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In our busy lives, we are reading less and less……

Summer Lotus Aug 2 · 5 min read

Many people either have no time to read or have stopped reading. I have stopped reading for many years, confining myself to clinical textbooks, and occasional magazines.

It was not until recently that I discovered the secret to happiness is hidden in my library of books.

It started when I treated a patient. One day a patient named Jean who was from China, came for dental treatment carrying a thick literature book.

I was curious and impressed. She worked as a cashier in NTUC supermarket and I found out that she had graduated from Sichuan University. She came to Singapore to experience our culture and to pick up English. However, her work left her little opportunity for learning. She spoke good Mandarin and her book was deep in substance.

After the dental treatment, I made a transaction with her. She could teach me Mandarin and I would teach her English.

Over a year, we met once to twice a week after work in a cafe and tutored each other. I learned about Chinese idioms and phrases, about Ancient Chinese history and Philosophy. It was an enriching experience for me.

Then, we went through the storybooks that she liked. She would read aloud and I would explain where necessary and fine-tuned her pronunciations.

That was the start of my love for reading which I always felt was related to a need rather than a love.

Research has shown that reading is very important for our growth and development throughout our lives. I am not talking about any reading — gossips, memes, social media ranting, etc. I am referring to the good old book.

The benefits are;

1. Reading reduces stress and helps you to sleep better.

According to research by the University of Sussex, reading for just six minutes can reduce your stress levels by as much as 68 %

Psychologists believe that you become lost in your literary world away from the real one when you read and that relaxes your muscle tensions.

I am sure you have experienced sleepiness when you read after some time. It is the panacea for insomnia. My book fell away from me naturally as I read and sleep is induced.

But do avoid thrillers and horror stories for bedtime reading.

2 Reading motivates you.

Life has ups and downs whether you are poor or rich.

How you deal with them is in your mind and the wisdom to do so comes from the experiences and insights of authors who have gone before you.

The answers are in the books and they are tested. Whether it is fiction or fact, you can draw inferences where the situation is similar.

Dale Carnegie’s book: “How to win friends and influence people” or Napoleon Hill’s “ Think and grow rich “

These may be such old books that immediately come to my mind. They also show my lack of reading since then.

Some wise sayings from Carnegie:

Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration, and resentment.

If you want to keep happy, you have to share it.

From Napoleon Hill:

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds

I attest to their philosophical influences on me. They have helped me greatly.

Do indulge in more self- help books especially in today’s negative world.

3 Reading staves off dementia

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

It is never too late to start reading and reap the brain benefits.

Even if started later, it can delay or prevent dementia.

Reading every day helps to preserve the language and memory longer. Why? Because you have to remember characters, scenarios, and plots when reading a novel, it is a silent training in strengthening your brain cells. Use them or lose them.

Each novel you read, you gain ideas, vocabulary, and inspiration. You fire your imagination and reading engages you so much that your brain will not age so fast.

4 Reading improves your knowledge

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only once.”

When you read about travel stories, you are experiencing life through somebody’s lenses. Places, food, the culture you may never find time to experience but you could still enjoy it. The world is full of fascinating places, because of books.

When you read about a biography, you delve into the person’s philosophy and learned how he or she handled challenges in life. I would rather be learning from someone’s mistakes than to make them.

When you read about a hobby, you piqued your interest in art and culture. A hobby is an important thing to develop as we grow older. You realize your creativity and talent when you dabble in art other than work.

You find your life long interest and that could even spark off a side career for you.

5 Reading builds discipline and character.

Once you become a reader, the whole world is your oyster. Reading takes time and temerity. If you have the patience to finish a thick book, you could complete any manual or project with ease.

You develop an admiration for the author or the character in the story which is worth emulating.

Today’s reader is tomorrow’s leader. All famous people read profusely.

When Warren Buffet was once asked about the key to success, he pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”

Bill Gates read about 50 books a year.

Elon Musk is an avid reader and when asked how he learned to build rockets, he said, “I read books.”

6 A good feel from a book.

Today, much reading is done on the screen. I feel that reading on a screen is disruptive and distracting. Advertisements pop up, sometimes the article shifts away as announcements are made and notifications from your laptop also appear. I feel less disturbed than reading from a book.

