Five things you can do to fight boredom

 Five things you can do to fight  boredom

1.      Listen to your favorite music playlist

Keep a playlist of your favourite songs ready. Select songs which are generally happy and upbeat. Play it up loud and maybe dance to it or start a workout. It will surely help you get out of the down feeling.

2. Pick up Coffee and a book

Grab a cup of coffee and pick a motivating book and read it. Keep your favourite book handy or maybe keep a ebook with you always. Coffee is a known stimulant and book will inspire you. Preferably read from the motivational gurus. It will help.

3. Listen to an Audiobook

Audiobooks are a great way to read. It requires less effort on your part. Put it on with a headphone or just play it aloud. Again goes without saying, choose a positive, motivating author. Don’t read something which is dull and dark!!

4. Go for a long walk or run

Exercise is known to stimulate your hormones and in a short time, they are known to boost your mood and morale. Also,it always good to exercise to stay healthy. So walk, jog or hit the gym.

5. Make a bucket list

     Making up a bucket list is known to make you think about the dreams and things which you wanna do. It will help in conceptualizing your thoughts. In composing the list you will stumble upon new ideas and things you want to learn. That may inspire you to take up something new and push that dull and empty feeling away.

Desperate for Motherhood

The urge and drive to be a mother is the most beautiful and basic desire of every woman. It is said to have strong genetic undercurrents which is manifested by the strong desire to have a baby. Science has not been able to pinpoint the exact mechanism of this phenomenon , but it is like the most fundamental basic desires of humans and animals as well.

Although it is not incorrigible to understand this behaviour of humans, what is perplexing and often shocking to see is the extent to which your patients will go to achieve the aim. This is often done to the extent of endangering one's own life.

As a clinician you are also part of the dream of the couple to have a little one and guide them and help them in reaching their destination. You are also frustrated like them when the results are negative, and painstakingly continue the fight. But when things go wrong and at times horribly wrong to the extent of putting the lady in grave danger, you have to convince them out of this dangerous journey. It is in those moments that you have to sit back and think. Think about the desperation these couples are going through and the amount of risk they are willing to take !!

I then think, is this really needed ? To what extent should you as a human being go towards achieving this goal. There are lots and lots of examples wherein people stay out of marriage by choice and don't nurture these feelings. Then there are those who sacrifice and put this issue away to pursue their dream career. Then we also have plenty of people who are caught in the patriarchal mindset and the desire for having a boy makes them resort to sex determination and female foeticide. 

Whatever may be the genesis of these desires....maybe biological, genetical, societal, material,philosophical, religious or purely psychological, it is really intimidating and disturbing to witness this brut force of nature at work from such a close distance !!

Doctor we trust you !!

          It is a great privilege to be a doctor and practice medicine. The love, trust and respect that you earn from your patients is phenomenal. The opinion and judgement is valued and taken with a lot of seriousness, often altering the course of the disease and the life as well. This has been the norm for thousands of years and medicine has been indeed practiced in families. But things are changing. The automatic trust bestowed by patients on the medical fraternity is showing signs of erosion. It is onto us , the medical fraternity to stop this breakdown.

         Every other day there is a fresh case of hooliganism and vandalism at some or the other hospital. Doctors are being beaten up, man handled and brought to court. The headlines in today's TOI is "Why Pvt. Hospitals push you to buy expensive medicines". A detailed analysis of the commercial transactions follows. It all boils down to the rampant greed of the pharmaceutical companies and the doctors who willingly or unwillingly become part of their business tactics. On the inside there runs a article which writes about the striking doctors in response to the suspension of a senior HOD after the loss of a patient's life.

         So the point is, there is growing sense of mistrust about the medical fraternity. We have to all come together and stop the deterioration in the doctor patient relationship. These values have to be emphasised at all academic meets and educational institutions. Undue perks and previlages offered by the companies have to be stopped. Focus on academic education and not sponsorships is the need of the day. The govt institutions and medical colleges have to lead the way and bring on more standardised healthcare. Violators have to be punished by the medical fraternity itself. MCI needs to do more and not let courts do the final justice. Hospital administrators need to be patient centric and facilitators of healthcare. They have to be there to help the practioners deliver the services to the clientele.

