George Institute for International Health released a new study which states that back pain is a reoccurring problem for five million Australians. It further informs that around 25% of the Australian population suffers from back pain at any one time.
Low back pain is the most prevalent and costly. It has been estimated to cost up to $1billion per annum, with indirect costs exceeding $8billion. It is also the most common health condition causing older Australians to be absent from the labour force.
I have lived in other countries including Nepal, India, Loas, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand studying and volunteering The back problem was alarming in all the countries.
Dear readers, I lived for almost three decades thinking I am invincible and immune to any health problems. And why wouldn’t I? After all I religiously worked out in Thamel Fitness Centre located at heart of Kathmandu.
I did enough research on health to take care of my body. I went so far that I did not trust the years of experience of instructors in the local gym, as in Nepal the only criteria to be a physical instructor is to have buffed bodies. Mostly qualification on science of exercise is unheard.
To add variety to workout schedule, once a month, I drove to Nepal-Tibet border 3-4hrs drive north of Kathmandu to the man’s playground. There I indulged mostly in rock climbing and cycling but also took adrenaline fix from bungee, abseiling and rafting.
Back in those days I worked on lots of interesting projects for a bank. I was still a bachelor with limited family commitments, so I had the luxury to squeeze few more hours working from home. Often I worked till late in the morning sometimes till 3 am. Nevertheless, managed to report back to work at 8:30amI sure was invincible!
During that time, armed confrontation was undergoing between the Maoist rebels and the government controlled Royal Nepalese Army. King Gyanendra had used his executive powers to sideline the elected political parties. Therefore the agitating political parties would protest almost every day to reinstate their rights. Maoists banned vehicles on highways and bombed government offices and target high government officials and occasionally ordinary citizens. This reflected their desperations for supremacy and a communist state. It was common for the daily newspaper to carry only reports of death and injury in clashes between the armed forces. Frequent strikes announced by the agitating political parties and Maoist rebels that forcefully require all the businesses to stop operation and vehicle banned from movement had crippled the national economy and brought the country to standstill.
Nevertheless, we slaves of corporate world and faithful capitalists found our own way to keep the engine of economic activity operating. We walked to work disguised in casual outfit, though the door outside our offices beared big signs “Closed!”. I would like to emphasize that even the most horrible situations in life has a bright side. We had more days off!
To use the time creatively I took up a new hobby, photography. I found out that this hobby of photography was getting addictive. I would find myself amongst protestors and armed forces as they clashed. I enjoyed the adrenaline and uncertainty that it provided but these experiences were also a window into the minds of my fellow countrymen. Sadly it was the dark side which I did not know. After 8 years of living outside Nepal I found that the values of our people had changed. The brutality the government forces exercised in crowd dispersal techniques was inhumane and cruel. I also learnt how intolerant people of Nepal had become during those 10 years of conflict. I witnessed shops being burned merely because of religious beliefs or minority groups targeted only because they were helpless.
I learnt that some protestors who took the lead were paid, while for others it was a hobby to vandalise public property, burn tyres, throw stones to hurt others. Journalist interviewing and taking their pictures were their brief moment of limelight/stardom. This is when I quit!
Now I was spending most of my time travelling outside the valley. I started exploring my country where I found my Nirvana. I visited remote villages, explored trekking trails that exposed me to the majestic beauty of the Himalayan range.
As it happens in our part of the world; my girlfriend’s parents and my folks were adamant that we get married as soon as possible. In our culture child’s marriage is the parent’s biggest responsibility. I thought they were keen to tick this off their list. We adhered to the pressure and decided to leave for Australia after marriage. For one last time I decided to challenge myself with a trip that I named “Mountains to Desert Trip” carrying my backpack of 25 Kilos to Kalapathar (5643 metres) in Everest Region, Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Ri and straight to the deserts in Rajasthan, India. Despite all the political, social and personal challenges, never did I fear anything. I truly believed I was invincible!!
After marriage we moved to Australia. I had previously lived in Australia for two years. Nevertheless, it is unbelievable that just 15-17 hours on a plane there was a country where you were free to choose, free to speak, there were no such things as Bandhs or strikes and offcourse clean air. The life in the new country was challenging but fun. Looking for job, looking for house to live in, understanding the new system was taking all our time. We soon got jobs in our respective fields. I was a banker and she worked for legal publishing firm. We bought a new car and left the major shopping until first payday.
Just after two weeks my wife had viral. We visited the doctor. While we were waiting for our turn, my wife suggested I see the doctor too. I had complained that I had a needle piercing sensation on my back and felt tingles on my foot all the time. The doctor was not worried about my wife at all. However he seemed very worried on the symptom I described. He referred for a CT scan immediately. The report came back the following day and the doctor was not happy with the result. In a heavy Indian accent he declared that I need to see a neuro-surgeon. He advised I might need a surgery immediately. The risk of paralysis was high he advised.
As he continued his words went over my head and his face turned blurry. I was sweating heavily on my face. I felt weak and pain in my back intensified. Suddenly I feared that I would not live a normal life.
Yes I am perfectly fine today. It is another story I will share with you some other day.
But this was a huge learning experience. I have started taking great care of my health. I also learnt that it no fun having a new car when you have pain in your back. And boy did I still feel Invincible? Now I felt weak feeble and defeated!
Do you guys love shopping?
Remember, the shopping we had procrastinated for the pay day? We did go for shopping but fear of my health superseded the enjoyment. To make the matters worse, I was still in my probation period with no insurance, job security and disability was my major concern. For the first time in my life I did not feel invincible. I had hit the ground on my face.
For some reason I would get the flash back of conversations I had with many people on balanced life. Today, I would like to tell you a story I frequently heard from Mr. Vasudevam Pillai chairman of my high school in Kerala, India. He said, “trick of life is to lead a balanced life meaning we should ensure our health; mental peace and relationships are all in good order.” He said, “life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die………..”
That is the mantra for an invincible life!
– Anup Bhandari
Anup Bhandari is CEO of Nirvana Groups specializing in events, travel and imports based in Sydney, Australia. He is also a motivational speaker and a published writer. He can be reached via email at anup.anupbh@gmail.com