There is no radiation, no battery charge up or wifi required and is equally portable.

The touch of a book, the viewing of its cover, and thumbing through the pages give a sense of ownership that no computer can impart. Your favorite book sits on your shelf as a collectible to be passed on to your kids and theirs. It is your legacy.

In conclusion, I envision that with regular reading, I would be very informed in many aspects that I have an interest in and use them in my life.

My aim through reading is to develop more passion in life as the ‘light’ dims and still be a beacon of hope and inspiration to my children and other people.

Moreover, I will never be lonely as a book is my best friend.

You have more options than you think…

“We write to taste life in the moment and in retrospect” — -Anais Nin

My brain is currently teeming with a thousand ideas about topics to write for The Medium but I am stumped. I am sure some of the writers are also in this situation.

What can I write about that interest and inspire others?

What can I write about that is useful to readers?

What can I write about that reflects my passion and desires?

I have more than 60 years of experience under my belt and I have not been living under a rock.

Somehow, through my fun-loving and curious character, egged on by my husband who is innately adventurous and a risk-taker, I managed to experience many events, positive and negative in my life so far.

Well, I suppose I could tap on that which I did in my previous articles. So, you could too. Here are three ways;

1 Tap on your emotions

We all have a wide range of emotions — from anger to sadness to sorrow to happiness to joy to embarrassment to apathy to disgust to frustration to fear to horror and so on.

So, if you are not a true hermit living in some cave, you would have been in contact with fellow human beings, each with their own set of experiences.

How have you interacted with them, how did you respond to their reactions?

People write best when they are emoting. People launch into long stories when they complain because of anger for example.

However, praises are more limited. The long stories could almost constitute good articles for The Medium and if they carry good takeaway messages, they are likely to be curated as well.

The next time when you experience an acute emotion, write the event down.

2 Do something

Still flustered? Well, I shall take a walk around my estate. Or go to a mall, have a coffee and people watch. Or call a friend to catch up.

Just remember your safety steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Innocuous as it may seem, if one does not get out of the house during this Covid-19 times, the growth stops. For the mind and the spirit. And you just grow older and more negative if you continue to surround yourself with bad news from the television and other Social media.

If you must get upset by all the things that are happening in the world, take a stand, write about who and what you think is wrong, how you would propose change and the medium is exactly where you could voice out if you are unable to influence the events in any way.

I often steal time away from work when there are no patients and settle down in a nice cafe and start reading.

Staying in the clinic or office exposes me to interruptions — phone ringing, cheques to sign, questions from staff. At the cafeteria or public bench, it is an idea mulling time and I find that it works well when I am sipping and savoring my cappuccino slowly and surely while reading other people’s articles.

Reading is the fountain of ideas. What others write about, you could give your spin to it as your perspectives may be drastically different. It is one of the most profitable activities in your life and career.

Find out how your friends have advanced themselves in the last few months or regressed, through a phone call. A crisis like Covid-19 brings out the best in some and the worst in others. Something you must avoid if it’s the latter case.

Generally, amazing things happen when people are cornered to cope in life.

Ideas will come. No input, no output. Someone wrote about quitting the rat race on The Medium and I came up with an article on ‘Why I will continue with the rat race.’ This is a contrarian approach but I get something written from a fresh perspective.

3 Recall and Recollect

Look at your photo albums.

See which photos provoke or incite you the most and write your feelings down. What could have been better? How have you dealt with your situation? What were you grateful for?

Fortunately, I have documented my travels on FB. When I looked at the pictures, the memories came flooding back. Why did I go back to Japan a few times a year? What was my best trip? What dangerous things did I do on a trip?

To others, it is mind-boggling and inexplicable. But I was inexorably drawn to a certain country for the reasons that appeal only to me — its food, culture, scenery, lifestyle, etc.

Knowing the language helps. My friends did not understand that I went solo there a few times to step out of my comfort zone and have found my footing there. I discovered nothing to fear traveling solo and how to cope with loneliness in a strange land. People are not all bad. If they cannot communicate with you, they turn away, more out of embarrassment than apathy. You will find your way.

