Self-Determination

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History repeats itself. This time, for a change, it’s not the father-son example but an uncle-nephew episode. Anil Ambani, a well-known billionaire and younger son of the late Dhirubhai Ambani, used to weigh 105 kgs at one point in time and reduced his weight down to 68 kgs by running. I’m sure that if not for wealth creation, he has motivated a many for his determination to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Many years hence, Anant, his nephew and son of Mukesh & Nita Ambani repeated the history. In fact he went much beyond to reduce a whopping 108 kgs by means of following a strict diet and exercising for five to six hours every day. Both the above are nothing short of being shining examples of self-determination.

It is perhaps true to a large extent that if parents take care of their health, children are most likely to follow the trend, if not always. Maintaining a sound health is more a result of self-determination and choice than circumstances. That way I and my younger brother are lucky in a way to have received a constant inspiration in this aspect from our parents. Hopefully I & my wife can be an equal inspiration for our son.

They say that you attract people with similar choices as yours. I have a friend who is an inspiration for many. He has made a choice in life that he wants to live beyond the age of 100 and he wants to live healthy! His self-determination has led him to choose an absolutely healthy eating lifestyle. He invariably kick-starts his day with oats mixed in curd, which is followed by only fruits during lunch time and closes his day by having a nutritious wholesome dinner. I haven’t seen anyone else so appropriately balanced in body weight as he is, without much exercising.

Life is all about the choices we make. Self-determination in one area leads to a repeat in other areas of life too. Gradually it becomes ingrained in all important aspects of life. In fact it becomes the life itself. We all have a choice to adopt it. 

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