The Secret Weapon To Beat SARS Is In Your Head

Just when you thought you had all the fun you could possibly handle with Saddam Hussein, North Korea, Al Quaeda and the winter that just won't die, along comes SARS ? severe-acute respiratory syndrome.

I recently fielded a call on this subject from one of my biggest fans: "You moron. What do you mean we can fight SARS with our heads? Can't you see? We are all going to die. Die. Die, I tell you."

"Please, mother. Don't panic. Panicking will only make it worse."

"What do you mean make it worse? How can it be any worse? People are dying all over the place. It's all over the news. Every day. This is just horrible."

"So far, out of six billion people on earth, only about a hundred have died. Most of those are on the other side of the planet. That's not good for them, but the risk for us is way smaller than it seems."

"Then why does it seem like it's everywhere? Why won't the TV people stop talking about it?"

"Well, the TV people have all sworn a secret oath. They are to maintain high professional standards, report the news as objectively as possible and do whatever is necessary to scare people to death. See? It's simple."

"I don't know ..."

"Sure, mother. Why do you think that if somebody walks into a McDonald's and blows away a table of nuns, it makes the headlines all over the country, but when 500 thousand people walk into McDonald's and order Big Macs that same day, there's not a peep out of the media."

"I don't know dear."

"Why do you think we always hear about airplanes crashing to the ground, but never about airplanes taking off safely? Three hours late, mind you, but safely nonetheless."

"Well ..."

"And why do you think that the media focus on the handful of politicians involved in bribery, corruption, sex, violence, nepotism, pick-pocketing, slander, lying, demagoguery and falsifying their resumes, when they could probably find a handful of upstanding, honest politicians?"

"OK, dear. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps the media is blowing this politician thing out of proportion. But what about SARS?"

"SARS is simple. We all fight disease best when we are less stressed. So everybody should take a vacation and relax on a Mexican beach. Then SARS would be defeated."

"But dear, do you really think six billion of us can fit onto a Mexican beach?"

"I suppose not. Which means we must take other measures to avoid stress. We can start by avoiding stressful situations, such as malicious colleagues, cantankerous in-laws and violent movies."

"OK, I'm taking notes."

"Make sure you get plenty of sleep."

"Why? Does SARS leave people alone while they sleep?"

"No, but well-rested people fight off diseases better than worn-down, tired people."

"OK, what else?"

"Keep fit. Eat nutritious meals and get plenty of exercise."

"But won't exercise just wear me down? Then I'll be a sitting duck for disease."

"Don't exercise THAT much. Just enough to keep fit. And pray.

"I can do that."

"And don't pick on people with slanted eyes. Believe it or not, people are keeping clear of anybody who looks Chinese. I know many people of Chinese ancestry who have never even been to China. I know people born in China who have not been there for years. Why avoid people based on their ancestry, when SARS began just a few months ago?"

"I make decisions based on ancestry all the time, dear."

"You do, mother?"

"Sure, why do you think I am your biggest fan?"

About The Author

David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, author of "Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness". Sign up for your free "Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html, or visit the Self-actualization Resource Center at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/self-actualization-articles.html.

info@thehappyguy.com

Supervisor Offers Alternative Site For 2 New Schools
Washington Post, United States - 19 hours ago
By Erica Garman Living in LoCo is Erica Garman's blog devoted to all things interesting in Loudoun County. You can find it athttp://www.loudounextra.com. ...
Planning For Route 234 Extension To Dulles Riding Rocky Road WTOP
all 2 news articles

Ministry to Decide on Alternative Military Service Next Year
조선일보(영문판), South Korea - 1 hour ago
The Defense Ministry on Sunday said it still favors an alternative form of military service for conscientious objectors provided there is national consensus ...

CPI(M) says it has begun work on 'electoral alternative'
Hindu, India - 10 hours ago
New Delhi (PTI): As efforts to build a 'third alternative' to BJP and Congress are yet to yield results, the CPI(M)on Sundaysaid it has begun work on an ...
Not 'third front', just electoral alternative: Karat Times of India
all 3 news articles

Welch: Alternative fuel
Times Record News, TX - 2 hours ago
By Hanaba Welch It’s an idea that’s been bouncing around for years – tumbleweeds as biomass for biofuel. In this part of the world, who wouldn’t like to ...

Sportinglife.com
Wigan look for alternatives
The Press Association - 4 hours ago
Wigan are looking for alternative venues for their engage Super League elimination play-off against Bradford after informing the Rugby Football League the ...
WIGAN SEEK PLAY-OFF VENUE Sportinglife.com
Wigan search for play-off venue BBC Sport
Halliwell Jones may host Wigan play-off Warrington Guardian
Bradford Telegraph Argusall 8 news articles

ME Sufferers Rely on Alternative Medicines
ITNews, Italy - 2 hours ago
More than a third of patients with long-term fatigue conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) believe complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) ...

Search for alternative fuels brewing in state ponds
NMSU The Round Up (subscription), NM - 1 hour ago
As part of the worldwide search for alternative energy resources, a two-year-old NMSU project headed by area researchers to turn algae into biodiesel has ...

Alternative rock night at The 2 Pigs
SoGlos.com, UK - 1 hour ago
13 September – The 2 Pigs in Cheltenham will be the setting for a night of unmissable alternative rock this month, when a trio of bands take to the stage. ...

Understanding Algae As An Alternative Fuel Source: Will The Real ...
PhysOrg.com, VA - 6 hours ago
All algae is not equal in terms of creating an alternative to fossil fuels or reliance on foreign oil supplies. Algae X meets the threshold criteria and ...

Bob Barr a real alternative
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - 18 hours ago
I am fed up with the onslaught of negative TV ads polluting the airways over the past few days. I expect we will see even more between now and Nov. 4. ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Massage Therapy