After I figured out the megapolis, it became no threat to me though it was initially. I went back to Japan again to seek out experiences tourists do not get. That is plenty to write about.

4 Check Out Yourself

What are your passions? What did you love doing and what are you good in? Eating? Sleeping? Talking? Even that can constitute an article and become an inspiring one. If you think hard enough and do some research.

Believe yourself that you are a treasure trove of stories and lessons. You need to dig deeper into your past and present and dream of the future. Every day is a happening one if you do, ask, and observe.

“Start writing no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on” — — Louis L’ Amour

Writing is such an exciting activity. In the process of writing, my requirement to read led me to discover authors who have a real way with words and a system of making their articles so readable and inspiring, and so deserving of earning their passive income.

Currently, while feeling stuck thinking about what to write, I settled on writing “What to write when feeling stuck”. I have come up with this read on where one can get ideas and this also serves to remind me what I need to do.

Now, get that paper, wield that pen, and start writing. It will be blank for a moment or many moments. IT may be days and weeks or even months.

Persist.

The magic will come.

Words will flow, ideas will connect, and a message becomes imminent. Your article will be ready. You have written.

You will be ready for the next one.

I love it

Summer Lotus July 6th  5 min read

Are you tired of this rat race? To be faster, better, and richer.

Many people long to drop out of this rat race because they feel that it is killing them and life gets meaningless running this thread mill. They look forward to early retirement.

I want to continue with my rat race because it fulfills my challenge in life which is the opportunity to always cope with the changes that are inevitable. I want to be active and proactive until I become a dead rat.

Even if you drop out of this race, the change will still get to you and make you feel like a helpless rat unless you stay informed.

Because I am not a country rat but a city rat and I operate on a different rhythm. I knew about this when I went to the beautiful laid back city of Perth for 4 days. The first day was a vacation, second day a relaxation, third-day boredom, and 4th-day confinement.

It was just me. I needed a faster pace of life to sustain me. I was looking for stress that would nourish me.

Because my rat race is a diverse one — My race is not just about work, it is about life in general.

While working, I could encounter different settings and sets of challenges in an ever-changing world with its many demands. I would be egged on to engage in problem-solving because I want to be able to think critically.

Off work, I expect to be an active rat to enjoy life in whatever forms it presents, interacting, and sharing with others.

Definition by dictionary.com says;

A rat race has been defined as a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth or power.

To most people, a rat race means continuous working, increasing stress, and health problems. I believe that I could make my rat race a pleasant one.

How?

Does a rat race mean continuous working? It is a matter of perspective.

I see the ability and availability to work as a blessing. If your customer still engages with you, it means that you are able to offer value in your service and product.

I would find ways to work efficiently and effectively. Strategically pace me and think critically to get things done.

Resources in today’s world are abundant and there are always smart colleagues that one can emulate.

I have learned many technological issues from my younger colleagues, they in turn learned from my experiences and avoid pitfalls.

Work brings income that enables you to pursue other passions which cost money. Whether work is continuous beyond your time frame is within your control. If you work in a smart manner, you need not be consumed by work.

When you succeed beyond your expectations, you could filter it down to others and they would also share their talents with you.

Continuous working is actually continuous learning. As work involves change, you will always learn new things.

Does a rat race increases stress? There are many ways to deal with it.

Stress arises when one is unable to find solutions to problems. When one does not have a passion for the task or job, it is time to make a switch.

I have encountered people who are so passionate about their jobs that their eyes lit up when talking about it.

That love comes from their constant acquiring of knowledge and skills and remaining competent.

When in doubt, I often look around and ask for a capable friend to advise me. In today’s world, there is Google that provides a myriad of solutions. Some videos on Youtube even takes you to step by step to solve problems.

Solutions always abound if you search for it. Start the day by solving the most difficult task first. The rest will appear much easier. If the first task cannot be solved, shelve it for the time being. I find that solutions often surface as an afterthought and the problem may even be less minuscule than you think.

The key is to remain calm and collected.

Live in airtight compartments. Do not bring your work home.

It is not the stress that kills, it is our reaction to it. — -Hans Selye

Does a rat race damage your health? How you can protect your health.

The rat race is often associated with long hours and deadlines.

