- It is a common saying that we do not fully value a thing until we lose it. We often value the love and worth of a friend when he has been far away from us by death more than when he was with us in the flesh. And, it is only when we have left school or college that we understand the value of our opportunity of education, which has gone forever.
- When we are young and strong, we cannot imagine what it is to be weak and sick, but when our body becomes upset, painful, or sick, we later learn by bitter experience that heath is something priceless or something unable to buy with money.
- It is wise and necessary to learn in time, before we lose our health, that good health can be kept by knowing and observing the laws of health and the laws of Nature. Loss of health makes us miserable and a burden to ourselves and the society.
- A person in poor health can seldom be happy. Poor health prevents us from carrying on our daily work. A weak student is obliged to leave his study unfinished. An unhealthy teacher has to interrupt his duty and profession. It seems that a clear mind is always in a healthy body and that it is due to bad health that people cannot get along well in life. Therefore, good health is a main factor of success and happiness.
- If I am asked whether life is worth living, I can say that it depends on my health. How to have a good health? Unlike inert matter, man is a living thing. We need motion for our body just as we need food for our physical life. We can keep ourselves fit by playing sports. Sports help develop our whole body, prevent us from diseases, and assure a good health and long life.
- Needless to say, in addition to proper diet, exercise, and minimal amounts of smoking and drinking that are the ways to stay fit both in mind and body, we should know how to relax. There is nothing to worry about if we should relax to work and work to relax. Life cannot be all work; nor can it be all relaxation, for all work no play makes a boy dull and for all play no work makes a boy foolish.
- The modern man with all life’s complexities has every reason to learn how to keep fit if he wants to lead an efficient, healthy, and useful life.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- What do you think about the saying, ‘a clear mind in a healthy body’?
- What is your opinion about the cases of such great men with weak bodies as Einstein, Pascal, Mozart, and Trinh Cong Son?
- Which one do you choose to be your life partner, an intelligent but thin man or a dull man with strong muscles?
- Which of the following would you prefer to choose to keep yourself healthy?
- Doing exercise
- Going on a diet
- Leading a healthy life
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Being moderate in eating & drinking
- Keeping the mind peaceful and clean
- What’s your lifestyle? Do you think your lifestyle and daily jobs affect your health? Why? How can it be solved?
- If you are overweight or so thin, what should be done to lose and gain weight?
- Is its true that personal and public hygiene is very important for health?
- Having fewer children helps the mother and her children improve their health. Is it right?
- Who is the ‘stronger’, between a man and a woman? Please tell me the reason why people now live longer.