I am sending this as I found it interesting but can not say that it was sent by Respected Kushwant Singh
> > FOR ALL SENIOR AND NOT SO SENIOR CITIZENS > > *Subject:* Time tested tips... > > > > > <http://in.mg50.mail.yahoo.com/wiki/File%3aKhushwantsingh.jpg> > > *"Rookhi Sookhy Khai kay Thandi beer Pee, Na Veykh paraayee chonparian, > na Tarssain jee" and live to be 98 like Sardar Khushwant Singh.* > * * > *Time tested tips on how to stay healthy & live longer – by Khushwant > Singh* > * * > *Coming on to 98 and still earning more than I did in my younger days, > people ask me how I manage to do it. They regard me as an expert on > longevity. I have pronounced on the subject before; I will repeat it with > suitable amendments based on my experience in the past two years. Earlier I > had written that longevity is in one’s genes: children of long-living > parents are likely to live longer than those born to short-lived parents. > This did not happen in my own family. My parents who died at 90 and 94 had > five children, four sons and a daughter.* > * * > *The first to go was the youngest of the siblings. Next went my sister > who was the fourth. My elder brother who was three years older than me went > a couple of years ago. Two of us remain; I, who will soon be 98, and my > younger brother, a retired Brigadier three years younger than me and in > much better health. He looks after our ancestral property. Nevertheless, I > still believe gene is the most important factor in determining one’s > life-span. More important than analysing longevity is to cope with old age > and make terms with it.* > * * > *As we grow older, we are less able to exercise our limbs. We have to > devise ways to keep them active. Right into my mid-eighties, I played > tennis every morning, did rounds of Lodhi gardens in winter and swam for an > hour in summer. I am unable to do this any more. The best way to overcome > this handicap is regular massages. I have tried different kinds and was > disappointed with the oil drip and smearing of oil on the body. A good > massage needs powerful hands going all over one’s body from the skull to > the toes. I have this done at least once a day or at times twice a day. I > am convinced that this has kept me going for so long. Equally important is > the need to cut down drastically one’s intake of food and drink. I start my > mornings with guava juice. It is tastier and more health-giving than orange > or any other fruit juice. My breakfast is one scrambled egg on toast. My > lunch is usually patli kichri with dahi or a vegetable. I skip afternoon > tea. In the evening, I take a peg of single malt whisky. It gives me a > false appetite.* > * * > *Before I eat supper, I say to myself “Do not eat too much.” I also > believe that a meal should have just one kind of vegetable or meat followed > by a pinch of chooran. It is best to eat alone and in silence. Talking > while eating does not do justice to the food and you swallow a lot of it. > For me no more Punjabi or Mughlai food. I find South India idli, sambhar > and grated coconut easier to digest and healthier.* > * * > *Never allow yourself to be constipated. The stomach is a storehouse of > all kinds of ailments. Our sedentary life tends to make us constipated. > Keep your bowels clean however you can: by laxatives, enemas, glycerin > suppositories, whatever. Bapu Gandhi fully understood the need to keep > bowels clean. Besides, taking an enema every day, he gave enemas to his > women admirers.* > * * > *Impose strict discipline on your daily routine. If necessary, use a > stop-watch. I have breakfast exactly at 6.30 am lunch at noon, drink at 7 > pm, supper at 8. Try to develop peace of mind. For this you must have a > healthy bank account. Shortage of money can be very demoralising. It does > not have to be in crores, but enough for your future needs and possibility > of falling ill. Never lose your temper, it takes a heavy toll and jangles > one’s nerves. Never tell a lie. Always keep your national motto in mind: > Satyamev Jayate — only truth triumphs.* > * * > *Give generously. Remember you can’t take it with you. You may give to > your children, servants or charity. You will feel better. There is joy in > giving. Drive out envy of those who have done better than you in life. A > Punjabi verse sums up: Rookhi Sookhy Khai kay Thanda Paani Pee Na Veykh > paraayee chonparian na Tarssain jee (Eat dry bread and drink cold water Pay > no heed or envy those who smear their chapattis with ghee) Do not conform > to the tradition of old people spending time in prayer and long hours in > places of worship. That amounts to conceding defeat. Instead take up a > hobby like gardening, growing bonsai, helping children of your > neighbourhood with their homework.* > * * > *A practice which I have found very effective is to fix my gaze on the > flame of candle, empty my mind of everything, but in my mind repeat Aum > Shanti, Aum Shanti, Aum Shanti. It does work. I am at peace with the world. > We can’t all be Fawja Singh who at 100 run a marathon race but we can equal > him in longevity and creativity. I wish all my readers long, healthy lives > full of happiness.* > * * > *If it's worth forwarding, it's worth cleaning up. Please delete details > of all previous senders (including mine) before forwarding again to reduce > spam, viruses & identity theft. It's best to use the 'Bcc' field while > forwarding mails. Thanks.* > *…Kushwant Singh* > > > -- With best wishes S Chander