One often forgets that destiny is in your hands. Structure your work by making a large task into bite sizes that can make it achievable.

Cut out unnecessary idle talk while working, delegating where appropriate, and always update on the latest strategy to get work done. When work is beyond your ability to cope, you need to voice out.

Make time for rest, for recreation and rejuvenation. Nobody is too busy for relaxation or exercise. It is just not your priority.

Time management is life management. — — Robin Sharma

The rat race will go on for me because life can be more interesting that way. To be honest, most of us would need money to enable a reasonable standard of living in a city with an ever-increasing living cost. This is to ensure that we can buy the necessary things that often make our lives more convenient.

Staying in the rat race keeps us in the loop, and you are always connected to others and inadvertently will hear about how to deal with any changes. If you fall through the cracks, you might not be able to find someone to help you out as others are in the rat race.

If you are an organized, active, and hardworking rat with a system of balance in your life, I guess it is alright to stay in the rat race.

It is alright to be a busy rat but be a happy and healthy one.

Only You Can Help Yourself

‘The best way to predict the future is to create it’ — Abraham Lincoln

I stumbled upon this quote when I was downloading a picture that I have created online using a paid software.

Every time, I hit the download button, a positive message would come up before the picture appears.

This became the source of my topics. I was doing exactly this, creating my future.

If there is anything that the Covid-19 situation taught me is that I cannot depend on my dental practice alone. A second career preferably a COVID-proof one is desirable.

Covid-19 crisis brought a large part of the economy to a halt particularly businesses that have contact between people. Travel, tourism, restaurants, retail, banking, entertainment, etc faced dire consequences.

On the other hand, some businesses experienced more traction.

The reason is obvious- they rolled with the punches.

With lockdown and quarantine being enforced and work from home became the new norm, companies who could pander to these needs thrive.

The key is the adoption and use of technology in this unprecedented era.

The most famous example is Zoom, a video conferencing platform that was pushed to the forefront of technology during the pandemic as it enables companies who wanted to work remotely.

It also facilitated contact between families, friends, social institutions, etc resulting in an exponential growth in revenue.

Microsoft Teams, Google meet also offered their free versions of video conferencing making the use of these platforms the likely mainstay of our future meetings.

In Singapore, healthcare shops like pharmacies, medical and dental clinics could stay open while all other non-essential shops were ordered shut. It helped that pharmacies were already online so purchases could be made.

Dental clinics suffered as the scope of work was restricted only to emergencies and even then, most were to be channeled to appointed hospitals to prevent the possibility of cluster formations. That is when I realized I need to turn to digital technology to bolster my income should the virus strike again.

Restaurants and many food outlets were also ordered to shutter and quite a number many folded up due to failures to meet costs as well as poor businesses. Those who quickly jumped on the bandwagon of food delivery apps were able to continue business daily. So did delivery companies business escalated.

In fact, the few eateries near my workplace have been running a brisk business to increased takeaway orders as dine-in was prohibited and special promotions with new menus helped further to engage more customers.

Technology backed companies usually do well. When schools were shut down, those tuition centers that quickly adopted technological means to continue with the students’ education stayed in business much to the relief of their parents.

The examples of people who thrived with technology are innumerable. When a friend used to lease out her apartment, it took the agent few months and many visits to view the place before a new tenant would sign up.

This time, using a good virtual tour, the agent was able to secure a tenant within two weeks. Everything was done without time taken by all parties to view the apartment and the deal was sealed based on trust and the condition seen in the video. Even documents were signed and forwarded through the computer.

As more companies turn to online for more presence, companies that teach soft skills like Website creation, building e-commerce stores, and digital marketing would see an uptick in interest to cater to these needs.

Herein, lies my interest to be technology savvy. Since I started learning about website creation, it had piqued my interest and increased my creativity.

Lockdown was bearable as I was engaged in learning this new skill. I have started creating websites and an e-commerce store and I do see this as an interesting and relevant side career.

We now learn that the companies that thrived well in Covid-19 are predicting their future by creating them by engaging digital technology. This is what I planned to do too — Continuous learning, adapting, and adopting the changes by being technologically savvy.

It Is The Most Underrated Thing We Do But You will Get What You Want.

