Kiron B SHENOY responds to ThinkWellness360 questionnaire:
Your view on beauty?
Beauty is skin deep. This is an age-old saying; yet, it encases a simple truth. Beauty is an indispensable element in glamour and its arc light-centric world. I’d, therefore, rate charisma as being more important. A charismatic person casts a long-lasting impression. Beauty, as we all know, is also temporary; it’s not permanent. It may be lost at some point; but, not a person’s charisma. Agreed that all of us are definitely attracted, if not floored by beauty. But, I believe that we are all beautiful — each of us in our own different ways. I think it is our society and certain cultural, or skewed, influences that warp the idea of beauty in us.
Your ‘take’ on fitness?
I was an active sportsman. I played and captained various sports at the school, college and university levels. I was energetic, no less, but on a scale of 1-10 my fitness level was, perhaps, 5-6. This was because I never trained enough nor lifted weights. Yet, I never lacked stamina. Now, in my mid-60s, I think I am more fit. Odd, though. Yes, I do a bit of training, walking every day, and playing 8-10 sets of tennis every week. Surprisingly, I am more robust than I was when I was playing active, competitive sports. I, therefore, believe that fitness has got a lot more to do with balance — of body and mind.
Your view of health and wellness?
The word, health, may have had a different connotation for our forebears. They were, perhaps, more healthy than most of us are today — although they did not have our age‘s medical, or technological, ‘fire power‘ to surmount certain illnesses, or disease. Today, health holds a certain aura, what with the buzzword being wellness. We now talk of beauty and wellness, health and wellness. Add to it, the commercial and advertising hard-sell, and there’s that cascading hypnotic effect — for the young and old alike.
One ought to believe that health and wellness are intrinsic. We have it in us, but we don’t know how to manage it. We are born with a beautiful body, also mind, but along life‘s journey we tinker and mess around with them. The craze to look ‘What you are not,‘ has become a tizzy enterprise. You can do anything with your face, hair, body, teeth, eyes etc. This is purely cosmetic — all it does is make the manufacturer laugh their way to the bank, at your expense. Gyms are great, but simple is always profound: a good 30-minute brisk walk is as good as any to be fit, active and energetic. I’d like to define good health as the pivot that drives our enthusiasm and attitude — to keeping us positively charged and vibrantly alive. The big downside, in my view, is our soil today may not be as fertile, or nutrient-rich, as it was 30-40 years ago — so, there is a definitive question-mark on the pristine quality of our fruits and vegetables. Dietary and nutritional supplements — a must in our increasingly nutritionally compromised and polluted world — with the right dosages, prescribed by a professional, along with a suitable ‘bespoke’ diet plan, would be handy, to keep illness at bay.
Your ‘take’ on work-life balance?
In my 40+ years‘ working career, work-life balance has been my watchword. Most people, I knew, felt it’s not easy and I agree. However, I took this ‘position‘ early in my career and remained a ‘light blue-eyed‘ boy of the organisation, if not the ‘dark blue guy.‘ When I was in a junior management position, it was a tough ask, but as we ‘grow,‘ a balance is of prime importance. It was a big decision that I took. I moved from Bombay [now Mumbai] to Colombo, Sri Lanka. From a mad, hectic rat race, I transformed myself to a slow-smart-paced professional, enjoying my beautiful strolls through the woods, as Robert Frost would have loved. I spent 8-9 hours at work, all right, yet I had quality and quantity time with my family. Agreed that my career graph slowed down, yet as an individual and person I grew exponentially. Today, work-life balance, for me, as for others, who believe in my philosophy, has moved on to work-life integration. Mobile phones and ‘Net connectivity have made things superfast and close. Yet, I draw a line. My mobile phone is switched off between 11:00pm and 7:00am.
Your mantra to beat stress?
Stress, as we well know, is given to you as well as taken by you. It has an uncontrollable element; it is controllable too. Today, we live in a world dominated by a pervasive scourge — the WhatsApp overload. The forwards and ‘re-forwards‘ have led to a myriad of stresses and trauma for millions of people. I conscientiously avoid it. To beat stress, I do not get into religious, or political debates. There are no winners, but only two eternally opposing sides — a battle of attrition. Exercise, drinking water often, eating at regular intervals [but, always one morsel less], having ‘relatively less ego’ [which is easier said than done], a positive attitude, not giving or taking loans [a personal precept], and being happy with whatever there is — this is my open ‘happiness‘ secret. This is also my mantra to beat stress. I believe in having a checklist and ensuring it is executed too. I am keyed to believe that everything will pass and there’s no need to fret, or sweat, over the small stuff. Live your life in the present-moment and accept reality, as it comes. This will propel you with the readiness to change and enjoy your life — every moment.
Kiron B Shenoy’s easy dialogue style, his matter-of-fact, also witty responses, are laced with interesting, believable thoughts and metaphors, besides easy tips that are worth emulating. It also exemplifies the fact that keeping a ‘face-to-face’ conversational engagement going, without pontificating, is what rivets the reader’s focus and attention.
Very nice interview. It is loaded with great tips for everyday living.
Well expressed… Sounds like Kiron B Shenoy is not only speaking, but also emoting, for most of us who moved to Colombo to make this our new home.
You’ve always been true to your word. I have known you, for long, as one, not someone, who lives his life on his own terms. You are clear in your thinking; you never get swayed by other peoples’ opinion. You live each moment just like we eat one piece of a cake at a time; you live each moment of the day the same way. The balance you keep between your family and work is always a lesson to learn for many; if ever it is a choice between the two, family comes first to you. This is the richest way to live a life; it sets your emotions right. You are a classic example of the right blend of mind-body fitness. My best wishes to you for a fabulous life ahead.