          A coordinated effort by all the stake holders in bringing down the cost of healthcare will help in bringing the trust back. Healthcare can thus become more affordable and all inclusive. The Pvt sector can then take on more patient load and reduce the dependence on govt institutions. The difference in standards in terms of infrastructure and facilities offered needs to be bridged. 

           It is not too late. We are having the solid foundation of values on which we have based our modern practice. So let it not wither away or go down the drain. Let us safeguard the trust bestowed upon us and rise to the occasion. Let's bring back the glory to the profession and wake up to some good news on a Sunday morning !!

      

What is the answer ??

The sudden increase in the number of incidents of suicide missions targeting innocent civilians is horrendous and scary. What is it that is driving these people to take up arms and massacre fellow humans? What reasons can justify these actions taken with no respect for one's  own safety? What is the thought process that goes in the minds of these normal looking people who suddenly turn violent and commit these barbaric acts. Time has come to start thinking and  tackle this thought process so as prevent these mass murders.

The first reaction of the world community is to immediately establish the ISIS link. True, but these attacks are not limited to only one radical organisation. There have been instances in the past wherein other groups have resorted to these methods, whether it is the LTTE , Naxalites or the Lashkar. The point is, it is not just confined to one radical school of thought namely ISIS. So then is it  the dream of going to heaven that motivates these madmen. Yes it can be only madnesses that can drive you to take such drastic steps. But what about the present life. Is it not worth living. What is the point in sacrificing something you have in bargain for something which nobody is even sure of ... Something which nobody has seen !! 

The fight for a bigger cause, freedom from oppression, freedom to live without fear, fight for your motherland..... the causes are endless and the list is endless. But when such acts are carried out for one of these reasons again the same question comes in. What is the point in sacrificing your present when you can not be part of the end result? Maybe it is the glorification and the celebration that is attached to the "sacrifice" of the person in question that makes him do what he does. So it is the society at large which is responsible for this thought process. We have to stop the glorification of these acts which drive people to do wild and weird acts. Had this been the case we as mankind would not have seen endless wars fought for always the "right" reasons!!

The aim of establishing various religions over time has always been to promote a healthy and pious lifestyle. But ironically it is religion which has  been used to radicalise people and urge them to take up violence for achieving the ultimate goal. It is religion which is responsible for deep fault lines that lie within our society today. They have been exploited by one and all. Politicians, religious leaders or godmen. So this glorification of religiousness has to stop. The blanket sanction that people take for granted when propagating their religious beliefs, must go away. The notion that whatever you do in the garb of religion is fine must be done away with. We should stop taking religion too seriously!!

People argue that what is required is spirituality for the society. It has all the answers. The Nirvana, the Moksha, The Heaven, Jannat.....the promise is the same. Again one is being asked to sacrifice his present for something which nobody has seen. Nobody is sure whether it exists. So is it in any ways different. The thought process remains the same. Aim for the ultimate "truth". So do we really want to follow this unknown path. The pursuit of this path ultimately leads to a path of self destruction. A family has to pay the price of the renunciation. So should it be encouraged. Should it be preached. Isn't it a form of violence against the gift of nature. A life which we have been blessed with. So why not lead it in the most simplest form. As it is. Without any complications due to all these factors. As Osho famously said that  , "first we have to learn to live in the present". Leave aside all these vague and unproven goals.

How about a scientific analysis of the brains of all such affected individuals. Can we find a clue as to what triggers the mind to act in such a rash and violent way? Can genetics provide an answer? Can we brain map the individuals and find clues. Or is it nature's way of controlling the human species. A method to control the population and limit the damage we inflict on nature. An auto control mechanism. Maybe it was destined to be....by the "Creator" !!  Nobody knows the truth. Till then we have to keep asking....What is the answer ??

Andamans

If you have watched the movie Zindagi Na Milegee Doobara, then do you remember the scene where Rhitik Roshan comes out from the water after SCUBA diving onto the boat and just sits there with a very lost expression and finally starts crying? Well that particular emotion beautifully captured on camera tells us exactly what he has undergone after diving in the blue waters. It is the enormity and beauty of nature that has struck him and overwhelmed him !! If you ever dreamed of having such a moment in your life then you are thinking on the right lines. It is something which you should never miss in life and it should be there on your list of "Ten things to do before I die".