Summer LotusJun 21 · 5 min read

I was a very reticent person. That did not stand me in good stead for the most part of my life.

When your world is closed up, the outside world is also closed up to you. I watched how some of my peers could get very far in life – most of them were sociable, gregarious, and outgoing.

Many reached high stations in their careers and satisfaction in what they wanted to do.

They get noticed because they can communicate. They asked questions and favors. They were not shy.

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask remains a fool forever.” — Chinese proverb

It was due to the lack of this trait that made me searched for a public speaking course many years ago. I went through several courses but finally found a structured one in SIM2 Toastmasters Club where I have honed my skills for many years.

With an increase in self-confidence and improvement in expressing myself succinctly, it has made a dramatic change in my life. My career became more established and my interests and hobbies increased because I started asking questions and found out that Life has a lot to offer.

As a dentist, I learned to ask poignant and pertinent questions to understand my patients’ complaints, and l would listen to them more intently. Then I would offer my solutions. All customers liked to be heard and if you do not ask, they may not tell much so their needs would not be met.

Outside of dentistry, I had applied my art of asking in my learning whether it was a foreign language or a workshop. Before this, much of my learning was status quo because I did not ask enough.

But nowadays, I have decided to question more fervently. My modus operandi to attain more knowledge and skill in life is to ask questions. So much so that, at a recent workshop, a lecturer expressed in dismay that I was a cumbersome character but he still had to furnish the answers.

I was also speaking on behalf of my fellow classmates who were too fearful to ask any questions. Anyway, my queries were valid ones and I knew they would secretly thank me for them.

That led me to do better in my course and workshop. The typical important words of ‘what, why, when, where, how, and who. This is very much what we would apply in writing an article and making it an interesting story. I now used it in my daily life. Asking to find out more and asking to understand more.

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s frequently quoted observation is that we often meet people who are often better than us at something and we must be eager to learn from them.

Socrates believed in asking questions. “ An unexamined life is not worth living”. Ask and discover for yourself the solutions and the truth to solve problems. Things do not just appear as they are, there must be a reason. If something is amiss, ask, and find out if they should be the way they are.

Back to my course on website building, I found out why are some websites more beautiful and engaging. Because they used the right tools. Because they have a good theme. Because they have good content.

Why is that important? Because if you run a business that depends on your website presence, users would linger longer on your website if it is interesting and they are likely to become your potential customers. How then to build a beautiful website? What are the important tools? How to use them? That is when you learn to use your creativity to fabricate one.

I would draw answers out of my Instructors the way one draws blood from a vein. Like a six-year-old.

Thanks to their good chat group support, I was able to quench my thirst for answers without interrupting in class. Every question that I asked, I noted the answers so as not to repeat them.

After that, I went to set up my own website, an e-commerce store, and a blog. It may not be the most beautiful one but it was a good start.

Then I had learned to ask some more questions. I have become pally with my accountant and through our meet-up, I found out that ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. ) may require companies to have websites to authenticate their existence. Many companies do not have websites.

Therein lies a gold mine of opportunities.

I shared with my accountant my work and she mentioned that she needed a company website too. I asked her to give me the opportunity to create one for her and she said yes.

In return, I gave her a deal she found hard to turn down.

In fact, many of her clients do not have websites so the road to more website creation has been paved.

These days, I am turning into a requester. There is no embarrassment in being that.

Knock and it shall open, ask and you shall receive.

You rarely not get what you want unless the request is absurd.

You rarely not get what you want if you could benefit the opposite party in return for the favor- it should be both ways.

You rarely not get what you want if you have applied all my persuasive skills learned at Toastmasters.

I rarely not get what I want because I believe that people are generally helpful and as long as we are sincere.

That is what I did, asking Wann Shing for a comprehensive guide to navigating Pathways, or I will never get started on projects.

The precondition is that one must first put in your effort when you are learning a skill or trade so that by asking questions and getting your answers, you can then progress and become good in what you do.

Don’t be shy about asking questions or for help. Just ask. It does not mean you are weak. It means you are wise and brave. If it is no, so be it. Try harder and someday, it would be yes. If it is yes, you are onto a brand new world.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” — — — Albert Einstein

Why it is a profitable activity.

