same weight as before though I was always healthy) I decided it wasn't for me. Then I took up yoga and continued for five years of almost regular attendance . I like the slow pace and the calming effect and the fact that it is done first thing in the morning and kind of sets the agenda for the day. Swimming I took up to prove to myself that an old dog can be taught new tricks. I am a slow swimmer but can swim for an hour and be very happy. I have been swimming for three years. This month a nasty cold caught hold of me and put paid to any exercise so I decided to take an exercise holiday especially after blood tests proved that I was in the pink of health. I feel guilty about doing nothing (though I enjoy my laziness). Someone told me that a habit takes only twenty one days to form and as they say habits are supposed to die hard. Well I have been doing all manner of exercise in the last six years but it's always been a big ask to get me going. The fact that mostly guilt guids me is one thing,it's just that despite all of this I can't make exercise a habit. Dedication is not my thing at all and as for commitment well it's skipped me by totally. I know I eat too much but I do cook rather well and I know I must exercise but I just can't. My friends are all dedicated exercise people and nothing seems to bother me. Unfortunately I can't seem to get away from it. The icing on the cake was when a neighbour who normally never talks to me...actually asked me why I haven't been going for yoga. Now am I so fat that even the neighbourhood is concerned? .i promise myself everyday that today is the day and that day is still coming. My mother who normally frowns at my swimming obsession has asked me why I haven t been swimming. It look like the whole world is conspiring against me so well....maybe I should do something g about it. My exercise holiday just isn't so blissful after all

The elections and he debates

It's election time in India and despite having worked in media or perhaps because of this I find the TV debates biased,hysterical and just playing to the gallery. It's an entertainment show unlike the BBC debates or other international media where facts are discussed and not emotions. Our media does random voting at TV shows. For instance today I watched a show where the audience consisted of youngster s from cities all rather too young to vote. Half do them have no understanding of the economy but are asked to vote in the subject. The panelists are all experienced men but the show is all about putting words into peoples mouths,no substance but plenty of entertainment. Those of us you worked in media know that the show must bring in advertising revenue. Today even journalists are marketing persons,they sell what the advertisers want. Unfortunately marketing has taken over so much of our lives that even the election is all money power and marketing. Everyday we have some thing thrown at us about how one man can change the world. Not since Jesus Christ have we had such blind faith in one man. Unfortunately none of the men. Who claim to change our country have any idea what we want. Our welfare is far from their minds,their own ambition overrides all else. Finally  we are left with a crowd of disjointed candidates all of whole we know cannot deliver a stable government or progress along with social justice. Will we ever see change for the better?. I am willing to settle for a stable political environment where all of us are living in peace. Sadly today we are being made aware of our many differences of culture,religion etc despite having lived peacefully for many years . Because he choices are so limited we try and make sense of what media says but when even that is all hype and hoppla one wonders,what at we basing our choices on....god save our country.