There is no better place than Andaman seas to take that plunge into the aquamarine waters. I feel that the most important thing you should do when you visit Andamans is snorkelling and SCUBA diving. And the place for your adventure to kickstart is Havelock island.

Havelock island is about about 100 nautical miles from mainland. There are regular ships to and fro from Port Blair. There is a reservation centre at Port Blair through which you can book once you reach there. There are other options in the form of private ships which ply on the route, better ships but are obviously expensive. As it is, most of the time you will spend on the deck of the ship. So think twice before you splurge on that exotic boat.

There are many resorts on Havelock island. prominent among them are Barefoot at Havelock, Holiday Inn etc. We had stayed put at Symphony Palms. There are some resorts catering exclusively to divers and are mostly booked by foreigners well in advance.





 I think you need to spend at least 3-4 days in Havelock. Book full meal plans with your hotel as there are very few other restaurants out there. But you can try other resorts if you want to explore.

First day, visit the famous Elephant beach. It is accessible only by a boat. There are boats which will take you there in the morning. They will organise snorkeling for you. There is no need for you to be a swimmer. They will guide you and take you inside the ocean near the coral reef using life jackets.

It is really amazing to see the underwater world in a way you never thought possible. It is an altogether different world. A riot of colours. For the adventurous, the ultimate thing is SCUBA diving. There is another option for people who don't want to try snorkelling. And that is glass bottom boat. It in no way offers the same thrill, but nevertheless it's an option.

The beach is so clean and unspoilt that it appears like a huge swimming pool. Aquamarine crystal clear water. Frankly, having seen Mumbai , Goa and Konkan seashores, I was shocked beyond belief to find the water so clear, clean and translucent.

The next day head for SCUBA DIVING. There are various packages available, but a basic training and a single fun dive costs about 6-7 thousand Rs. Per head.You can take multiple dive packages if you enjoy it. The dive masters and boatman take you to a preselected diving spot. They train you in batches, regarding the use of the breathing apparatus and also various emergency manoeuvres. This itself will take about 2 hrs . They ensure you are comfortable in about 7-8 feet deep water.

The real fun starts when you begin the actual dive. The dive master takes you inside the water gradually. He controls your buoyancy and the speed. Your life is in his hands. You have to breathe properly. And believe me its scary. Once you get comfortable with the swim, he will take you deeper along the coral reef. And what do you see..... Something you had seen only on National geographic channel.

It is beyond words. The colourful world of the fish , big and small, in different shapes and sizes. It is as if you are transported into a different world altogether. When you see swarms of fish heading towards you, in thousands, and you wave your hand through them, you feel alive and thank god for the wonderful world he has created for all of us to enjoy. You will be witness to the live corals and see colorful fish playing hide and seek there. As long as you descent along the reef and are oriented with the shoreline, you are psychologically at ease. But the moment you take a turn and see the emptiness and vastness of the deep blue sea, it sends shivers down your spine. And mind you, you are already about 20 feet underwater seeing the rays of light being filtered through the waters.Ah what a feeling....

You can also take some underwater snaps with corals and the Nemos. I am sure that once you have done this you will come back for more.......

 Enjoy your packed lunch on the boat and finally head back to your hotel. An campfire on the beach would be perfect to end the amazing day.

What to see in Port Blair.

If you are not fascinated by water then there is not much point in visiting Andamans. Nevertheless there are certain other standard tourist hot-spots which you can visit.

Cellular jail. 

The jail where Veer Savarkar was imprisoned, is not to be missed. You can see the actual cell where he was holed up.




Do go on the rooftop of the jail. It gives some amazing views.

The mangroves and the drive along NH 10

It is a beautiful drive and takes a full day. Movement is in convoys through the Jungle. You will come across the famous Jaravah tribes here. The limestone caves are fascinating to see.

Apart from these two spots there are other spots like the aquarium, temples and beaches. 

If you have time and the inclination you can visit many islands like Neil island and ..... There are some tours which take you and drop you on some uninhabited  islands too.

The city of Port Blair is quiet spread out. It is very clean and maintained. And most importantly not so crowded. So enjoy your stay there and come back again and again so that your dream of becoming a certified SCUBA diver comes true.....

 HAPPY DIVING !!