Walking seems like such a passive activity but it has proven to be of immense benefits. It did occur to me so much until this lockdown happened.

Most of us know that walking, especially if it is brisk is a weight-bearing exercise that not only strengthens the bones and muscles, it can burn calories and improve your blood flow resulting in better cardiovascular health.

In addition to keeping your weight or reducing it depending on intensity, it elevates your mood due to the release of feel-good hormones or endorphins, improves your balance, and manages other conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.

Many are still not doing it due to a lack of time /commitment. I think it is due to a lack of priority. One needs at least 30 minutes of brisk walking daily to reap the benefits. Otherwise, it would translate into a longer walk.

Living in a frenetically paced world, walking is undervalued for its contributions to our overall being. I used to see it as a perfunctory activity, to be done and get over with.

With the Covid-19 situation, becoming housebound daily for several hours over the last few months began to take a toll on one’s psyche. The aches and pain from sitting at the computer for long hours started to annoy.

At 6.30 pm, I strapped on my mask and got out of the house. 

I have been doing daily pre-sunset walks for months now and have realized the benefits.

Pre-Covid19, I have never looked at my neighbors’ houses with such curiosity.

Now, I noticed and began to enjoy the different architecture of each house, their lightings, plants, even the materials used for their construction. Many of these ideas could be incorporated into my house during our coming refurbishment.

The trees and the plants were so lush. We are indeed blessed with the beauty of nature and it is heartening and inspiring to see that people are very house and garden proud. 

Walking can be educational. During pockets of rest, I whipped out my phone and used the apps on the smartphone to identify plants and flowers. It is an amazing way to learn about them. 

In addition, I have noticed that quaint cafes and eateries have sprung up without my realizing them. I was impressed by their showcases and their ambiance that I told myself I would be back to spend a nice afternoon there to chill. Life around my residence was so vibrant but I was spending too much time at work!

A gelato parlor that was allowed to open also enticed me. Strolling along, licking my ice cream, and enjoying the views, hmm what a life! My life-long dream of opening a gelato counter was also rekindled.

I was happy to stumble upon a small Italian grocery shop where I found some fresh pasta and other high-grade ingredients that I could easily source for my Italian dishes. Why queue at the Supermarket when the price differences are not so significant?

I also chanced upon the blue pea flower bush along the road. With this special flower, I can make a caffeine-free tea or the liquid made from soaking this flower could be added to rice where it would become pastel blue, smell fragrant and taste awesome. But more significant is that Blue pea can be used to treat inflammation, conjunctivitis, induce brain health, and increase vitality.

There was no more need to go online to purchase it anymore. Some things in life are free!🥰

An important finding is that walking helps to boost creative thinking. It must be the increased blood flow as I always have eureka moments ( not just in the bathroom ) during walking. Many of my ideas surfaced during my walks and I would key them instantly into my smartphone. Writing this article for the Medium was conceived during my evening walk.

A Stanford study found that walking increased Creative inspiration by an average of 60% versus sitting. It is believed that walking if its well-paced, sparks connections between brain cells. The right rhythm induced thinking resulting in better working memory.

So, Walking is a brain elixir besides protecting your body’s health.

More credence to this claim comes from the fact that top thinkers all incorporate walking into their daily routine. From creatives like Charles Dickens and Hemingway to Scientists like Darwin and Einstein. These great minds have one thing in common- they all take long walks.

Long ago, the significance of walking probably arose since Roman times.

Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, conducted his lectures while walking the grounds of his school in Athens. An old fresco depicted Aristotle and Plato walking while discussing topics with their followers, holding books in their hands. The students were also called peripatetics meaning walkers.

Beethoven was known to take several breaks during his typical workday. Regardless of the weather, he would carry his pen and music sheets to write on in case inspiration struck.

Frederick Nietzsche was a philosopher, composer, poet, and author. He once wrote that “ all truly great thoughts are conceived by walking” He would set off for a two-hour walk every day with a notebook. 

There are many famous people with prolific works also related to suing walking as a routine or rest.

This seemingly banal activity has many different purposes from stimulating creativity to calming our nerves to preventing diseases. So get up, go for a walk, and awaken your inner genius.